“Deal or No Deal” (NBC, GSN)
Host Howie Mandel is no stranger to game shows, but he knew a good “Deal” when he saw one. In this show, a single contestant chose one of 26 briefcases, all of which contained cash ranging from a penny to $1 million, at the beginning of the episode. The player then chose remaining cases to be opened one at a time, revealing the money inside, until “the Banker” made an offer for what was in the case he or she was holding. Contestants who said “No Deal” continued choosing briefcases to open. Revealing lower amounts resulted in a sweeter offer from the Banker, while opening cases with higher payouts drove the offer down. A couple of contestants beat the Banker and the odds to take the top prize on “Deal or No Deal,” which now airs in reruns on the Game Show Network.