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When you line them up, Howie Mandel's
list of accomplishments is as odd as it is eclectic.
Blowing up a rubber glove on his head. Talking in a
seizure-inducing high-pitched voice for children's
television. And now, that unavoidable, exaggerated
phrase, "Deal ... or no deal," which has become
as common as "Where's the beef?" once was. For
Mandel, the success of his NBC game show "Deal
or No Deal" came as a shock, but given his career's
unusual route -- from stand-up comic to "St. Elsewhere"
star to kid's show creator to talk show host to
game show host -- nothing should surprise.
Bankrate spoke to Mandel about
the appeal of "Deal ..." and what it's meant for
his career.
Bankrate: Why do you think that comics like yourself and Drew Carey have become the game show hosts of our era?
Howie Mandel: I think the creators realize that if you work in front of a live audience each and every day,
ultimately you're the master of ceremonies of that room. People who can be witty and quick, and who can host
and bring people through an evening of comedy and storytelling, can certainly bring people through an evening of
game playing.
Bankrate: How did you wind up doing this?
Howie Mandel:
I got a call from my manger saying that NBC and
Endemol were doing this big game, and I said "No,
thank you," because I'm a stand-up comic. I thought
it would kill that end of my business. He called
me back 10 minutes later and said, "Did they
explain the game to you?" I said, "Does it really
matter? It's a game." He called me back again
and asked if someone could just sit down with
me and show it to me.
So the guy came and we played the
game, and it had looked like an 8-year-old had
done this project. But they told me it was this
huge international game in 65 countries, and NBC
was gonna devote five hours of prime-time television
in one week to it, which hadn't really been done.
And then he said, "You're perfect for it." I said,
"As much as I'm flattered, what is it about me?
I don't know why you think I'm perfect to be a
game show host." I didn't take that as a form
of flattery. He said, "With this game, there are
no stunts, there are no trivia questions, it's
very in the moment. We want someone who plays
in front of a live audience and can improvise;
who has the ability to act, so they can underline
the drama in the moments where there is drama;
and who can interview and talk to people." So
I was flattered by that.
Then there was the success of "Who
Wants to Be A Millionaire" with Regis Philbin.
That was the first time I can remember where somebody
from another realm, who wasn't a game show host,
did it, and it went through the roof. I didn't
think this would go through the roof, but I thought,
at least I won't be as embarrassed because I could
say, "Well, Regis tried it." So I taped the show
and had a lot of fun doing it.
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