“Ok, Computer, take away two random wrong answers, leaving (Contestant's name) the right answer and the one remaining wrong answer.” - Chris Tarrant
"Okay, let’s take away two incorrect answers, please." - Chris Harrison
"Chúng tôi xin nhờ máy tính bỏ đi hai phương án sai" ("We would like the computer to take away two incorrect answers, please") - Lại Văn Sâm
"Computer, would you take away two wrong answers, please? And leave (Contestant's name) with the correct answer and the one remaining wrong answer." - Gay Byrne
"Vamos a pedirle al computador que nos elimine dos de las respuestas equivocadas. Que nos deje una correcta y una equivocada. (We are going to ask the computer to eliminate two of the wrong answers. Let us have a right one and a wrong one.)" - Paulo Laserna Phillips
50:50 is a lifeline in the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? game. When a contestant uses this lifeline, two of the wrong answers are removed, leaving one wrong answer and the correct one, thus giving the contestant a 50% chance of answering the question correctly or incorrectly (though a better chance at answering correctly), hence the name.
In versions that include both the 50:50 and Double Dip lifelines, it is possible for a contestant to use both and automatically get the question right (most notoriously, in Who Wants to Be a Super Millionaire, although no contestant did so, but in the Russian, Turkish, Filipino, and Austrian Format, a few of them did); however, the rule regarding this is that the contestant must use the 50:50 lifeline first.
Mechanics
Most contestants' biggest concern when using the 50:50 lifeline is that it will always leave them with the two answers the were originally torn between. Under the original rules, using the 50:50 lifeline always removed two wrong answers chosen in advance by the question writers before the question stack was locked into the computer; this led to Norm Macdonald incorrectly accusing the show's staff of rigging the remaining wrong answer based on his vocal speculation live on set. In the 2020 Jimmy Kimmel-hosted series, when Anthony Anderson made a similar accusation, Jimmy Kimmel explained the 50:50 had long since used a Random Number Generation system, as first referred to by Regis Philbin on Who Wants to Be a Super Millionaire, and showed the crew member Dennis on screen to the audience and to Anderson, elaborating that regulators off-screen to Dennis's side ensured a fair random number generator was being fairly used upon Dennis activating the lifeline. When the host tells the computer to activate the lifeline, an operator such as Dennis working behind the scenes activates the lifeline, then the computer will randomly decide which two incorrect answers to eliminate; the question writers no longer decide in advance which incorrect answers to eliminate when the questions are written.
Usage
The U.S. version featured the 50:50 lifeline since the show's premiere in 1999, in both primetime and during the show's first six syndicated seasons. It was discontinued after introducing the clock format at the start of the seventh syndicated season, in favor of Double Dip. However, it was reintroduced in 2015 at the start of the fourteenth syndicated season replacing the Jump the Question lifeline as part of the format revamp. It once again returned as part of the revival of the ABC primetime series.
The UK version kept it until the program finished in 2014. When the UK introduced the clock, if a contestant used the 50:50, the clock would stop, and restart after the two wrong answers were removed. The lifeline returned as part of the 20th Anniversary.
Likewise, the Australian version kept this lifeline from the show's premiere in 1999 until its final episode in 2021. The 50:50 lifeline does not appear in the Hot Seat spin-off until 2017.
In the first season of the Spanish version, the lifeline looks different: it shown as 50% meaning 1 right answer.
In Malaysia, it differs again, shown as 1:1, meaning 1 right answer and 1 wrong answer.
In the licensed Brazilian version, the lifeline also looks different: in the middle is a vertical strip, and on both sides fractions 1/2 are indicated instead of digits to indicate that 1/2 of the answers are removed.
In Show do Milhão, a variation of the 50:50 lifeline called 'Cards' was used. Host Silvio Santos would hold 4 cards (King, Ace, Deuce, and Three), and would ask the contestant to choose which one of the 4. The card they chose corresponded to how many wrong answers would be removed. A King would not remove any wrong answers, an Ace would remove one, a Deuce would remove two, and a Three would remove all three wrong answers,
Possible scenarios when using the 50:50 lifeline
- Scenario 1: The 50:50 lifeline leaves the contestant with the two answers they were originally torn between.
