Let's Make a Deal

Let's Make a Deal is a television game show which originated in the United States and has since been produced in many countries throughout the world. The show is based around deals offered to members of the audience by the host. The traders usually have to weigh the possibility of an offer being for a valuable prize, or an undesirable item, referred to as a "Zonk". Let's Make a Deal is also known for the various unusual and crazy costumes worn by audience members, who dressed up that way in order to increase their chances of being selected as a trader. The show was hosted for many years by Monty Hall, who co-produced the show with Stefan Hatos.

Broadcast History

The original and most widely-known version of the show aired from 1963 to 1976 on both NBC and ABC. A weekly nighttime syndicated version of the show aired from 1971 to 1977. Two daily syndicated versions aired in the 1980s, one a Canadian-based revival that aired from 1980 to 1981, and The All New Let's Make a Deal, which aired from 1984 to 1986. NBC aired a daytime series in 1990–1991 and three episodes of a weekly prime time version in 2003.

The weekly nighttime syndicated version, seen from 1971–1977, was distributed by ABC Films and its successor, Worldvision Enterprises. The 1980 daily syndicated version was co-produced and distributed by Canadian production company Catalena Productions (Rhodes Productions was the U.S. distributor). The 1984 daily syndicated version was distributed by Telepictures. One episode of the show was part of the summer replacement series Gameshow Marathon on CBS in 2006, hosted by Ricki Lake.

.]] On July 8, 2009 a pilot was taped at CBS Television City, with Wayne Brady as host and Jonathan Mangum as announcer. Let's Make a Deal was one of three games the network considered, along with revivals of Pyramid and The Dating Game, to fill the time slot vacated by the cancellation of the soap opera Guiding Light. The program premiered on CBS on October 5, 2009, and affiliates may carry the show at different times depending on their commitments to syndicated programming. The usual time slots are 10 AM, 2 PM or 3 PM in the Eastern and Pacific Time Zones, one hour earlier in the Central and Mountain zones. Monty Hall returned to this version as a creative consultant.

From September 27 until October 1, 2010, two original episodes aired each day, between the cancellation of As the World Turns and the debut of The Talk , as CBS used the first three weeks of the vacancy to air two original episodes a day of both CBS game shows (The Price Is Right aired two first-run episodes the week before and the week after Let's Make a Deal had its week of two episodes); the second episode of the game show given the double run aired at 2 PM ET/PT. The first two-thirds of the first season was taped at the Tropicana Resort in Las Vegas. In late 2009, Tiffany Coyne replaced Fiori as model on the show; those episodes began airing in February 2010. Some episodes from the show's initial sessions, taped in September 2009, were not scheduled for airing until August 2010. The final weeks of the first season moved to the Sunset Bronson Studios at KTLA in Los Angeles. Hatos-Hall Productions, along with FremantleMedia North America, is credited as co-production company. As of 2011, it is one of only two CBS network programs not yet broadcast in HDTV, instead broadcasting solely in standard-definition 480i. The program will return for the 2011–2012 season, alongside the 40th season of The Price is Right.

Format

Each episode of Let's Make a Deal (which was billed by Jay Stewart, who served as the show's announcer from 1964 until 1977, as "The Marketplace of America") consisted of several "deals" between the host and a member or members of the audience as traders. Audience members were picked at the host's whim as the show went along, and couples were often selected to play together as traders. The "deals" were mini-games within the show that took several formats.

In the simplest format, a trader was given a prize of medium value (such as a television set), and the host offered them the opportunity to trade for another prize. However, the offered prize was unknown. It might be concealed on the stage behind one of three curtains, or behind "boxes" onstage (large panels painted to look like boxes), within smaller boxes brought out to the audience, or occasionally in other formats. The initial prize given to the trader might also be concealed, such as in a box, wallet or purse, or the trader might be initially given a box or curtain. The format varied widely.

Technically, traders were supposed to bring something to trade in, but this rule was seldom enforced. On several occasions, a trader would actually be asked to trade in an item such as his or her shoes or purse, only to receive the item back at the end of the deal as a "prize". On at least one occasion, the purse was taken backstage and a high-valued prize was placed inside of it.

