As promised, here’s the inside scoop from the set of this years Christmas episode of “Deal or No Deal” that filmed in the month of September. A HOLLYWOOD JUNKET host was there, and here’s her first-hand account!
Written by: Charity C.
I can’t believe what happened at the Christmas taping of “Deal or No Deal”! The set looked amazing with all of the Christmas trees and fake snow scattered about! I just loved how the cases were Christmas boxes! It would’ve been funny if I jumped out of the box, but that would probably be a different show! Anyways, I got carried away again. I think it’s because of how the taping started off with the contestant coming on stage on a sleigh, with his wife to come and meet Howie!
It was nice to see the models all dressed in white dresses that made them look like cute snowflakes. Some of the models ice skated in front of Howie and the contestant. It was really cool because I got to sit on stage with the models with my feet in the fake snow. The models were ice skating in front of me and I could clearly see Howie and the contestant. I was so close to Howie, that I told him congratulations for his Walk of Fame Star! He said, “Thanks!”
The whole audience was fascinated by the contestant because he served in Iraq and was awarded a Purple Heart as well as a Silver Star. The contestant also has an action figure after him! He saved one of his buddies from a car bombing in Iraq! The contestant said that when he knew that his best friend was in danger, he turned around in risking his own safety to save his friend!
The contestant just got married. So, his wife was still wearing her tiara from their wedding. They just got married a couple of days before the taping! It was so cute because they showed a clip of their wedding and the priest said, “Do you take this woman to be your wife, deal or no deal?” Everyone was chuckling at that. Howie reacted, “Uh that’s my line!”
Difference with the Christmas special was that they played a side game where if the contestant opened up a case that had a reindeer with the low number cases, and if the contestant opened up all the low cases with the reindeer names in it before his game was up, they would add $25,000 dollars to his winnings! Not only that, the audience would win prizes as well! And, sure enough he got his side winnings and the audience got their prizes!
The Sony Mylo I won, snapped this shot of the DEAL gifts I got!
The prizes ranged from an XBOX 360, Guitar Hero Rock Band, two tickets to Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson’s movie, “Marley and Me”. Now, in order to introduce that prize, it was cute because there is a dog that stars in the movie and he actually came out on stage and ran around the set to promote his movie! We also have a $100 dollar check that will be mailed to everyone and we all got Sony Mylos! Yeah, the Mylos are cool cause it’s like an iphone, but there’s just no phone! It’s cool! So all of our prizes ended up being a total of $2500 worth! After this taping, I really do feel that miracles can really happen! Thanks “Deal or No Deal”!
Posted November 21st, 2008by AdministratorNo Comments »
The following is an update to a recent post we reported regarding rumors about the
NBC game show, DEAL OR NO DEAL.
The facts are: DEAL OR NO DEAL halted filming of both day time and prime time versions at the end of September of this year. Neither one has yet to start back up. The prime time DEAL was only a few months into filming of its fourth season when this surprise hiatus took place.
Some more facts have been revealed to me by an inside source. According to this source, the prime time show was suppose to return this month, then it got pushed to December, now January. And, truthfully, this source said, it’s not 100% certain yet if the show will indeed return in January either.
A suggestion this source made - ALL fans should write to NBC to tell the network, and Jeff Zucker (President and Chief Executive Officer of NBC Universal) how much they love the show.
30 Rockfeller Plaza, Room 1802 New York, NY 10112.
More updates to come as news develops. On a lighter note, stay tuned for our report of this year’s DEAL Christmas episode. A Hollywood Junket host was there!
The latest word on the set is: DEAL OR NO DEAL may be canceled.
According to some of the rumors floating around town, as in Hollywood, both prime time DEAL’ and daytime DEAL’ halted filming
for about a month to work-out some issues. Now, insiders are buzzing in our ears, that one may not be returning to production.
My guess is that it’s the daytime version, since ratings have not been high. Again, these are only rumors. We’ll get back to you all once we know the real deal!
HOLLYWOOD JUNKET is currently on the NBC/DEAL OR NO DEAL web site. We visited the set last season to interview
models and various staff on set, including, Nick The Model PA.
