Ep 1. Episode 1

McMillion$ is a true crime documentary series that explores the complex and fascinating story of how the McDonald's Monopoly game was rigged for over a decade. The first episode of the series, titled Episode 1, sets the stage for the rest of the series by introducing the players involved in the scam and the basic premise of the fraud.

The episode begins with a series of interviews with former McDonald's employees who worked on the Monopoly promotion during the late 80s and early 90s. They describe the excitement and frenzy that surrounded the game, and how customers would line up around the block to get their hands on the coveted game pieces. However, they also hint at the dark underbelly of the promotion, describing how some customers would threaten violence when they didn't win, and how some of the employees would steal winning pieces and sell them on the black market.

From there, the episode introduces the mastermind behind the scam: Jerry Jacobson. A former cop and security officer, Jacobson was hired by a company called Simon Marketing to oversee the printing and distribution of the Monopoly game pieces. However, Jacobson soon realized that he could use his position to his advantage. He began stealing winning pieces and distributing them to family and friends, who would then claim the prizes and split the profits with him. Over the years, Jacobson and his accomplices managed to steal over $24 million in cash and prizes from the McDonald's Monopoly game.

The episode then introduces the various players involved in the scam, including Jacobson's close friend and fellow thief Gennaro "Jerry" Colombo, a crew of middlemen who helped distribute the winning pieces, and a host of unsuspecting "winners" who were recruited to claim the prizes on behalf of the thieves. The episode also describes how the scam was able to go undetected for so long, due to a combination of McDonald's lax oversight and the sheer number of people involved in the scheme.

Throughout the episode, the filmmakers use a mix of interview footage and archival materials to tell the story. They also employ a playful and irreverent tone, using quick edits and snappy music to create a sense of levity even in the midst of a serious crime. This tone helps keep the episode engaging and entertaining, even as it delves into the nitty-gritty details of the scam.

Overall, Episode 1 sets the stage for what promises to be a thrilling and shocking series. By the end of the episode, viewers are left with many questions: How did Jacobson manage to pull off the scam for so long? Who else was involved? And, most importantly, how was the whole thing finally uncovered? With six more episodes to go, there's no doubt that McMillion$ has many more twists and turns to come.