caa821
Please, spare me!! This program was watchable at its beginning, and Howie Mandell is a likable presence. And even now, he does the best possible, given his "script," and the guests which the producers have chosen.I must admit, though, I still watch it some, with the sound muted about 90% of the time or more. Almost without exception the contestants act like yowling hyenas or screeching magpies, and their actions are a good approximation as well.If there are those who feel as I do, then suicide watches should be established for the inevitable moment when Howie says "...change your life" one too many times.The game is a simplistic lottery, with no way the contestants, who usually avow they have chosen a case with big bucks, could possibly have any intelligent reason for so believing. And then the Stepford models wish them luck, and purport sometimes to act if revealing a huge amount is somehow their fault. All they do is walk-on and stand like attractive cyborgs, holding an object with a figure enclosed which nobody viewing has any notion as to its amount.So why do I watch at all? First, it has reached the level, like some movies, as being so bad that it is (sometimes) pretty "good," in a fascinating way. And I hope to catch the occasional contestant for whom you can "root," who has the intelligence to take the 6-figure offer, perhaps $200,000 or more, rather than risk opening the one large case remaining, among several smaller ones. This would be like someone having a $200,000 bankroll in Vegas, and laying $150,000 on the table, knowing if they picked a low card (among, say, 4 or 5) they could make a nice winning but if they selected the high one, their 150 thou would be gone. No sane person should make this wager. Yet several who could have walked away with a quarter of a million or so have opened one case too many and left (if smart) with 30- to 50-thousand. But several of these have continued and opened the last reasonably large case to leave with $10,000 or less.Even the best poker players - the pros - go "on tilt" - playing stupidly the nest hand or two after a significant loss, compounding the problem, even though they know better. The contestants on this show do this a maximum speed.I'd also like to see the occasional show (only one I saw was close to this, although there have probably been some others) where a contestant opens almost nothing but low amounts.The reverse would interesting, where a contestant might open the cases with the nine largest amount initially.One other fact. Among the contestants, as well as the three friends/family each one has on-stage (they must be endured, as well, as well as Howie's banter with them) most seem to have one thing in common: whatever their ages, backgrounds or interests, few look like they have ever pushed away from the dinner table early, or refused additional helpings.On a recent program, the man playing turned-down $41,000, and then opened the last big case ($300,000) with $5,000 the highest of the few then remaining. He got to the point of a $2,500 "offer, with two cases remaining - $5,000 & $10. He kept "his" case, walked away with ten bucks, but with Howie's affirmation that he has a lovely family. On another, A young Korean man, for once a likable, non-annoying presence, announced his folks had come to America with just $750 to make a new life. His parents were in the audience (and thankfully, likable as well), and he had the good sense to take $200,000+, with $75, $750 and $750,000 remaining. The was indeed an interesting coincidence, and his case contained $750, more interesting yet. But Howie treated this as if it were just shy of being on the order or the "second coming." This show does not lack hyperbole in any way.
BlackJack_B
You know, I used to enjoy watching T.V. but today all we're getting is nothing but reality T.V. and terrible game shows that could never match such greats like The Price Is Right or Match Game. The dumbing-down of North American society mandated by Dubya and Hollywood continues to reach new lows and Deal Or No Deal isn't even the nadir.To be honest, I've played the game on occasion at parties and it's pretty fun. However, there is no skill involved except for trying to control your greed.The show, on the other hand, is absolutely unwatchable. It's not due to Howie Mandel, who I've always felt was a pretty talented guy or his models but for the contestants they bring in. These people represent the worst of North American society. Many of them deliver the exact stereotypes of a society gone terribly wrong. The accent has to be on "stereotype" because I can't believe any of these individuals are "regular people". I believe that no money is being won and the "contestants" and their "families" are just actors from Casting Central. However, the job of DOND is to convince the dumbed-down society that this is a legit game show and with the I.Q. of the viewing audience being lowered they believe that the show is legitimate. After all, if it's on T.V. it is real. Uh-huh.Of course, staid contestants wouldn't bring in the big ratings. The over-the-top, overdone, over-everything reactions and stylings of the "contestants" are the reason the populace loves this show. In today's anything-goes-before-Armageddon T.V. this is what brings in the bacon. No successful show has staid qualities.Sadly, all I can do is simply shake my head. I'm probably the only person who pities Howie Mandel. He deserves better than this. I think doing comedy in Las Vegas and being the spokesman for Boston Pizza in Canada was better than this. Oh well...
tpir72
Hi,It has already been revealed that the Banker is the producer. Most gameshow have a rule bible that fleshes out every possible scenario or what if, if/then. I'm certain the producer/banker has a cheat sheet laying out if case $ 1.00, $100,000 and $ 1,000,000 is gone then offer XXXXX. That would be the best way to handle it in production so all the CG's were available for the "offer" graphic.According to NBC's website the show is taped in Los Angeles. Here's the full credits offered again from NBC's site.Regards,TerryCREDITS: Day & time: Mondays (8-9 p.m. ET) and Thursdays (9-10 p.m. ET) on NBC Premiere date: December 19, 2005 Host: Howie Mandel Executive producer: Scott St. John Creator: Dick Derijk Director: R. Brian DiPirro Supervising producer: Mashawn Nix Executive in charge of production: Jack Martin Set designers: Anton Goss and John Ivo Gilles Lighting designer: Michael Veerkamp Wardrobe designer: Dina Cerchione Music: Groove Addicts Graphics: Fish Eggs Origination: Los Angeles From: Endemol USA
