I'm on Millionaire Hot Seat Next Week. What Strategy Should I Take?

I'm going to be on Millionaire Hot Seat next week and I'll need a strategy.

I've tried to find some information online about strategies, and so far I've come across this comment on another OzBargain thread (https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/460591) from 2019. It reads:

'The most important strategy is to make Eddie like you and then listen carefully for his cues. If he likes you he will tell you when you're wrong. Say things like "I'm leaning towards B…" and see what he says. If he says, "so lock that in?" then it may be right. If he reads the question again then it is wrong. Also make sure to start talking about the question as soon as your time starts - if you stare blankly for 30 seconds and then quickly blurt out "lock in B!" just before the time runs out then he has no chance to help you. However all this only works if he likes you, other people he tries to get out of the chair as soon as possible. I'm not certain but I think he's more likely to like you if you're young (especially female) or you have a sob story. Anyone who acts arrogantly he doesn't like. Also if you win the $1000/lifeline don't be an idiot and waste it early on. If you're going to use it make sure it is the difference between winning $100,000 and just keeping the $1000. If you're more than 2 questions away from winning just keep your $1000.'

This will be useful.

However, I'm also considering what strategy I should take regarding passing questions. I saw this Reddit thread (https://www.reddit.com/r/truegaming/comments/1fe3qi/why_dont…) and there seems to be a few conflicting arguments regarding that, and also I was thinking that it may depend also on my starting position (i.e. which seat I'm allocated to at the start).

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Cheers

Comments

  • +4

    Buy a lotto ticket?

  • +6

    So just don’t fall in between, either make him hate you or love you.

    Find your best cocktail dress and heels and prepare your sob story!

    Been a dude, It will go either way real quick for you 😂

    • +2

      I've got my sob story ready, so I'm good in that department. 😂

      • +2

        Tell him you're a West Coast supporter and you can be sure about him being on the fence.

    • Been a dude

      Whatever you are now, congrats on your transition.

  • +8

    dare you to wear an ozbargain shirt!

    • +2

      Sadly the dress code is a bit too strict for that, haha.

      • +3

        Collingwood jersey. you definately will be helped to win the 1m

        • +1

          This or tell him you find Nathan Buckley inspirational.

        • +2

          Was just about to say, sneak the magies jersey under your shirt and flash it when the moment is right and profess your love for them.

          He might just give you the answer sheet.

        • +14

          If no jersey is allowed a couple of missing teeth should do the trick.

        • Funnily enough, staff will tell you not to talk about dates and AFL teams in particular (amongst the usual topics) prior to filming.

      • +1

        Well the entire point of the show is to sell ad space, so letting contestants run their own ads would be pretty stupid.

      • What is the dress code?

        • -2

          dunno.. never watched it

        • +1

          Clothes

    • +1

      Does Scotty have any subtle OzB pins

  • +16

    Any thoughts or suggestions?

    Click this link a few thousand times and remember everything you see

  • +1

    That Reddit thread is pretty close to useless.

    There is likely a number of questions remaining/prize money amount where you would stop passing and try to answer all questions.

    Need to know that magic number before going in, and Eddie's giveaways.

    It doesn't matter if he likes you or not. Most of the time he will steer you in the right direction (he has messed up a few times though, probably not intentional). You'll need to watch the show and educate yourself on just how he communicates whether you should change your answer.

  • it does sound right, watch with the kids and I usually google the answers and u can see he tries to give the person some tips when they are wrong or he drags it out longer

  • +14

    Instead of call a friend, post in OzB for that question you can't answer.

  • +4

    Bonus points for mentioning eneloops, ms paint or bikies

    good luck OP

  • +6

    Do that coughing thing. Except instead of coughs use something more discreet, like burping or flatulence.

  • +2

    Bring your wife!

  • +9

    Just make sure you tell the truth about yourself and your back story. Trust me, as the daughter of a compulsive liar who went on the show years ago, there's nothing worse than accidentally coming across your father on national television, hearing him say he's a widow (he's not), has no kids (he has 3), and worked in a job that he's never done because he thought it made him sound more glamorous. I'm still getting over that shame….

    • +5

      How awful. His shame, not yours.

    • +11

      hearing him say he's a widow

      He lied about his gender too..

      • we are just lucky he didn't that he was a willow, cause it definitely sounds like he is in the wind

      • +1

        "He lied about his gender too.."

        That wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. But in this case it was just a typo on my end. Thanks for the laugh though!

    • Damn, that's crazy :/

  • +1

    Coughing and google.

  • +2

    Show up with a KFC Family Feast and share it with Eddie, will have no chance but to like you

    • +4

      "Did somebody say KFC?"

      • +5

        I don't care!

  • +10

    I hear coughing is a good way to win

  • +1

    if you have a gut feeling about an answer, go with it.
    I didnt, and paid the price.

  • +1

    +1 for coughing, have a friend in the audience with an earpiece hooked up to another friend googling the questions.

  • You have everything sorted but the lifeline, who cares about $1000 when it means the end of your journey, you are not going to get another chance to play for $20,000, $50,000 maybe even $100,000, if you get the lifeline, see it as only that, a lifeline, not $1000, always use it

  • B is the new C
    If you do have the right answer, usually right at the end, Eddie will mess around a bit, but if you are wrong, he does tell you straight away.

  • +14

    Wouldn't the best strategy be to answer all the questions correctly?

    • +5

      That is the most idiotic thing i have ever heard, how would that even help

  • -1

    Did OP just doxx themself… 😬

    • +1

      The recording takes place in blocks, weeks or months before air date.

