McMillions

{{Infobox television

| image = McMillions.jpg

| caption =

| genre = {{Plainlist|

}}

| creator =

| based_on =

| writer = {{Plainlist|

James Lee Hernandez
Brian Lazarte

}}

| director = {{Plainlist|

James Lee Hernandez
Brian Lazarte

}}

| starring =

| narrated =

| theme_music_composer =

| opentheme =

| endtheme =

| composer = Pinar Toprak

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_seasons = 1

| num_episodes = 6

| list_episodes =

| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|

Mark Wahlberg
Stephen Levinson
Archie Gips
James Lee Hernandez
Brian Lazarte

}}

| producer =

| cinematography = Jeff Dolen

| editor =

| camera =

| runtime =

| company = {{Plainlist|

Unrealistic Ideas
FunMeter

}}

| budget =

| network = HBO

| released =

| first_aired = {{Start date|2020|02|03}}

| last_aired = {{End date|2020|03|09}}

}}

McMillions (stylized as McMillion$) is a documentary miniseries about the McDonald's Monopoly promotion scam that occurred between 1989 and 2001. Directed by James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte, the series details how the scam was perpetrated by Jerry Jacobson,{{Cite web |last=Mannion |first=Connor |date=2020-02-03 |title=What Happened to Jerome Jacobson, Mastermind of the McDonald's Monopoly Fraud? |url=https://www.oxygen.com/true-crime-buzz/what-happened-to-jerome-jacobson-of-mcmillions-hbo-doc |url-status=live |access-date=2020-03-23 |website=Oxygen |language=en-US |archive-date=March 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323124438/https://www.oxygen.com/true-crime-buzz/what-happened-to-jerome-jacobson-of-mcmillions-hbo-doc }} the head of security for the agency that ran the promotion, and how he recruited a wide range of accomplices. The series premiered in the US on February 3, 2020, on HBO, and all episodes were made available in the UK on May 27, 2020, on Sky Documentaries. McMillions was nominated for five Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.

Premise

McMillions "examines the $24 million worth of fraud that corrupted the McDonald's Monopoly game between 1989 and 2001, in which there were almost no legitimate million-dollar winners in the contest."{{Cite web |last=Welk |first=Brian |date=January 9, 2020 |title=McDonald's Monopoly Scam Gets Exposed in HBO Doc 'McMillion Trailer |url=https://www.thewrap.com/mcdonalds-monopoly-contest-scam-gets-exposed-in-hbo-documentary-mcmillion-trailer-video |access-date=January 10, 2020 |website=TheWrap}} Through six episodes, the documentary introduces the FBI and other legal authorities who investigated the Monopoly game heist, as well as the bogus winners and the perpetrators. Using in-depth interviews with those involved in every aspect of the crime, McMillions offers an insider's view into one of the most notorious fraud cases of the 1990s and early 2000s.

Episodes

{{Episode table |total_width= |background=#A60000 |overall= |title= |director= |airdate= |airdateR={{Cite web |title=McMillion$ – Listings |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/mcmillions/listings/ |access-date=January 29, 2020 |website=The Futon Critic}} |viewers= |country=U.S |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 1

|Title = Episode 1

|DirectedBy = James Lee Hernandez & Brian Lazarte

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|2|3}}

|Viewers = 0.339{{Cite web |last=Metcalf |first=Mitch |date=February 4, 2020 |title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.3.2020 |url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-monday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-3-2020.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204215639/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-monday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-3-2020.html |archive-date=February 4, 2020 |access-date=February 4, 2020 |website=Showbuzz Daily}}

|ShortSummary = An anonymous tip to FBI agent Doug Mathews speaks of a con surrounding the much-beloved McDonald's Monopoly game and its mysterious mastermind, a man going by the moniker of "Uncle Jerry".

|LineColor = A60000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 2

|Title = Episode 2

|DirectedBy = James Lee Hernandez & Brian Lazarte

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|2|10}}

|Viewers = 0.421{{Cite web |last=Metcalf |first=Mitch |date=February 11, 2020 |title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.10.2020 |url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-monday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-10-2020.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212071430/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-monday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-10-2020.html |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |access-date=February 11, 2020 |website=Showbuzz Daily}}

|ShortSummary = Hoping to unmask "Uncle Jerry", the FBI investigates two prominent figures they believe are connected to the scam. Agent Mathews and McDonald's employee Amy Murray pay a visit to a prior winner, who sweats and mumbles as their cameras roll.

