Hot Topics:

ABC's 'Millionaire' celebrates milestone

Gameshow returns for 10th anniversary special

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

Regis Philbin will once again host as 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire' returns to primetime as an ABC special event this summer.

'Tori & Dean' sets fourth season bow

Food Network serves up new shows

Blagojevich to miss 'Celebrity' gig

Taylor Lautner to star in 'Max Steel'(3434 views)

Jack Black animates film pitch(3225 views)

'Blind Side' tackles box office competition(2703 views)

Nine(1518 views)

Bennett Miller to direct 'Moneyball'(1397 views)

Overture nabs rights to 'Stone'(1041 views)

ABC is dusting off an old favorite to serve as an August lifeline: "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" will return this summer for a 10th anniversary special event.

Regis Philbin will be back as host of the show, which will air for 11 nights Sundays through Thursdays at 8 p.m. starting Aug. 9. Show will end with a finale Sunday, Aug. 23.

"It's going to be good to be back, 10 years after it all started," said exec producer Michael Davies.

ABC hopes to use the show as a marketing launch pad for its fall sked.

The August "Millionaire" will air as a one-time event -- but if the show comes back strongly, ABC may consider bringing it back as an occasional stunt.

"Millionaire" first bowed on ABC in summer 1999 as a special, but quickly roared to the top of the Nielsens. After returning as an additional series of special events in the 1999-2000 TV season, it came back the following year as a regular series.

The show briefly put ABC back on top of the Nielsens -- and Philbin's monochromatic outfits sparked a fashion craze. But the net couldn't resist the temptation to overuse "Millionaire," which eventually faded away in primetime.

"Millionaire" last aired on ABC's primetime sked in 2004, but continues as a daytime strip, hosted by Meredith Vieira. The show re-entered the pop culture zeitgeist this year thanks to the success of Academy Award-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire."