Behind Door Number Three Is...A Surprisingly Good Show
CBS' revival of the classic "Let's Make A Deal" game show gets it right
By Nick Prueher Oct 6, 2009 5:44PM
The new daytime game show, "Let's Make A Deal," premiered Monday on CBS and it's already won me over.I admit, I went into this reboot of the classic game show with a fair amount of trepidation. I was a big fan of the original, having watched reruns of it every morning before school while growing up. The main draw for me was the host, Monty Hall, whose playful dealings with audience members always seemed to be masking some deep-seated contempt for them.
"OK, Jean Hanson of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, you're dressed as a clown, I've given you a thousand dollars, and you're going to trade it for what's behind Door Number One? Fine. Here's a mule."
Wayne Brady, the saccharine funnyman who your aunt thinks is a real card, did not seem like the best choice for this show. Sure, he's a great improviser and could probably nail the audience patter, but where's the edge? Well, in the new series, Brady is affable to the core, but the show is still good dumb fun, mainly because it's nearly identical to the '60s original.
CBS got it right by following the old axiom: "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." As a result, the new show is exactly the same as the old one: Brady picks costumed rubes from the audience and offers them deals, which they can keep or trade for a chance at an unknown prize. The prizes, hidden behind curtains or in boxes, can either be fabulous kitchen sets or dummy prizes (called "Zonks"). To give you an idea of how close this series is to the original, the announcer still calls ovens "ranges." Bravo!
The best part about this show is that it makes no pretense at all about being smart. There is no skill involved in playing "Let's Make A Deal." It's purely a game of chance, like "Deal or No Deal," without all the dramatic lighting and music cues. It's just a guy on a basic set giving average people a chance to win money while toying with them a little bit first. What's not to like?
The only problem is that CBS may be running out of former "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" stars to tap for game shows. Colin Mochrie as the host of the new "Match Game," anybody?
30Comments
Oct 10, 2009 1:30AM
Oct 10, 2009 12:06AM
Oct 10, 2009 12:00AM
Oct 9, 2009 11:19PM
Oct 9, 2009 9:47PM
I've never been a soap fan. My mother and father never watched them. But I have became attached to a tv show before and can sympathize with all the GL fan's. I am sure CBS wasn't supporting or couldn't afford to keep the standards of the actor's increasing salaries. Sponsors are giving less to the executives which has to take from the lower food chain. Actor's with swollen ego's of sorts with themselves in a high dollar society expect an increase and when they can't have it, they become jilted. With the induction of reality tv and a sudden swing in game shows at nighttime settings, there are bigger opportunities for these multi decade supporters to throw their money in shows that cost less to produce with as much bang for the dollar. (viewing audience) It is un fortunately, the way our financial market is going. And they are not turning back. This is a change you will witness across the board eventually. Take it as an honor that you were a long time viewer of GL and support the station that brought you good entertainment for years and years. Wayne Brady rocks!
Oct 9, 2009 9:39PM
I love the new Lets make a deal and I love Wayne Brady, I think he's doing a wonderful job. I also loved Don't forget the Lyrics. I didn't watch GL but like someone else said in 5 years most soap may be gone at the rate they are going now and a lot of people are out of work what else do they do till they find jobs..
Oct 9, 2009 9:27PM
Oct 9, 2009 8:30PM
Oct 9, 2009 8:25PM
Oct 9, 2009 7:48PM
Oct 9, 2009 7:13PM
I miss Guiding Light. It was making big improvements in the end and had many talented, interesting cast members such as Kim Zimmer.
I don't think Let's Make a Deal is showing in Portland, OR. I've switched during the Guiding Light hour to the Bonnie Hunt Show..very funny, but I miss Guiding Light.
Oct 9, 2009 6:43PM
Oct 9, 2009 5:13PM
The announcer calls them "ranges" because that's what they are. A combination stove and oven is called a range. And the term "Zonk" was what they called the dummy prizes back then, too. On top of all of this, you missplelled Colin's name? Wow, Nick, it's called "research", and it keeps you from looking like a fool.
Oct 9, 2009 5:06PM
Oct 9, 2009 4:59PM
No one compares to Monty Hall. I watched this show when it was on in the sixties. I watched "Jeopardy" with it's original host. Does anybody remember "Dialing for dollars?" Or how about "Bowling for dollars", for that matter. I got a kick out of watching "Lets Make A Deal" this week. It brought back great memories. I feel sorry for those of you who were watching "Guiding Light" but it gotta end sometime. I remember watching the very first "One Life To Life to Live" with my mom. A guy got killed the first minute by a doctor who shoved him down a stair well out side of a Hospital. They ended that show recently. All good things come to an end like Batman, Gilligan's Island, Brady Bunch.....ect. Every one take care and have a great week end!!
Oct 9, 2009 4:41PM
Oct 9, 2009 4:38PM
Oct 9, 2009 4:21PM
Oct 9, 2009 4:15PM
Oct 9, 2009 4:14PM
Wayne Brady saccharine? Jeez, does this guy have a problem or what? I think Brady is funny, and I wish Drew Carrey would put Who's Line Is It back on.
Sorry Guiding light fans are missing their show, but it looks like a lot of soaps are going now. This is just as entertaining as the old Deal, and I hope it has a longer run.
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Deanna Barnert | Los Angeles, Calif.
Entertainment journalist Deanna "TVDeeva" Barnert visits sets, interviews industry players and critiques the final product. Buzz's daytime TV queen covers it all for MSN TV, but loves her sitcoms, soaps and any juicy drama that doesn't call itself Reality TV.