Spoiler Alert! This just in from the set of DEAL’.
Filming just wrapped about an hour ago on their first day back of filming, prime time version of “Deal or No Deal”, now in season four. A Hollywood Junket host reported back that the game finally had it’s first million dollar winner!
Yes, that’s right! It happened during the second half of taping on the first day back from hiatus.
Howie Mandel fake money.
After the contestant opened the million dollar case, confetti fell down, along with fake Howie Mandel $100 bills. All of the DEAL’ models joined them on stage as publicity photos were shot along with an interview of the winner. When Howie asked the contestant, what they are going to do with the money they said one of the things on the list is to buy a second-hand car. Howie reacted in surprise.
See VIDEO INTERVIEW with DEAL’ Model, Marisa Petroro (#18) backstage last season! Go to: HollywoodJunket.com
The latest happenings on the set of “Deal or No Deal” syndication filming: One contestant got so riled-up about the Banker’s offer, he slammed the “Deal” button cover down so hard that the cover slipped off of the podium and fell apart. The buzzer remained on the podium, but on its side. He continued the game using the fractured buzzer which still worked. It was a “play it as it lies” situation. Members of the crew worked diligently to put it back together after the contestant finished his game.
DEAL’ did special themed “couples” episodes. The first in the series was newlywed couples. Each set of couples stood at the case podiums. One couple selected by the “Deal Wheel” got a raw deal with their cases. Their luck was so bad, they managed to open ALL of the first 10 cases, high amount cases. They were left with the highest option case of $500. Their game was stopped by production after Act 2, and the contestants were sent away with $500. Their episode will not air. The show had to let another couple be selected from the “Deal Wheel” to play out a game for television.
However, the last game of the day, was struck with more bad luck. Their game ended with the option of winning only $10. According to one audience member, Howie did such an amazing job at saving the show with his comedy skills, it will most likely be aired.
The next series of couples shows filmed the next day, was twins. A bit more bad luck. The majority of the twin contestants opened all of their highest cases which in this game, there are only three of them: $100,00; 250,00; $500,000. I doubt that “Deal or No Deal” will be trying the double contestant games again anytime soon.
Good news for DEAL’ Model fans - the original prime time game show starts back filming this Wednesday! There was a casting call just last week for “Deal or No Deal” models in Hollywood. So, looks like we’ll be seeing one or two new ladies behind the cases this season. We’ll keep you all updated.
If you’re a fan of the show, and ever wondered what it would be like to stand in the models’ places, you may have your chance!
DEAL OR NO DEAL finally started taping its daytime, syndicated version last week. To adjust the show from prime time and into
daytime, some changes have been made to make it a bit lighter and quicker. The first being, MODELS! Viewers will not hear a 26 unified “Hi Howie”, but, only two ladies, Patricia Kara (#9), and Tameka Jacobs (#21) uphold the traditional host greeting.
Patricia cheers-on an audience member playing a game conducted by warm-up host during show break. “Deal Wheel” in the background.
Howie still hosts the show in full suit. In place of the gorgeous models are some real, non-camera shy folks picked as potential contestants. Only 22 cases and contestants are in play. A gold ball is dropped into a glass-enclosed “Deal Wheel” by Tameka while Patricia spins the wheel. Whatever number the ball falls on, correlates to the number of case/contestant is called down to play the game. Each person called down, does not have the benefit of having friends and family in attendance for moral support.
Howie enters the stage for a fresh taping of DEAL OR NO DEAL daytime version.
Tameka and Patricia take their places on both sides of the stage with contestants and are in charge of collecting the cases chosen and handing them off to production staff backstage. It’s very Vana White-like, but instead of turning numbers, they’re picking-up cases.
The case count is 5-5-4-2-2-1-1 with the two remaining cases left, one of which is the one the contestant either was given a the beginning of the show, or decided to trade out for another one. If a contestant choses to switch his or her case, their old case is given to the contestant he or she is switching with.
