Voting Station

Let's Make a Deal

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TV Series

The Resume

    (December 30, 1963-March 18, 2003)
    NBC daytime (December 30, 1963-December 27, 1968, 1990-1991)
    ABC daytime (December 30, 1968-July 9, 1976)
    NBC prime time (May 21-September 3, 1967, March 2003)
    ABC prime time (February 7, 1969-August 30, 1971)
    American syndicated (September 18, 1971-May 28, 1977, September 17, 1984-September 12, 1986)
    Canadian syndicated (1980-1981)
    Hosted by Monty Hall
    Original announcer and frequent partner in crime: Jay Stewart
    Original hostess: Carol Merrill

Why Let's Make a Deal might be annoying:

    Co-producer Stefan Hatos did not initially appreciate the outlandish costumes and bristol board signs that would later set the pattern for the entire show.
    The Canadian version, set in Vancouver, encountered so many difficulties (despite gaining ratings as it went) it wound up being a distant memory in less than a year.
    Poor Monty got a teeny weeny bit more than he bargained for when he offered a small cash sum for a contestant's baby bottle (‘for $200, show me another nipple!').
    When NBC requested a second evening run in 1968, Hatos and Hall wanted more money. NBC went with Hollywood Squares instead — and paid dearly for it.
    Not all contestants were willing to go for the Big Deal of the Day; Monty started with whomever scored the most and went on down the line.
    Revivals of the show (1990 on) strayed almost completely from the original simple format with less-than-endearing results. For example, the 2003 version had only three episodes.
    Monty was deeply offended by the suggestion that the show played on people's greedy inclinations.
    He also hated having his name be synonymous with the show.
    Several American states even got the bright idea of making it into an instant scratch lottery game!

Why Let's Make a Deal might not be annoying:

    Hatos and Hall tested the game widely beforehand, with various charitable organizations — but with no prizes. They had no trouble with it.
    Some games tested players' pricing skills; most depended mainly on chance and guts.
    Sometimes, in true used-car-salesman fashion, Monty would offer cash not to take what was behind the curtain or door.
    The ‘Big Deal of the Day' never had any Zonks (joke prizes).
    During the closing credits, contestants not chosen for any previous deals were offered cash for whatever he thought they had on hand (Quick Deals).
    ABC (who initially wanted no part of the show) benefitted enormously from NBC's mistake, cutting deeply into its ratings.
    Despite being offended by the suggestions of greed, Monty was pleased that the contestants were not ‘a bunch of crazies.'
    The pilot episode (taped May 25, 1963) remained unaired until the Game Show Network broadcast it in a special presentation in 2003.
    It inspired an on-the-road show, approved by Monty himself.
    It also inspired numerous articles on odds and paradoxes, as well as the origin of the Monty Hall Problem.

Credit: Cool It All Right?


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 54 Votes: 68.52% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 13 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 16 Votes: 56.25% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 16 Votes: 43.75% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 26 Votes: 38.46% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 35 Votes: 62.86% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 91 Votes: 54.95% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 102 Votes: 47.06% Annoying