HOLLYWOOD JUNKET stopped-by the newly relocated set from Las Vegas to Los Angeles earlier this week to interview Monty Hall. He revealed some interesting things to our host, DEAL OR NO DEAL model, Marisa Petroro (case #18).

“The Monty Hall Problem” was too time consuming to explain during the interview, but, a very important factor to take into account of this mathematical probability problem, is the psychological factor that is placed upon the contestant by Hall. He explained how he “played” contestants while presenting them with door options vs money options. As the money options go up, the contestants become convinced that whatever is behind their chosen door must be worth more than all the money Hall is offering them. This is explained in detail in the following New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/21/us/behind-monty-hall-s-doors-puzzle-debate-and-answer.html?pagewanted=all

During his visit, Hall mentioned that two of his favorite costumes that day were Laurel & Hardy, and a dinning room table. Hall states that contestants are never picked for their costumes, “because then it would become a costume show”. He describes a costume that he wore at a costume party a few years ago that won him the costume contest.

With his appearance, Hall will be the first emcee to host a game show for six consecutive decades, beating-out “The Newlywed Game” host, Bob Eubanks, who hosted for five decades including last season’s appearance on the updated version of ‘Newlywed Game” with current host, Carnie Wilson.

For tickets to “Let’s Make a Deal” go to: http://www.cbs.com/daytime/lets_make_a_deal/tickets/. Contestants should be at least 18 years old, bring their current valid ID and of course costumes are always encouraged. Audience members have a 1 in 18 chance of being picked to make a deal.

Today, fans of the show will be in for three special guests! Susan Boyle will perform, along with Cirque Du Soleil and one more to still be announced!

Susan Boyle to perform today for AGT season finale on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, September 16th the live results finale will include a special performance by Shakira!

All three days will be taped at CBS Studios in Hollywood and the arrival time is 2:30 PM. The minimum age to attend is 14. For more information and to print free tickets for any of these tapings, please use the following link.
http://www.ocatv.com/shows/show/142

Written by: Francis Lansang (Let’s Make a Deal show contestant)

On this day, I was one of the lucky contestants, picked by Wayne, to play the Numbers Board game. I like to think that he picked me because I was wearing a sharp powder blue tuxedo jacket, my daisy dukes and some fresh aviator shades, flailing my hands in the air like my feet were on fire…but maybe it was because this was a pilot and the producers had previously seen the enthusiasm I would have on the show (at an audition). Either way, I got my chance…

This day was exciting. After all, its not every day I get up in the morning and instead of buttoning up a shirt and tie, pull out the craziest articles of clothing I could get my hands on. The energy was high and the guards at the gate smiled in amusement as we didn’t need a badge with our official studio position, our costumes were our ID.

Long lines of people filed into the studio, like a drunk Noah had selected each of us to board his ark. Wayne was sharp. He entertained the audience and kept our spirits high with his humor and quick wit. Of the three selected to play this particular game, it came down to me and a guy dressed like he was going to Tahiti. I picked number 6 and got zonked! To gargle that taste of defeat in my mouth, they had to tape my reaction getting zonked, one more time for safety.

At the end of the day, I walked around town in a sharp powder blue tuxedo jacket, my daisy dukes and some fresh aviator shades. This costume will definitely become an outfit in regular rotation!

Outfits worn by those who wanted to stand-out in a big way included: a death rocker; Michael Jackson; Marge Simpson; a kissing booth; a banana; a ladybug; cow girls; superman; a chicken; an alien; pirates… and so on.

The set looks much like the original show from the 1970’s show hosted by Monty Hall. The set consisted of yellow walls, a large stage with three curtains, that also served at three “doors”.

The host of the pilot shot for CBS is the host of another game show a lot of people will recognize – Wayne Brady. I do believe Brady has met his game show calling with this show. His personality and hosting abilities actually fair better on “Let’s Make a Deal” than on the Fox karaoke game show, “Don’t Forget the Lyrics”. Brady seems very genuine as he jokes and laughs with the audience, as well as very down-to-earth. He’s also an expert at giving “the reveal”, only here, it’s “what’s behind curtain number 1?”

The show is executive produced by another familiar host, Mike Richards, who hosted “Beauty and the Geek” from 2006-2008. Richards’ previous producing game show experience has been on “The Price is Right”, and “The Weakest Link”.

This show features a live drummer, Pam, whom Brady had fun with and had her play on his cues. He then mocked, “Drew Carry, you can’t do that!” as well as stating earlier, “You won’t see this on the Price is Right (giving away cash)” Brady also pointed-out, “I’m the only host that has hordes of cash in his pockets to give out!”