Also, all 22 contestants are kept for a 5-game run. That means, with the exception of contestants that are called down to play, they have a guaranteed five chances to get called. However, for the ones that are called, they are replaced with “alternates” (we spoke to one such alternate after the show) who play for the remaining of the five games. So, if “Joe Blow” gets called down for game number 4, then his alternate will play out the remaining of the five, which would be only one, game number 5. Contestants’ who don’t make it down to the stage, are kept in the show’s database to be considered for future shows (daytime and prime time alike)
Contestants take the stage where models stand during the prime time show.
The stakes are a lot lower. The highest number on the board on the left is, $500. Highest numbers on the right are: $50,000, $75,000, $100,000, $250,00, and $500,00. Only half a million can be won on daytime.
Money offered by the Banker seems to be contingent on how well he likes the contestant. If you’re ever on the game, you better hope he likes you because it can be a big factor on how much you walk away with.
DEAL OR NO DEAL started taping it’s new daytime version May 21st. A few major changes have been made to the favored prime time game show. First, and foremost, MODELS! The twenty-six beautiful ladies that grace the stage weekly, have been immensely narrowed down to just two- Patricia, and Tameka.
The game is played slightly differently. A pool of 22 contestants stand in place of the usual 26 models, each with their own case. One contestant is chosen from that pool to ascend to the stage to play the game with Howie hosting. Contestants are chosen randomly through the luck of a ball landing on their number in a wheel that is spun by Patricia Kara (#9), and Tameka Jacobs (#21).
From there, the contestant plays the game traditionally. Only, instead of having a chance to win $1 million, the highest amount on the board is, $500,000.
The Banker is still very much present, and a lot stingier, offering a lot of low amounts. If you want to win some serious cash on this show folks, better stick to getting onto the prime time one.
This version moves a lot quicker. It’s lighter and only a half-hour.
NBC’s THE AMERICAN GLADIATORS have been filming for the past few weeks. They will be wrapping-up filming for the second season next Tuesday, May 6th. There are a lot of strong contenders with strong personalities this season, and the audience already have their favorites. Click this link for full audience video reviews: http://www.hollywoodjunket.com/AudWrap.html
One new game added this season is “Atlasphere”. Think, gerbil in a ball. Two Gladiators and two Contenders get inside of a big, metal ball weighing 650 lbs. They must use their body weight and strength to run inside of the ball to maneuver the ball on top of a “pod” which are placed throughout the arena. Each pod is worth two points.
New American Gladiator, “Hurricane”, standing outside of the 650 lb ball he competed in, in “Atlasphere.”
Justice, and Wolf in the arena before competing in “Atlasphere”. See one of the pods to the left.
New rules added to the “Gauntlet” are now the Contenders get five points if they complete in 30 seconds, and 10 points if they complete it in 20 seconds.
In-person, the Gladiators are very friendly, and always taking every opportunity to sign autographs for the fans in the bleachers (see photos).
Militia signs a T-Shirt for a young fan in the bleachers.
Titan gives some fans his autograph.
Wolf howls at the audience.
But, when one of the stronger contenders, James whose a football player, went through the “Gauntlet” and gave one of the new Gladiators, Zen, an “open-handed” (as he stated) push, Militia mistook it for a punch and hurled James onto the mat. The referee, Al, instructed Militia to take a time out in the penalty box. Wolf talked to Militia to try to calm things down, but it was very clear that Militia was genuinely upset. It appeared that someone was about to get knocked-out, and it wasn’t going to be a Gladiator. Twenty-two seconds was placed back onto the clock for James to finish the “Gauntlet”. James came out visibly bloody and bruised.
One game before that incident, “American Gladiator”, Justice, body-slammed another contestant in the “Gauntlet”. He was not penalized, but was chastised by the referee.
Word on the set is: Third season is set to start filming in November.
Next month, DEAL OR NO DEAL will finally begin shooting a daytime version of the game show, following in the footsteps of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”. I write “finally” because it is something the show has been trying to work-out for some time now. One of the main factors for the delay was deciding on a host. It has already been announced that Howie Mandel will host the day time version as well. Filming will be three days a week for their newly syndicated half hour daytime spot which will air five days a week! Word on the set is:So far, only two of the models have been asked to join the daytime version.
