QUESTION: Which prime-time television game show hands out huge bundles of cash — literally — to its winning contestants?

Your five choices are "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" "Greed," "Twenty-One," 'Winning Lines" and "Sell Your Mother-in-Law Cheap!"

OK, I made up that last one . . . not that it's all that big a stretch. Expect to see it on Fox sometime this summer.

So, which show gives out cash on the air instead of a personal check? Need to use a lifeline? Feel confident? Is that your final answer?

If you said "Greed," you're right. But then, if you said "Twenty-One" you're right, too.

Both shows like to give out big bundles of bucks . . . which we can only assume come with an armed guard as the winner makes his or her way to the parking lot after the show.

QUESTION: Which game show started the recent reincarnation of a '50s craze?

Four quiz programs have taken over a variety of prime-time network time slots — and more are on the way — due to the unexpected mega-success of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?"

The Game Show Network, one of my favorite cable channels, which shows quiz programs 24 hours a day, probably has mixed feelings about all this. It's strong competition, but these shows will also eventually provide terrific rerun fodder for GSN.

Meanwhile, there's something cool about watching common folk win big money on TV — and it's comforting to feel superior when we know an answer that a contestant muffs.

On all four shows, pop culture — that is, entertainment in all its myriad forms, from popular music and theater to TV and movies to fashion and advertising — clearly dominates the questions . . . although there are always some about geography, history, literature, etc.

On the other hand, there's really no telling what will cause contestants to fumble.

Remember the episode of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" that asked which of four authors was Mark Twain, and the contestant didn't have a clue that it was Samuel L. Clemens? Or the $100 question that knocked someone out when he didn't know what it was in the nursery rhyme that Jack Horner pulled out of a pie?

There's a lot of talk about the dumbing down of these prime-time games — and, granted, "Jeopardy" they ain't. But, let's face it , it all seems quite easy until a question is asked — in any category — and you don't happen to know the answer.

QUESTION: Which game show copies "Who Wants to be a Millionaire's?" lighting, swing-camera techniques, dramatic background music and edits the show for maximum suspense?

Actually, all of them.

"Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" not only reignited the genre for prime time, it seems to have established the format, complete with ready-made cliches.

QUESTION: Which show has an aging white guy as a host and features mostly white, male twentysomething contestants?

Again, all of them.

"Greed" has been a little more diverse in the racial makeup of its contestants, but the old white-guy hosts are all familiar TV personalities who go way back.

And while I've never been the biggest Regis Philbin fan, I must admit he's won me over on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" And not just because Chuck Woolery, Maury Povich and Dick Clark are more unctious and less sincere — though they are.

Philbin seems to genuinely care about the contestants and, though he doesn't cheat or help them, he's as affable, pleasant and amusing as anyone could possibly be sitting in that chair.

"Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" clearly has the winning formula among these shows, but the presence of Philbin is what really makes it sing.

QUESTION: Which is the best show?

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Well, it's a matter of taste, of course. But if ratings mean anything, "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" is way out in front.

As for me? "Winning Lines" is too convoluted, "Twenty-One" is too slow, "Greed" is too mean-spirited . . . but "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" is really a lot of fun. And it's hard not to root for the contestants like they're family.

We enjoy "Millionaire" at my house. And now that I've written this column, I won't be watching the other three anymore.


Entertainment editor Chris Hicks may be reached by e-mail at hicks@desnews.com

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