Philbin Back to Host

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.