Because this particular filming was a pilot that will NOT be aired, none of the contestants or audience members were allowed to keep their cash, nor were they actually awarded any of the prizes. However, “participants”, or people who played contestants, on this pilot were paid $30. These contestants were pre-selected, and auditioned before film day. About ninety-five percent of this show takes place in the audience. Richards exclaimed to the audience, “you are the set!” This is the only show where the cameras on stage were all pointed in the direction of the audience, and not the stage. Only one game required to be shot traditionally on the set stage (see photo below).

Contestants play a rare game on-stage as audiences look-on.

Brady is joined by a “co-host/announcer”, Johnathan Mangum who runs-out boxes, and treasure chests that contestants are forced to choose between their mysterious contents or a curtain or door on stage. Most contestants were surprised with a “Zonk” (a.k.a., useless prize) that was either a yak, a mountain of rocks, an inflatable pool, or even a Sumo Wrestler when choosing a curtain. These along with real prizes that included: cars; a kitchen; money; and trips to Hawaii and Aspen were all shown-off by the beautiful “Price is Right” model, Rachel.

The show is very high energy, encouraging audiences to yell-out selection suggestions to contestants who are seated in the audience. After calling two to three people up to play, Brady then ask them to choose between cold-hard cash, or an unknown prize behind a curtain or door. At the end of the game the two highest players are given the opportunity to play for “The Big Deal”. This is a prize that is worth more than any other prizes given away on the show that day. The “Big Deal” prize on this day was worth $28,000. Brady then wrapped the show-up by giving money out to audience players whom have random items such as: a penny from the 1980s; a tattoo; a donor card; or the ability to dance “the running man”.

Brady has not been confirmed as the show host yet. But, he would be an excellent fit. Audiences seem to always love him no matter what show he is on. Get exclusive audience video interviews on the HOLLYWOOD JUNKET website later this month.

“The Whole 19 Yards, hosted by Chris Hardwick, best known for hosting MTV’s “Singled Out”, and current co-host of G4’s “Attack of the Show”, is a basic and toned-down take on the physical challenge shows like, “Wipeout”, “Survivor”, “American Gladiators”, and “I Survived a Japanese Game Show”. The show takes it one obstacle at a time.

Host, Hardwick, is almost a perfect fit. More perfect would have been a younger host. But, great for Hardwick style of hosting. He possess a quick wit, charm factor, and smoothness true to his “hip” signature.

Each contestant plays against each other to overcome all of the obstacle courses. The last person succeeding in the physical stunts and correctly answers the remaining set of clues, wins $50,000.

“The Whole 19 Yards” starts out with five competitors, and with host, Hardwick, standing at the end of the catwalk part of the stage against a closed, and separately hidden, larger stage containing the obstacle course behind him. The contestants are at the other end of the stage facing Hardwick, awaiting for the big “reveal” of what they soon must face in their physically challenging course.

Wall beneath sign reveals a surprise obstacle course to contestants.

Once the surrounding walls of the obstacle course opens to the competitors (and we see their surprised and anguished reactions) , each of them must take a place at their own podium where they read a monitor displaying a cascading number of clues (usually eight) presented to them one-at-a-time. Once each player is able to pick-up on the answer that the clues lead-up to, they must run to the obstacle course with the goal being that they are the first one to finish it and get to the buzzer at the end of the course in order to correctly identify the answer to the clues. Each contestant has his or her own course. So, while the obstacles are the same for each contestant during a round, they must finish it first to have a shot. The contestant who gets through the obstacle course and buzzes-in first, does not win that round if his or her answer to the clues is wrong. The person coming-in second place, then has a shot at answering the question.

Examples of answers to some of the clues: turkey, Albert Einstein, Viagra, and Justin Timberlake.
Clues included: one reached a maximum of 85 lbs; His second wife was a cousin; Bob Dole endorsed it; and “He caused a wardrobe malfunction”.

SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!
Obstacle courses on the show proved to be funny, and demanding. In one course, contestants were blown with extreme wind via big industrial fans while they wore parachutes, in effect, blowing them away from the buzzer. Another course consisted of a big, very slippery slide for each contestant that they had to climb-up. Two physically larger contestants had much trouble overcoming this challenge. A series of fake rock towers forced contestants to climb to the top to pull a flag that collapsed the tower to land contestants to the next rock tower.

