4/22/2009

in

Regis Philbin and "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" will be back this summer.

Shaina Wizov

The original version of *Who Wants to Be a Millionaire*, complete with host Regis Philbin, will return to television for an 11-night event in honor of the show's 10th anniversary. A revival of the quiz show will air from Aug. 9 to 23, according to the Associated Press.  
  
Philbin will be back to host the popular show that premiered in 1999. The likable game show host appeared on *Millionaire* during its prime for four nights a week until it was canceled in 2002. Since then, the show was relaunched as a half-hour syndicated version hosted by Meredith Vieira.  
  
After the award-winning success of *Slumdog Millionaire*, which uses the game show as the backdrop to its story line, ABC wanted to bring the show back to viewers, according to the *Hollywood Reporter*. ABC wants to see some of the same ratings that *Millionaire* used to bring in and hopes this special *Millionaire* showing will help promote the fall schedule of shows, according to Zap2it.