We size up the contestants as if they were representing our dreams, instead of theirs, race to spew out the answers, grimace and twist in our seats as a contestant agonizes over what appears to us an easy answer, and begrudgingly admit when we don't know the answer. Like a record number of households across the country, 'Millionaire' has become a ritual in our household.
Dinner is rushed.
Sometimes dishes are left undone to soak. Homework grinds to a halt. And the little one shuffles off to her bedroom in despair at being knocked off The Cartoon Network. I tried to be a contestant one night. I dialed the 1-800 number on a lark.