Finally, the real kicker. The last, and major obstacle course, called “Flytrap” was set-up with very sticky Velcro (similar to “Sticky Wall”, from ‘Japanese Game Show’). The two remaining contestants dressed in full-jump suits that would attract the stickiness of the Velcro that consisted of a hurdles and mock “car wash” at the end. The outcome was found to be very humorous by the studio audience. Up until this very point, I thought the show would be a miss. But, after seeing this final challenge, I’d have to predict that this just might be the ticket to getting the show on the air.

The set-up of each stunt on a limited set was time consuming. So, if CBS picks-up the show, I’m sure we’ll see a much bigger scale of challenges and an expanded stage area, hopefully commissioning an otherwise, poorly designed stage.

Here’s a brief synopsis of some of the on-set activities during a wonderful show-taping that I attended:

“Million Dollar Password” returned for a second season. This remake of the original show from the 1970s pairs two celebrities with two contestants. The celebrities help the contestants to climb their way to the final round where they can win a possible one million dollars!

The show filmed two episodes per day. On one particular day that HOLLYWOOD JUNKET attended, was made very entertaining by celebrity guest William Shatner (“Boston Legal”), whom, I must add, made his grand entrance onto the game show stage in such a way that rivaled show host, Regis Philbin. Philbin pointed this out, and stated that Shatner acted as if he were the host of the show. Shatner played against Aisha Tyler (“Ghost Wisperer”) and her contestant partner.

The game is generally fast-paced, and host, Regis Philbin is such an amazing pro he can deliver his lines with such strong credibility and generally in one take. However, his good friend, Mr. Shatner made quite the ruckess with show high jinks and upheld what is a typical two hour taping to a four hour one (no joke!). During a point in the game where the contestants have to switch partners, Shatner crossed Philbin and tripped on his podium in a very Charlie Chaplin manner. Twice, the show was stopped while executive producer (“Vinny”) came out onto the stage to clear-up any rules and regulations that may have been broken during the process of the game.

Of course, Shatner was jokingly to blame by Philbin. Truth be told, as charismatic as Shatner was, he may not be asked back onto the show, simply for the fact that he is a bit “Million Dollar Password” challenged.

Contestants are given a second chance at going for the final round. You’ll have to watch the show to see how Shatner’s game partner, an undefeated “Super Password Champ” from 1987, does.

This episode airs Sunday, December 21st on CBS.

Chelsea Handler (“Chelsea Lately”) and Jeff Garlin (“Curb Your Ethusiasm”) were also celebrity players on another upcoming episode that I attended. (air date: Sunday, February 1st).

In-studio screen that shows contestants doing stunts.

It’s a new game show that combines hidden camera pranks with game show winnings. Instead of the subject being the one getting pranked, the subject is the show contestant, and they are the ones pulling pranks on unknowing passersby. Contestants have to follow instructions of tasks given to them via an ear piece.

Each stunt, or prank that they manage to pull off, they earn $5000. The maximum amount one contestant can win in the show is $50,000. If they win the last challenge, they automatically double their earnings.

The show is hosted by stand-up comedian Joe Rogan who also hosted “Fear Factor”.
Tapings of the show lasted three days, and that was three days too many for Rogan and the stage manager who did not get along. The two squabbled in front of audience members.

Host, Joe Rogan, right, stage manager, left on the set.

I attended two of the three days of filming. Edited footage of the contestants are shown on a large screen on stage while the studio audience reacts. While the pre-taped footage is rolling, Joe Rogan is speaking his lines that are timed with the edited footage. When the show airs, it will appear as if Rogan is speaking directly to the contestants via their ear piece. However, it is more likely that a team of producers were really instructing the contestants at the time the field footage was shot.

Another flaw in the show is that, each contestant is said to have only five minutes to achieve each task, but with the footage being pre-taped along with much editing, it is not certain how long each task really took. The audience is given the illusion that every task happened within five minutes.

Contestants go from starting to attempt a task in a unsuccessful way, then suddenly they go about it in a more creative way. It’s as if a producer instructed the contestant on exactly what to do to help the contestant win the task. Other times, the contestants are left out to dry.

Joe Rogan even stated to one audience member that one contestant achieved her task after the five minute time limit. The camera crew shot it anyway. But the show did not reward her, instead, faulting her for another time factor. She had to keep three possessions from a stranger for a solid 60 seconds. Again, because of the edited footage, we really have no way of knowing for sure if she held the items for one minute, even though it was irrelevant.