Prizes generally were either a legitimate prize, cash, or a "Zonk". Legitimate prizes ran the gamut of what was given away on game shows during the era (trips, fur coats, electronics, furniture, appliances, and cars). Zonks were unwanted booby prizes which could be anything from animals to large amounts of food to something outlandish like a giant article of clothing, a room full of junked furniture, or a junked car. Sometimes Zonks were legitimate prizes but of a low value such as "Matchbox" cars, wheelbarrows, T-shirts, small food or non-food grocery prizes, etc. On rare occasions, a trader would appear to get Zonked, but the Zonk would be a cover-up for a legitimate prize.

Though usually considered joke prizes, traders legally won the Zonks. However, after the taping of the show, any trader who had been Zonked would be offered a consolation prize instead of having to take home the actual Zonk. This is partly because some of the Zonks were intrinsically impossible to receive or deliver to the traders. For example, if a trader won an animal, he or she could legally insist that it be awarded to them, but chances are that the trader did not have the means to care for it. In fact, a disclaimer at the end of the credits of later 1970s episodes read "Some traders accept reasonable duplicates of Zonk prizes."

On some episodes, the first trader(s) offered an unknown prize kept it for much of the show, not trading it in until the Big Deal.

In addition, as the end credits of the show rolled, it was typical for Hall to ask random members of the studio audience to participate in fast deals (Wayne Brady refers to these as "quickie deals"). The deals were usually in the form of the following:

Offering cash to one person in the audience who had a certain item on them

Offering a small cash amount for each item of a certain quantity

Offering cash for each instance of a particular digit as it occurred in the serial number on a dollar bill, driver's license, etc.

Offering to pay the last check in the person's checkbook (up to a certain limit, usually $500 or $1,000) if they had one

Other deal formats

Deals were often more complicated than the basic format described above. Additionally, some deals took the form of games of chance, and others in the form of pricing games.

Trading deals

Choosing an envelope, purse, wallet, etc., which concealed dollar bills. One of them concealed a pre-announced value (usually $1 or $5), which awarded a car or trip. The other envelopes contained a larger amount of money as a consolation prize. The trader had to decide whether to keep his/her choice or trade. In some playings it was possible for more than one trader to win the grand prize.

Making decisions for another person, such as a husband or wife, or a series of unrelated traders. Sometimes after several offers, the teams would be broken up to make an individual decision.

Being presented with a large grocery item (e.g., a box of candy bars)—almost always containing a hidden cash amount—or a "claim check" at the start of the show. Throughout the show, the trader was given several chances to trade the item and/or give it to another trader in exchange for a different box or curtain. The final trader in possession of the item prior to the Big Deal was usually offered first choice of the three doors in exchange for giving up the item. The contents of the item was only revealed after the Big Deal was awarded (or prior to the Big Deal if the last trader with the item elected to choose one of the three doors).

Games of chance

Games of chance range wide in variety and format.

Collecting a certain amount of money hidden inside wallets, envelopes, etc., or by pressing unlabeled buttons on a cash register, in order to reach a pre-stated "selling price" for a larger prize, such as a car, trip or larger amount of cash.

Choosing one from among several items (e.g., one of three keys that unlocks a safe, one of three diamond rings that is genuine, one of three eggs that is raw, etc.) in order to win money or a prize.

Games involving a deck of cards in which a trader must find matching cards, draw cards that reach a cumulative total within a certain number of draws, etc. to win a prize or additional money.

Receiving clues about an unknown prize (such as a partial spelling of the prize or clues in the form or rap, rhyme, etc.) and deciding whether to take the unknown prize or a cash prize.

Rolling dice to receive cash based on the roll or achieving a cumulative score within a certain number of rolls to win a larger prize.

Beat the Dealer

Three traders chose envelopes to start the game. Two of them contained $1,000, the other $100 (or $500 and $50 in earlier versions). The two dealers who chose the $1,000 continued on to try to win an additional prize by picking the higher-ranked card out of nine off a game board. The trader who won could then risk the prize and the cash by picking two more cards, one for themselves and one for the host, winner take all. If the trader picked the higher card for themselves, they added a new car (or another big prize); otherwise, they lost everything.