|LineColor = A60000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|Title = Episode 3

|DirectedBy = James Lee Hernandez & Brian Lazarte

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|2|17}}

|Viewers = 0.402{{Cite web |last=Metcalf |first=Mitch |date=February 18, 2020 |title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.17.2020 |url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-monday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-17-2020.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221183443/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-monday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-17-2020.html |archive-date=February 21, 2020 |access-date=February 18, 2020 |website=Showbuzz Daily}}

|ShortSummary = Frank Colombo reveals how "Uncle Jerry" would sell the winning tickets to his brother, Gennaro "Jerry" Colombo, for a premium. The undercover FBI video crew interviews a winner who tries to obscure the origins of her million-dollar game ticket.

|LineColor = A60000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 4

|Title = Episode 4

|DirectedBy = James Lee Hernandez & Brian Lazarte

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|2|24}}

|Viewers = 0.383{{Cite web |last=Metcalf |first=Mitch |date=February 25, 2020 |title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.24.2020 |url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-monday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-24-2020.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225211757/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-monday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-24-2020.html |archive-date=February 25, 2020 |access-date=February 25, 2020 |website=Showbuzz Daily}}

|ShortSummary = Gennaro "Jerry" Colombo lands in the ICU, leading Jerome "Jerry" Jacobson to scout for new recruiters. Dwight Baker and others join the operation. The FBI gathers intel on "Uncle Jerry's" middlemen and ends up tailing Dwight to the airport.

|LineColor = A60000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 5

|Title = Episode 5

|DirectedBy = James Lee Hernandez & Brian Lazarte

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|3|2}}

|Viewers = 0.404{{Cite web |last=Metcalf |first=Mitch |date=March 3, 2020 |title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.2.2020 |url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-monday-cable-originals-network-finals-3-2-2020.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303211832/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-monday-cable-originals-network-finals-3-2-2020.html |archive-date=March 3, 2020 |access-date=March 3, 2020 |website=Showbuzz Daily}}

|ShortSummary = Focusing their attention on Dwight Baker, the FBI intercepts a call with "Uncle Jerry" that leads them to capture evidence of a game piece exchange. The FBI works overtime to launch a coordinated cross-country day of indictments.

|LineColor = A60000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 6

|Title = Episode 6

|DirectedBy = James Lee Hernandez & Brian Lazarte

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|3|9}}

|Viewers = 0.424{{Cite web |last=Metcalf |first=Mitch |date=March 10, 2020 |title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.9.2020 |url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-monday-cable-originals-network-finals-3-9-2020.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311203358/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-monday-cable-originals-network-finals-3-9-2020.html |archive-date=March 11, 2020 |access-date=March 10, 2020 |website=Showbuzz Daily}}

|ShortSummary = As the trial nears, many of the defendants take plea deals, but George Chandler and others decide to fight to prove their innocence. When Jerome "Jerry" Jacobson takes the stand, the remaining details of how he pulled off his scheme are disclosed.

|LineColor = A60000

}}

Production

On July 28, 2018, The Daily Beast published a detailed article chronicling the McDonald's Monopoly scandal written by Jeff Maysh.{{Cite web |last=Maysh |first=Jeff |date=July 28, 2018 |title=How an Ex-Cop Rigged McDonald's Monopoly Game and Stole Millions |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-an-ex-cop-rigged-mcdonalds-monopoly-game-and-stole-millions/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=The Daily Beast |archive-date=February 20, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250220014007/https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-an-ex-cop-rigged-mcdonalds-monopoly-game-and-stole-millions/ |url-status=live }} On August 2, Deadline Hollywood announced that a true-crime story based on Maysh's article was up for auction, with the high bid placed by 20th Century Fox,{{Cite web |last=Fleming Jr. |first=Mike |date=August 2, 2018 |title=Fox, Ben Affleck & Matt Damon Win Hot Package on Multi-Million Dollar Theft of McDonald's Monopoly Game |url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/ben-affleck-matt-damon-mcdonalds-monopoly-game-scam-movie-paul-wernick-rhett-reese-1202438868/ |url-status=live |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=March 15, 2025 |archive-date=January 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250103191438/https://deadline.com/2018/08/ben-affleck-matt-damon-mcdonalds-monopoly-game-scam-movie-paul-wernick-rhett-reese-1202438868/ }} beating other bids from Universal, Netflix, and Warner Bros.{{Cite web |last=Abramovitch |first=Seth |date=August 3, 2018 |title=Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Paid $1 Million for McDonald's Monopoly Scam Story |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ben-affleck-matt-damon-paid-1-million-mcdonalds-monopoly-scam-story-1132107/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |url-status=live |website=The Hollywood Reporter |archive-date=August 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809165235/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ben-affleck-matt-damon-paid-1-million-mcdonalds-monopoly-scam-story-1132107/ }} The proposed film adaptation would feature Ben Affleck as director, Pearl Street and David Klawans as producers, and Matt Damon in a starring role.

