Let's Make a Deal

The Game Show Network has recently started airing old reruns of Let's Make a Deal. I'm really enjoying seeing it again. Monty Hall really knows how to work an audience. But my favorite feature of the show has to be the "zonk" (when a person trades in a known prize for an unknown one behind a door or curtain, and it turns out to be a gag gift, such as a farm animal). Everything, from the theme song, to the announcer Jay Stewart, to the prize model Carol Merrill, brings back nice memories.

It's been years since this show left the air-waves, but thanks to The Game Show Network, it has been resurrected for both the older and new generations to enjoy.

"THE PRICE IS RIGHT" obviously borrowed many ideas from 'LET'S MAKE A DEAL'. Some obvious gimmicks are the shopping product quizzes where the contestant has to pick the right product that equals the winning price (ie. a jar of honey for 89 cents), or placing a group of household products in order from cheapest to most expensive. The coolest thing about the show is the 'keep your prize or take a chance to see what's behind the curtain (or inside the box)' challenges. Who didn't have a good laugh when the curtain was swept aside to reveal a bunch of pigs or a herd of goats while the camera panned on the contestant's face as they groaned in disappointment?

In my opinion, the greatest thing about 'LET'S MAKE A DEAL' was not Monty Hall as the host or the fact that the contestants had to dress up in ridiculous costumes in order to get Monty's 'attention'... I thought the greatest thing about the show were the opening credits and those awesome 'guitar riffs' that introduced the show.

'LET'S MAKE A DEAL' is a timeless masterpiece and although there is no place for that type of show to compete in today's picky television climate, it will certainly remain in my soul as one of the best game shows I have ever seen. Watching the re-runs bring about a certain amount of nostalgia - but it's something that I welcome with arms wide open.

In a way, this game show is the full Monty. Granted Jay Stewart & Ms Carol Merrill were also regulars, but Monty was this show. Games & elements of this show were later borrowed & refined by Mark Goodsen & Bill Toddman when they retooled The Price is Right in 1972.

The original sales pitch given by Hall to NBC is extremely accurate. It is a scene of Monty Hall sitting in an empty studio in a suit. The camera zooms up on Monty & he describes the format of the game he is selling. In fact, Monty is selling himself & he does it so successfully that many of us wanted to see what was behind those 3 doors over & over.

Audiences for this show went from being stuffed suits & shirts into being costumed bananas & cake's. In spite of all the costumes though, Monty was always the show. He always set a frantic pace as this show never was more than 30 minutes. In a way, this is the opposite of Price is Right where contestants getting excited winning are often a big piece of why you watch.

Monty would always close each show making fast deals with people looking for folks with hard boiled eggs, etc. This was always my favorite part & the hallmark of the show. These deals would always make me want to come back for more & I always wished that Monty would do 30 minutes of nothing but these fast deals.

The proof of Monty being good is very strong, every effort to revamp this show has failed because without another Monty, it doesn't work. Is the big deal behind door number 1, 2 or 3?

God I love this show. It is back on GSN so life is good. I love this show when it first came on. Something about the colors and the spontaneity's of the contestants made it very addicting. Monty Hall has to be one of the best hosts ever. He did not know what to expect, what decision was going to be made so he had to deal with the unknown which is how the contestant is going to react. I just saw one when a woman chased him around the audience. He is very quick on his feet. And cool as a cucumber. And a quick thinker. I do not think he gets the credit he deserves.

He also has two sidekicks Carol Merril and Jay Stewart. Both were very active, more then let's say a Vanna White and the announcer on The Price is Right. Jay had to be the hardest working guy on TV. One minute he is announcing and bringing trays back and forth, the next second he is dressed as a old lady who is sitting on this giant rocking chair as a Zonk. Carol who is a one lady Barkers Beauty presents most of the stage prizes and she also gets dressed up for zonks too.

What fascinates me about the show now is they we can see how much appliances have changed and how much cars were. I just saw a brand new station wagon for 4,000 dollars. I have seen this show give away high charged Camaro's worth at the time 2500 dollars. We see side by side refrigerators in that horrible yellow or green color with no water or ice on the door. Microwaves were all called radar ranges. Defunct food chains like Tasty Kreme, perfumes that I haven't heard about in years, such as Evening in Paris. Quasar Color TV's in those old fashion cabinets. Quadiphonic stereos, or that brand Electrophonic, what ever happened to them? Vacations on defunct airlines like Braniff, Pan Am and Eastern. Giving away fur coats like a chinchilla worth 5000 dollars.

It is a trip down memory lane every time I watch the show. The Price is Right obviously took some ideas from this show. Not the original Price is Right with Bill Cullen but the newer incarnation of it that was hosted by Denns Day and Bob Barker I am going to tape this show now so when GSN takes if off its schedule again I will be able to go back in time anytime I want.

If you are looking for a fast paced show check this out. Monty Hall is flawless. Carol is great. I believe she is related to some big actor but I can't think of who it is. And watch Jay. He does more changes then a high price model during Fashion week in NYC.

If you have The Game Show Network you should make it a point to check out Let's Make a Deal. The show can be nerve-racking, but is fun to see all the prizes everyone wins. Host Monte Hall and the late announcer Jay Stewart (who plays a larger role than most game show announcers) have great sense of humors and make the show very enjoyable to watch. Besides, its fun to see how stupid some of the costumes the contestants wear are. All in all, Let's Make a Deal is a classic game show well worth watching.