- Good example: Norm Macdonald, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (USA), primetime.
| $250,000 (13 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| The Reina Sofia Art Center is located in what European city? '50:50' lifeline used | |
| ⬥ A: Madrid | ⬥ B: Lisbon |
| ⬥ C: Rome | ⬥ D: Vienna |
| Norm thinks it's Madrid. Then, in a classic sequence:
Norm: "Hey, lemme ask you something, if I say 'Hey, I think it may be Madrid or Lisbon' and then I use the 50:50, it's not gonna say Madrid & Lisbon is it?" Regis: "You don't know. But it may not be the two you're thinking of." Norm: "Ok, but there's not a dude in the back, or anything?" [Audience laughs] Regis: "Noooooo, these've been locked in for months" Norm then uses the 50:50, which of course, leave A & B. He glares at Regis (while the audience erupts in laughter) before making A his final answer and winning $250,000. |
- Bad example: Steve Wayland, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (UK version)
| £32,000 (10 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| When Charles Lindbergh made the first nonstop transatlantic flight, he flew between which two cities? '50:50' lifeline used | |
| ⬥ A: Toronto and Stockholm | ⬥ B: Chicago and London |
| ⬥ C: Saint Louis and Dublin | ⬥ D: New York and Paris |
| Steve though the answer was either C or D. Fearing that going 50:50 will leave him those two, he used that lifeline regardless. As expected both C and D were the two options left, he went for C: Saint Louis and Dublin and lost £15,000 as the right answer was D: New York to Paris. Total Prize Money: £1,000 |
- Scenario 2: The 50:50 lifeline eliminates both of the answers the contestant was torn between, and instead leaves them with the two answers they had previously ruled out.
- Example: John Christensen, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (USA), primetime.
| $32,000 (10 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| Which element makes up the largest percentage of the Earth's atmosphere? 'Phone-a-Friend' and '50:50' lifelines used | |
| ⬥ A: Oxygen | ⬥ B: Hydrogen |
| ⬥ C: Nitrogen | ⬥ D: Carbon |
| John and his Phone-a-Friend narrowed it down to B and D. John then decided to use his 50:50, eliminating both choices. So, he decided to walk away with $16,000, and would have guessed Oxygen. The correct answer was C: Nitrogen. Total Prize Money: $16,000 |
- Scenario 3: The 50:50 lifeline eliminates one of the answers they were torn between and leaves the contestant with a clear choice. Ideally, contestants would always want this scenario, and not scenario 1 or 2. Even in scenario 3, it is possible that the contestant's choice is incorrect.
- Good example: Howie Ponce III, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (Philippines).
| ₱70,000 (8 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| What kind of food is pastrami? '50:50' lifeline used | |
| ⬥ A: dried salmon | ⬥ B: smoked beef |
| ⬥ C: cured ham | ⬥ D: salted bacon |
| Howie wasn't sure if it was C: cured ham, so he used 50:50, which removed C and D. He then revealed that he was actually stuck between B and C. He picked B as his final answer and won ₱70,000. |
- Bad example: Tom Colletta, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (USA), primetime.
| $16,000 (9 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| Which of these appears on the reverse of a twenty dollar bill? '50:50' lifeline used | |
| ⬥ A: Lincoln Memorial | ⬥ B: U.S. Capitol |
| ⬥ C: White House | ⬥ D: U.S. Treasury |
| Tom was originally going to check his wallet, but Regis said he couldn't do that (as that would be considered cheating). After the use of 50:50, Tom was torn between B and D, but the answer was C. ADDITIONAL INFO: Besides the Lincoln Memorial being on the back of the $5 bill, the U.S. Treasury is on the back of the $10, and the U.S. Capitol is on the back of the $50. Total Prize Money: $1,000 |
Tips with 50:50
- If you plan to use 50:50 with Phone-a-Friend, always use 50:50 first. This gives your contact a better choice, and they are more likely to be sure in their choice if they think they know the answer.
- If you plan to use 50:50 with Ask the Audience, always ask the audience first. If the audience's vote is inconclusive or you think they're wrong, you have another lifeline to confirm.
Music/Sounds
Gallery
| Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? lifelines |
|---|
| 50:50 • Phone-a-Friend • Ask the Audience • Switch the Question • Ask the Nation • Double Dip • Three Wise Men • Ask One of the Audience • Ask Three of the Audience • Ask the Expert • Ask the Star • Jump the Question • People Speak • Crystal Ball • Plus One • Cut the Question • Extra Help • Power Paplu • Code Red • Chat Room • Ask the Host • Two Wise Men • Ask A Friend |
| Millionaire Hot Seat: Pass • 50:50 • Switch the Question • Ask A Friend • Phone-a-Friend • Ask the Host |
| Show do Milhão: Cards |