Before the Fox project was realized, Mark Wahlberg's Unrealistic Ideas agreed to produce a true crime series based on the rigged Monopoly game at McDonald's.{{Cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=11 August 2018 |title=Mark Wahlberg to Produce True Crime Docuseries 'McMillions' on McDonald's Monopoly Game Scam |url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/mark-wahlberg-produce-true-crime-docuseries-mcmillions-mcdonalds-monopoly-game-scam-1202444025/ |access-date=13 August 2018 |website=Deadline |archive-date=August 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811023916/https://deadline.com/2018/08/mark-wahlberg-produce-true-crime-docuseries-mcmillions-mcdonalds-monopoly-game-scam-1202444025/ |url-status=live }} The series is executive produced by Unrealistic Ideas' Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Archie Gips and written, directed and also executive produced by James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte.{{Cite magazine |last=Ehrlich |first=Brenna |date=January 9, 2020 |title='McMillions' Docuseries Will Go Inside McDonald's Monopoly Game Scam |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/hbo-mcmillions-monopoly-game-scam-935774 |access-date=January 10, 2020 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}

Critical reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the series had an 87% rating with an average score of 7.29 out of 10 based on 31 reviews. The site's critical consensus read: "Like something out of a movie, McMillions effectively — if not always artfully — captures the chaos of this once-in-a-lifetime, very real con and the colorful cast of characters at its center."{{Cite web |title=McMillions: Season 1 - Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/mcmillions/s01 |access-date=April 18, 2020 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |archive-date=April 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423193450/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/mcmillions/s01 |url-status=live }} On Metacritic, it had a score of 72 out of 100 based on 15 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{Cite web |title=McMillions |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/mcmillions |access-date=April 18, 2020 |website=Metacritic |archive-date=February 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200208061132/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/mcmillions |url-status=live }}

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Award ! Category ! Nominee(s) ! Result ! {{Abbr\|Ref.\|References}}
rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" \| 2020 \| rowspan="5"\| Primetime Emmy Awards \| Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series \| Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Archie Gips, James Lee Hernandez, Brian Lazarte, Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller \| {{nom}} \| align="center" rowspan="5"\|{{Cite web \|title=McMillion$ \|url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/mcmillion \|access-date=July 28, 2020 \|website=Emmys.com \|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences}}
Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score) \| Pinar Toprak & Alex Kovacs {{small\|(for "Episode 1")}} \| {{nom}}
Outstanding Picture Editing for Nonfiction Programming \| Jody McVeigh-Schultz, Lane Farnham, James Lee Hernandez, Brian Lazarte and Scott Hanson {{small\|(for "Episode 3")}} \| {{nom}}
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program (Single or Multi-Camera) \| Ben Freer, Jordan Meltzer and Jody McVeigh-Schultz {{small\|(for "Episode 1")}} \| {{nom}}
Outstanding Writing for Nonfiction Programming \| James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte {{small\|(for "Episode 1")}} \| {{nom}}
TCA Awards \| Outstanding Achievement in News and Information \| McMillions \| {{nom}} \| align="center"\|{{Cite web \|last=Mitovich \|first=Matt Webb \|date=July 9, 2020 \|title=TCA Awards: Watchmen, Unbelievable and Schitt's Creek Lead Nominations \|url=https://tvline.com/2020/07/09/tca-awards-nominations-2020-watchmen/ \|access-date=July 10, 2020 \|website=TVLine \|archive-date=July 10, 2020 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200710022818/https://tvline.com/2020/07/09/tca-awards-nominations-2020-watchmen/ \|url-status=live }}
rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| 2021 \| Hollywood Music in Media Awards \| Best Original Score in a Documentary TV Series \| Pinar Toprak \| {{nom}} \| align="center"\|{{Cite magazine \|last=Grein \|first=Paul \|date=January 27, 2021 \|title=Diane Warren & James Newton Howard Among Top Winners at 2021 Hollywood Music in Media Awards \|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/9517388/diane-warren-james-newton-howard-winners-2021-hollywood-music-in-media-awards/ \|magazine=Billboard \|accessdate=January 28, 2021 \|archive-date=January 28, 2021 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128041606/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/9517388/diane-warren-james-newton-howard-winners-2021-hollywood-music-in-media-awards/ \|url-status=live }}
Producers Guild of America Awards \| Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television \| Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Archie Gips, James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte \| {{nom}} \| align="center"\|{{Cite web \|last=Hill \|first=Libby \|date=March 8, 2021 \|title='Bridgerton' and 'Ted Lasso' Among PGA Awards TV Nominees \|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2021/03/pga-awards-nominations-tv-bridgerton-ted-lasso-1234621946/ \|access-date=March 8, 2021 \|website=Indiewire \|archive-date=March 9, 2021 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309160726/https://www.indiewire.com/2021/03/pga-awards-nominations-tv-bridgerton-ted-lasso-1234621946/ \|url-status=live }}

