|  USA
/ NBC-Universal / x60 minute episodes / Broadcast 19 December 2005
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Creator: John
De Mol / Executive Producer: Scott St John
Game show hosted by Howie Mandel where contestants play and deal for a
top prize of $1 million in a high-energy contest of nerves, instincts
and raw intuition.
Each night, the game of odds and chance unfolds when a contestant is
confronted with 26 sealed briefcases full of varying amounts of cash --
ranging from a measly penny to $1 million. Without knowing the amount in
each briefcase, the contestant picks one -- his to keep, if he chooses
-- until its unsealing at game's end.
The risk element kicks in when the player must then instinctively
eliminate the remaining 25 cases -- which are opened and the amount of
cash inside revealed. The pressure mounts as in each round, after a
pre-determined number of cases are opened, the participant is tempted by
a mysterious entity known only as “the Banker” to accept an offer of
cash in exchange for what might be contained in the contestant's chosen
briefcase -- prompting Mandel to ask the all-important question -- Deal
or No Deal?
As each case is opened, the likelihood of the player having a valuable
cash amount in his or her own case decreases or increases. Viewers will
see if, truly, fortune favors the bold. The contestant knows that as
long as the larger cash prizes haven't been opened, the Banker's deals
will only get higher. And if the conflicted contestant accidentally
opens a case with a bigger cash value -- the Banker's offer could
suddenly evaporate.
Based on the
successful format from Endemol that has aired in over 35 countries,
there is even a USA Spanish language version.
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Highest
bank offer: $880,000 (September 22, 2006) (Declined) (Last two cases
of $750,000 and $1,000,000; maximum case on episode: $6,000,000)
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Lowest
bank offer: $2 (February 28, 2006) (Declined) (Highest case still in
play was $5)
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Highest
bank offer accepted: $701,000 (September 18, 2006) (Top prize
$4,000,000; $1,000,000 in contestant's case)
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Most money
won (No Deal): $750,000 (September 22, 2006)
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Most money
won (Deal): $701,000 (September 18, 2006)
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Least
money won (Deal): $8 (March 24, 2006)
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Least
money won (No Deal): $5 (February 28, 2006)
A syndicated
version is in production with Arsenio Hall hosting the pilot, whilst the
original pilot made in 2004 starred Patrick Kielty. The show's announcer
is Joe Cipriano.
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