  • +4

    a friend of mine went on it last year and ended up winning 50k - apparently they tell you on the day to not bother trying to game the system by thinking you can strategically pass; it almost never ends up working in your favour

    • That's interesting. Thanks for the insight.

    • But sometimes it does work, surely you’re smarter than those other dummies OP?

      • +1

        The problem is it only works if you can accurately predict what the next muppet is going to do and how knowledgeable they are. At best you are gambling, if you are smart enough or good enough in general knowledge you a probably just worth backing yourself and going hard, if there is a heap of questions left and you aren't sure then sure pass.

  • Crib notes on your hand. Ask Bob Katter for some tips on that.

  • I can guarantee you wont be able to remember or follow any cues in the moment, whether true or not.

  • +1

    Biggest thing to deal with is the comfort of answering questions at home vs in the studio.

    The latter is generally more stressful, demanding and unpredictable, as well as the overwhelming experience of being in a new space (the studio).

    A lot of the game comes down to luck, so it's best to go in with a chilled mindset and enjoy yourself anyways.

  • Is it really legit? I always felt like that show is stupid and staged.

    • The payouts etc on this one are too low for them to stage it. Especially with Hotseat making the max lower on each failure.

  • +1

    best strategy is to know all the answers and get them correct. Easy.

  • Bring a friend who has a really bad cough ;)

  • +5

    Hi, I went on the show 2 years ago. Really good experience, the organisation at the studio is top notch. They know how to put things together. In terms of strategy, there’s not a lot really. It’s a pretty simple game. My tip would be - you will get some time to spend with your group of 6, try and gauge their knowledge levels as much as you can before the competition, which might help you making a decision on when or whether to pass. I was in a really strong group, and was at the 7th question or so, with no one out yet, and I didn’t know the answer. The 3 before me had passed. I knew there were about 8 or 9 questions more, and since this was a strong group, my chances of getting another crack was low. So I took a punt (wrong answer). And I was right, I never would have gotten another chance. The 2 after me passed, and never came back on. It if was a “weaker” group, I might have passed. And lastly, the time on the “hot seat” really flies. You will not have time to think or remember your strategies, so i would recommend just taking deep breaths, staying calm and answering as best as you can. Good luck!

    • +1

      Thanks mate, I really appreciate it! I will take this into account. :)

  • +4

    Is your name actually Aidan? If so, we're all going to keep a look out for you :p

    Side note: The intros to each contestant is the most cringe worthy viewing.

  • Make sure you read and confidentiality agreements and don't disclose your winnings if you do win until the show airs.
    Sometimes they have this in their contract.

  • +2

    If you use a life line and opt for the 50 50 don't say which two you think as they always leave those two if one is correct.
    Say one you feel the answer is and one that is completely wrong, that should give you more idea of the correct answer.

    • You are right - there’s often two dumb answers and two sensible ones. But I don’t think the 50/50 is adjusted on the fly based on what the person says.

    • There's not lifeline of the Hot Seat, unless you win the early round (fast round)

  • +1

    If he tells you the correct answer in the mens room, it's the other one that is correct.

  • +3

    I'm the one who made the original thread! I was on the Hot Seat! Here's my advice:

    Give Eddie intense eye contact when answering - here's why:

    I made it to the final question - (50k, that night) which was: "The Guardian newspaper was formally known as the 'what' Guardian?"

    A: Manchester, B: Burmingham, C: Liverpool, D: Sheffield (A is correct)

    I didn't know the answer, but I thought A might be correct, due to how big Manchester is…

    So I said: "I'm thinking of going, A, Manchester"….. Hoping to see what Eddie said…. My theory was… if it were right, he'd say "so, lock in A, Manchester?"… and if I was wrong, he ask me a clarifying question ("are you sure?") or give me silence.

    He gave me silence… so, at the last second, I changed to the wrong answer!!! (C)

    My regret here is that I didn't give Eddie eye contact when I said "I'm thinking of going, A, Manchester"! I was so focussed on the question/drowning out my surroundings (to think) that I didn't look at the most important thing - the only person who knew the answer in the room! On the replay, you can see that Eddie was encouraging me to lock it in (with his facial expressions) and I missed that.

    I know this level of analysis is borderline autistic (lol) but I've overanalysed that 30 seconds of my life for hours hahaha. Seems so obvious to give eye contact that I didn't even think it would be an issue, prior to the show (and I, like you, did as much prep as I could!)

    Good luck!

    • Legend, thanks for your response mate!

  • Oddly, many people seem to "don't know" the $500 and pass.

    Definitely have a 'battler' story ready and be nice to Eddie. If you don't know an answer, choose an answer early that you're leaning to and go off his vibe

  • Choose D.. for Destiny…

  • just winc and blow kisses at him

  • +1

    Best strategy is NOT to take any family or friends along with you.
    As a family member I had to sit through a whole afternoon of that rubbish and clap on demand.
    Family member flew in from interstate. Bombed on first question.
    Eventually I managed to sneak out the contestant exit between episodes.
    Painful to watch.

  • I see this appears to be a new series showing just this week, with contestants family members present in the reduced audience. The fastest finger winner bet his $1000 on "phone a friend", i.e. friend in the audience, won that round, but it was early and was subsequently knocked out. That is a newy.

  • My advice is trust your gut. Eddie pronounces things in a very Australian way and this cost me 25k.
    Ask him to repeat the question slowly.
    Have fun. It's an awesome day/experience regardless of what happens.

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