Pricing games

Other deals related to pricing merchandise were featured in order to win a larger prize or cash amounts. Sometimes traders are required to price individual items (either grocery products or prizes generally valued less than $100) within a certain range to win successively larger prizes or a car. Other times traders must choose an item that a pre-announced price or two items with prices that total a certain amount to win a larger prize.

Door #4 (1984–1986 only)

Played every few days, a trader was chosen by a computer at random based on a number which now appeared on the trader's tag (1 to 36). Originally, the chosen trader was offered a sure-thing or choosing an unknown cash amount hidden behind Door #4, which ranged from $1–$5,000.

Later, A 20-space carnival wheel was brought out from behind Door #4, which contained cash amounts from $100–$5,000. The trader spun the wheel and could keep the cash amount on which the wheel stopped, or risk their winnings for another spin. However, if the amount of the second spin was less than the first amount spun, the trader won nothing. Also on the wheel was a space marked "Double Deal", which doubled the trader's spin, for a possible total of $10,000. If the trader spun Double Deal with both spins, they also won $10,000.

The trader was given $750 and could return the money for a spin of the carnival wheel, which now contained amounts ranging from $100–$3,000, plus two spaces which read "Car". Also on the wheel were spaces that doubled or tripled the trader's money, as well as "Zonk" spaces. If the trader spun a Zonk, the trader received a T-shirt that read "I was ZONKED by Monty Hall". The initial cash buyout was later upped from $750 to $1,000, upon which the highest cash value on the wheel was raised to $4,000.

Big Deal

Each show ends with the Big Deal. Beginning with the day's biggest winner, and moving in order to the winner of the lowest prize value, the host would ask each trader if they wanted to trade their winnings for a spot in the Big Deal (whose value was usually revealed at that point). He would continue asking until two traders agreed to participate. However, in the 2009 version, the game was administered in similar fashion to the Super Deal.

The Big Deal involves three doors, famously known as "Door #1", "Door #2", and "Door #3", each of which contained a prize or prize package. The top winner of the two was offered the first choice of a door, and the second trader was then offered a choice of the two remaining doors. One door hid the day's Big Deal, which was usually more than the top prize offered to that point. It often included the day's most expensive prize (a luxury or sports car, a trip, furniture/appliances, a fur, cash, or a combination of two or more of said items). The other two doors concealed prizes or prize packages of lesser value. The Big Deal does not offer Zonks, although there was always the possibility that a trader could wind up with less than his or her original winnings. All three doors are opened, in order of increasing value.

Sometimes one of the doors contains a cash prize, contained within a container such as "Monty's Cookie Jar", "Monty's Piggy Bank", a "LMaD Claim Check", or in the CBS version, the "Let's Make a Deal Vault". In some cases these cash prizes have been the Big Deal, but often they are not.

The CBS version of the Big Deal is administered in similar fashion as in earlier versions. However, only one trader plays for the Big Deal.

Super Deal

During the 1975–1976 syndicated season, a new "Super Deal" was offered for Big Deal winners. At this point, Big Deals were limited to a range of $8,000 to $10,000. The trader could risk their Big Deal winnings on a 1-in-3 shot at adding a $20,000 cash prize. The other two doors caused the trader to lose the "Big Deal", but he or she took home a $1,000 or $2,000 consolation prize. Given this scenario, a Super Deal winner could win as much as $30,000 in cash and prizes. Later, the consolation prize was changed to $2,000 and a "mystery amount" between $1,000 and $9,000.

The Super Deal was discontinued when the show permanently moved to Las Vegas for the final season (1976–1977), and Big Deal values returned to their previous range of $10,000 to $15,000.

Value

The Big Deal values shown in the table are to give a general idea of the average value of said prize package. On occasion, Big Deals were worth considerably more than the highest stated value in a particular version.