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Award

! Category

! Nominee(s)

! Result

! {{Abbr|Ref.|References}}

rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 2020

| rowspan="5"| Primetime Emmy Awards

| Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series

| Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Archie Gips, James Lee Hernandez, Brian Lazarte, Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller

| {{nom}}

| align="center" rowspan="5"|{{Cite web |title=McMillion$ |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/mcmillion |access-date=July 28, 2020 |website=Emmys.com |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences}}

Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score)

| Pinar Toprak & Alex Kovacs {{small|(for "Episode 1")}}

| {{nom}}

Outstanding Picture Editing for Nonfiction Programming

| Jody McVeigh-Schultz, Lane Farnham, James Lee Hernandez, Brian Lazarte and Scott Hanson {{small|(for "Episode 3")}}

| {{nom}}

Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program (Single or Multi-Camera)

| Ben Freer, Jordan Meltzer and Jody McVeigh-Schultz {{small|(for "Episode 1")}}

| {{nom}}

Outstanding Writing for Nonfiction Programming

| James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte {{small|(for "Episode 1")}}

| {{nom}}

TCA Awards

| Outstanding Achievement in News and Information

| McMillions

| {{nom}}

| align="center"|{{Cite web |last=Mitovich |first=Matt Webb |date=July 9, 2020 |title=TCA Awards: Watchmen, Unbelievable and Schitt's Creek Lead Nominations |url=https://tvline.com/2020/07/09/tca-awards-nominations-2020-watchmen/ |access-date=July 10, 2020 |website=TVLine |archive-date=July 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200710022818/https://tvline.com/2020/07/09/tca-awards-nominations-2020-watchmen/ |url-status=live }}

rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | 2021

| Hollywood Music in Media Awards

| Best Original Score in a Documentary TV Series

| Pinar Toprak

| {{nom}}

| align="center"|{{Cite magazine |last=Grein |first=Paul |date=January 27, 2021 |title=Diane Warren & James Newton Howard Among Top Winners at 2021 Hollywood Music in Media Awards |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/9517388/diane-warren-james-newton-howard-winners-2021-hollywood-music-in-media-awards/ |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=January 28, 2021 |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128041606/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/9517388/diane-warren-james-newton-howard-winners-2021-hollywood-music-in-media-awards/ |url-status=live }}

Producers Guild of America Awards

| Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television

| Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Archie Gips, James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte

| {{nom}}

| align="center"|{{Cite web |last=Hill |first=Libby |date=March 8, 2021 |title='Bridgerton' and 'Ted Lasso' Among PGA Awards TV Nominees |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2021/03/pga-awards-nominations-tv-bridgerton-ted-lasso-1234621946/ |access-date=March 8, 2021 |website=Indiewire |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309160726/https://www.indiewire.com/2021/03/pga-awards-nominations-tv-bridgerton-ted-lasso-1234621946/ |url-status=live }}

References

External links

[https://www.hbo.com/mcmillions McMillions] on HBO
[https://www.hbo.com/article/the-official-mc-millions-podcast McMillions companion podcast] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812083800/https://www.hbo.com/article/the-official-mc-millions-podcast |date=2022-08-12 }} on HBO
{{IMDb title|9148598}}

Category:2020 American television series debuts

Category:2020 American television series endings

Category:2020s American documentary television series

Category:2020s American television miniseries

Category:American English-language television shows

Category:HBO original programming

Category:HBO documentary films

Category:Documentary films about McDonald's

Category:True crime television series

Category:Monopoly (game)

Category:Television series by Home Box Office