UA Students Compete in Hit Game Show ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — “Is that your final answer?”

Two University students had the opportunity to take the test of a lifetime when the hit game show “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” came to The University of Alabama campus in September 2002. Michael Luther from Dawson and Lindsey Miller of Hanceville were both encouraged by friends to try out for the show. Now both students say they are glad they took the friendly advice.

Luther and his buddies casually stepped into a line of about 300 hopeful UA students. They had just gobbled down a hearty lunch of burgers and pizza at the Ferguson Student Center and had a little more time to procrastinate studying for tests and working on projects.

Luther’s roommate had told him about the show’s testing at the University.

“I thought it would be something fun to do,” Michael said. “I can at least say I tried out.”

Luther took the written test just as any other college exam. Cool, but doubtful of his scores, he waited on site as his test was graded.

Luther had passed the written test and completed preliminary paperwork for the show.

“I didn’t get my hopes up. I joked around about it.”

And then they called.

Two weeks later, he heard ABC executives on the receiver of his phone.

“It didn’t really sink in until I hung up the phone,” he said.

Uncertain of his chances to actually play during the taping of the show, Luther and his parents flew to New York in early October. The all expenses paid trip was the student’s first visit to the Big Apple. Luther would have to wait in line again for the two-day taping. Waiting for his shot at the “hot seat,” Luther and his family decided to tour the city.

Among their stops was the memorial site at ground zero and a quick shopping spree in Chinatown where he and his mother bought an array of inexpensive gifts.

“We passed them off as the real thing,” he laughed.

The next day, Luther had his chance in the studio. He sat in front of a hundred audience members in a room much smaller than it appeared to be on television. Luther put his goose bumps aside and prepared to play the game. He had watched the show prior to coming in the studio to study its new format. However, Luther was a little surprised to meet the show’s new host, Meredith Viera.

“I’d never seen her,” he admitted. “I had to watch ‘The View’ to see who she was. She was really nice…very friendly.”

With his parents watching on from the front row with their fingers crossed, Luther, sporting his Alabama sweatshirt, carefully answered the questions one by one.

“I got nervous when I was on deck,” he said. “But once I got on the seat, I relaxed. Once the questions came in, I zoned in and tried to concentrate.”

Along with Luther, freshman Lindsey Miller, also a UA student appeared on the game show. Luther and Miller chatted briefly prior to taping.

Over the course of two days, they shook hands and exchanged first names only with about 50 other members of their peers. One thing made Luther and Miller stand out among the crowd.

“We talked about Alabama football,” Miller said. “There was a game that weekend and we wondered who was going to win.”

Other colleges whose students made a television appearance were Grand Valley State University, Penn State University, Tuskegee University, University of Colorado, Oklahoma University, Texas A&M, Butler University, and Harvard College.

Luther said competing against other schools did not intimidate him.

“I’ll say no one won more than me, but a few won the same amount,” he said. “Alabama was well represented.”

Miller no longer believes what she sees on television.

“It was extremely intimidating,” she said of the game show. “It’s so easy to play watching on TV, but it’s difficult when you’re there with hundreds of people watching on. I mean I was scared!”

Contracts both Luther and Miller signed with ABC would not allow them to discuss what they won. Neither student can say regret taking a chance at the “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” questions.

“I can say that I came back with more money than I went up there with,” Miller revealed.

Both will receive their winnings one-month after the show airs.

Luther said that he would go car shopping soon. And Miller now watches more of the show anticipating her television debut.

The syndicated college edition of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” will air Feb. 6-7 at 3 p.m. locally on WIAT-CBS channel 42.