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cell spacing="1" style="border-collapse: collapse" |- style="background:#87CEEB; text-align:center" !width=210|Version !width=250|Value !width=400|Notes |- |1963–1977 (NBC/ABC/Syndicated) |Daytime: $1,750–$5,000 Primetime/Syndicated: $7,000–$20,000+ |The Big Deal in the 1963 pilot was $2,005. During the syndicated years, prizes that were normally part of the daytime Big Deal (such as cars, trips, and fur coats) were often part of the runner-up door. |- |1980–1981 (Syndicated) |$5,000–$6,000 |Cash prizes were given in the form of "Monty Dollars" or "Let's Make a Deal Money". As explained on-air, the show was seen in both the United States and Canada, and traders could take home money in US or Canadian currency. Most preferred the greenback because of its then-relative strength. |- |1984–1986 (Syndicated) |1984–1985: $6,000–$8,000 1985–1986: $8,000–$12,000+ | |- |1990–1991 (NBC Daytime) |$12,000–$20,000 | |- |2003 (NBC Prime time) |$50,000+ |The largest Big Deal in the three aired episodes was $57,099. |- |2005 (Spanish / Univision) |Daytime: $3,000–$5,000 Prime time Specials: $26,000 | |- |2009–present (CBS Daytime) |$20,000–$50,000 |Unlike previous versions, only one trader (or couple) plays. |- |}

Audience attire

When the series began, studio audience members wore suits and ties or dresses. Over time the show gradually evolved into the costume-wearing menagerie it became. In 2003, GSN presented the May 25, 1963 pilot with commentary from host Hall. In the special, Hall mentioned that two weeks into the series (January 1964), an audience member had brought in a small placard that read "Roses are red, violets are blue, I came here to deal with you!" The placard caught Hall's attention, and he chose the trader to make a deal. On later tapings, more people began bringing signs. Again to get Hall's attention, another audience member showed up at a taping wearing a crazy hat, which also eventually caught on with others. The costumes and signs became a part of the show itself and got crazier and crazier as the show went on.

The most frequently-asked question was if the show provided the zany costumes for the studio audience. The standard but ambiguous response was that all traders came to the studio "dressed as they are", in the words of Jay Stewart.

Reception

Upon the original Let's Make a Deal's debut, journalist Charles Witbeck was skeptical of the show's chances of success, noting that the previous four NBC programs to compete with CBS' Password had failed. Some critics described the show as "mindless" and "demeaning to contestants and audiences alike."

By 1974, however, the show had spent more than a decade at or near the top of daytime ratings, and became the highest-rated syndicated primetime program. – there were 350 seats available for each show, and a wait time of two-to-three years after requesting a ticket. In 2006, GSN aired a series of specials counting down its own list of the "50 Greatest Game Shows of All Time", on which Let's Make a Deal was #7.

Episode status

Many of the show's estimated five thousand plus episodes exist:

NBC Daytime/Nighttime: Status is unknown, though it is very likely that the original tapes were wiped as they were recorded over by NBC with new programming in an era when videotape was prohibitively expensive. The 1963 pilot exists, with Wendell Niles as announcer, traders in normal business attire (typical of its first season), and a Zonk behind one of the doors in the Big Deal (worth $2,005). Zonks have never been in the big deal since. The 1967 nighttime finale exists in the Library of Congress, along with a few scattered daytime episodes. Three daytime episodes are at the Paley Center for Media.

ABC Daytime: More than 500 episodes exist. A clip from the ABC daytime premiere was used on Monty Hall's "Biography", which aired during Game Show Week on A&E.; Another episode from 1969 was found, which features a gaffe that Hall himself rated as his most embarrassing moment on Let's Make a Deal – at the end of the show, he attempted to make a deal with a woman carrying a baby's bottle. Noting that it had a removable rubber nipple, he offered the woman $100 if she could show him another nipple (she didn't). This clip was restored utilizing the LiveFeed Video Imaging kinescope restoration process, and was re-aired in 2008 as part of NBC's Most Outrageous Moments series. Episodes substitute-hosted by Dennis James exist in his personal library; a clip from one of his episodes was featured in a 1972 pitch film for The New Price Is Right, whose nighttime version was hosted by James.

ABC Nighttime/1971–1977 Syndicated: Exist almost in their entirety and have been seen on GSN in the past. The Family Channel reran the syndicated series from June 7, 1993 to March 29, 1996. :(NOTE: All episodes exist from 1980 onward.)

