Jimmy Kimmel to host a new celebrity version “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”

90s popular game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is all set to make its comeback for American viewers as the original executive producer Michael Davies took the task upon his shoulder to revive the nostalgic show.

“I think ‘Millionaire’ is one of the most perfect games ever invented,” said Davies who is coming out with the special ‘celebrity edition’ of the show that will stick to its original format.

“I didn’t want to change the format. I didn’t want to stray from the classic 15 questions. I always think games need to be adjusted and modified, but you don’t throw out the whole thing,” he added while talking to Variety.

This time around the host of the game should be renowned late-night show host Jimmy Kimmel who himself appeared as a guest on the show in 2001.

“It’s a great game,” he says. “And I know that because I play it with my 5-year-old and my 2-year-old. We watched a cut of the show and they were glued to the television. When little kids are interested in something for adults, you’ve really got something powerful on your hands,” Kimmel said of his new project.

The comedian turned host would be taking the stage from his predecessor Regis Philbin who helmed the hosting for over a decade.

“What he did was not easy. And he was really the perfect host at that time to bring in a huge audience,” Kimmel says of his predecessor.

All set to commence from April 8 on ABC Network, the show’s first set of guests include Will Arnett, Dr. Phil, Anderson Cooper, and Andy Cohen. Given the philanthropic nature of the upcoming eight episodes – all proceeds going to charity – the guests would be allowed to bring the ‘smartest person they know’ for help with the first 10 questions.

However, this may just be the beginning of another era for the once most popular TV show. Davies plans to bring Millionaire twice a year with one celebrity edition and another for general public.

This time around however the show could not have its regular general public audience due to the Coronavirus pandemic that had just hit US. Completed a day before lockdown (March 14) the shooting spell consisted of two days where 15 staff and crew members played the audience.

“Initially that was very concerning to me because you’re a comedian and you want to get laughs. But about 10 minutes in, I could see that it was gonna work anyway. And I think it came out well,” said Kimmel who resorted to his radio days where he believe, alone in a studio, that he’s being funny enough.