How to Become a Contestant on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

Do you want to become a millionaire? If so, have you ever thought of becoming a contestant on the syndicated television show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? If you used to be a fan of the primetime hit show, hosted by Regis Philbin and were not aware of it, the show never left television. It just became syndicated and is now hosted by Meredith Vieira, although after it went off the air, it did return to network television in primetime recently, briefly, again hosted by Philbin.

If you are 18 or older and a resident of one of the 50 states in the United States of America, or the District of Columbia and have never been in the "hot seat" on the show hosted by Philbin or Meredith Vieira, and meet all eligibility requirements, which will be listed in this article, you can audition to be on the show. You can request tickets at http://www.millionairetv.com/form-tickets.html and may get the chance to audition if you attend a taping.

If you want to be a contestant on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, it may interest you to know the show is looking for specialty contestants. For example, are you a huge fan of the show, Dancing with the Stars? You may qualify. Are you a huge movie fan? You may qualify. Information is on the show's website.

After you complete contact information, you will be asked to choose several times and dates you might be able to audition for the show. Continually check for new dates you might audition. Sometimes the show is conducting auditions across America--including in shopping malls. Keep checking the show's website.

You should arrive early for your audition--perhaps as early as 7 a.m. for a 9 a.m. audition.

You can expect to take a 40 question test. Each question will give you four possible answers, the same as on the show. Even though the higher value questions on the show are often considered difficult and not many people have actually won the million dollars, a lot of people who have tried the test say it is not too difficult. It takes around ten minutes.

If you pass the test, you will have a 30 second interview with the producer of the show. Out of every 100 people who audition, 10 to 15 pass the test. After a week or two the show may tell you that you have been placed in the contestant pool and are eligible to be on the show--if you are chosen. If you are to be on the show, you will be given about a month's notice.

If you are to be on the show, you will need to pick five people who can be your friend, if you need to "phone a friend." Any such friend will have to be close to the phone on the day of taping from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

You will also be expected to complete a three page questionnaire of topics that the host may talk about if you appear as a contestant on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

You will also have to read and sign a 50 page document for the show that will tell you everything you will need to do on the show and what you need to wear, or cannot wear.

To qualify to be a contestant on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, you cannot be a relative of someone who works for the Walt Disney Company, Buena Vista Television, Capital One Services, or certain other companies listed on the show's website. You cannot be a candidate for political office at the time of taping. You must pay for your own expenses to New York City for your audition and while in the city. If you previously appeared on the primetime show and only went as far as the fastest finger question, you may apply again for the syndicated show. If you were in the hot seat, however, you may not apply again.

Occasionally the show may accept entries to be contestants by a video submission. The show's website will make announcements, if that is to happen. The producer will chose contestants from those who have submitted videos to audition.

About the Show Be a Contestant, no author listed, Millionairetv.com

How to Become a Contestant on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, by ehow Contributing Writer, ehow.com

Who Wants to be a Millionaire Official Rules, no author listed, Millionairetv.com