The 1980–1981 Canadian version was seen in reruns on the Global Television Network for much of the 1980s.

The 1984–1986 syndicated version has been seen on GSN in the past. Reruns previously aired on the USA Network from December 29, 1986 to December 30, 1988 and The Family Channel from August 30, 1993 to September 29, 1995.

The 1990s NBC version has not been seen since its cancellation.

The 2003 NBC prime time version only aired three of the five episodes produced, with no rebroadcasts since.

International

RTL Group holds international (and as of February 2009, American) rights to the show, and has licensed the show to 14 countries. An Australian version aired from 1976–1977 on Channel Nine. A new Australian version of Let's Make a Deal has had its pilot taped and is expected to air on the Nine Network once again. The French version was called Le Bigdil and aired weeknights from 1998–2004 on TF1. Although the framing concept of the show is similar to the American version of Let's Make a Deal, stunts similar to those seen on Beat the Clock are played throughout the show as well. A German version called Geh aufs Ganze! ran from 1992–2003. The show began on Sat.1 and later moved to kabel 1. The show was initially hosted Jörg Draeger, who was later succeeded by Elmar Hörig. The German version of the Zonk was an always a red and black plush mouse the trader got to take home. The show is scheduled to air on Alpha TV in Greece as an hour-long series. 140 episodes have been ordered.

A Spanish-language American version called Trato Hecho aired on Univision in 2005. Guillermo Huesca was the host.

The Turkish version is Seç Bakalım, hosted by Erhan Yazıcıoğlu with Spice Girl Geri Halliwell as a model. An Indonesian version debuted on the antv at April 2006 (now airs back since April 28, 2010), as Super Deal 2 Milyar (Super Deal Two Billions). An Indian version was aired on Star Plus for two seasons and was called Khul Ja Sim Sim. The Polish version is called Idź na całość! and has aired since 1997.

Home games

In 1964, Milton Bradley released a home version of Let's Make a Deal featuring gameplay similar to the television show. In 1974, Ideal Toys released an updated version of the game featuring Hall on the box cover, which was also given to all traders on the syndicated version in the 1974–75 season. An electronic tabletop version by Tiger Electronics was released in 1998. In the late summer of 2006, an interactive DVD version of Let's Make a Deal was released by Imagination Games, which also features classic clips from the Monty Hall years of the show. In 2010, Pressman Toy Corporation released an updated version of the box game, still played like the 1964 and 1974 versions, featuring Brady on the box cover.

Various U.S. lotteries have included instant lottery tickets based on Let's Make a Deal.

"The Monty Hall Problem"

The Monty Hall Problem, also called the Monty Hall paradox, is a veridical paradox because the result appears odd but is demonstrably true. The Monty Hall problem, in its usual interpretation, is mathematically equivalent to the earlier Three Prisoners problem, and both bear some similarity to the much older Bertrand's box paradox. The problem examines the counter-intuitive effect of switching one's choice of doors, one of which hides a "prize."

The problem has been analyzed many times, in books, articles and online. In an interview with The New York Times reporter John Tierney in 1991, Hall gave an explanation of the solution to that problem, stating that he played on the psychology of the contestant, and why the solution did not apply to the case of the actual show.

References

External links

CBS' official website for their version

Official Let's Make a Deal website (all versions)

CBC Television Archives profile of Monty Hall with behind-the-scenes footage of Let's Make a Deal (1970)

Monty Hall interview on TVParty.com

Category:American game shows Category:Australian game shows Category:Canadian game shows Category:CBS network shows Category:NBC network shows Category:American Broadcasting Company network shows] [[Category:First-run syndicated television programs in the United States Category:1963 television series debuts Category:1960s American television series Category:1970s American television series Category:1980s American television series Category:1990s American television series Category:2000s American television series Category:2010s American television series Category:Television series by Stefan Hatos-Monty Hall Productions Category:Television series by CBS Paramount Television Category:Television series by Warner Bros. Television Category:Television series by FremantleMedia Category:Television series by Dick Clark Productions