Method and apparatus for interacting with media programming in real-time using a mobile telephone device

A system for providing real-time interaction with a multimedia program being presented to a viewer having an interactive end-user communications device, the system comprising:

• a memory storing a plurality of applets specific to different types of end-user communications devices;
• each applet including a timer and at least one interactive graphical user interface (GUI);
• at least one processor coupled to the memory;
• and
• an applet distribution program stored in the memory and executable by the processor, the applet distribution program operable to:
• provide an applet to the interactive end-user communications device, said applet including a timer and at least one interactive graphical user interface (GUI);
• synchronize activation of the applet with the multimedia program while being presented to the viewer, said applet being programmed to generate, at a first predetermined time, a first interactive graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on the end-user communications device, said first GUI displaying at least two values associated with the multimedia program for real-time selection by the viewer;
• and
• receive a response signal from the end-user communications device when at least a predetermined metric associated with correct selections of the at least two values by the viewer is satisfied.