http://tv.yahoo.com/news/va/20051031/113075142200.html

Discuss.

Interesting choice. I know someone is going to complain; I just wonder what led NBC to decide on Howie, considering he's not really a household name, compared to 15 years ago. Other than the occasional "Tonight Show" appearance, he really hasn't been in high demand.

Yeah, there was the talk show from the late-90s, then "Bobby's World", but how long ago was 1998?

They do try to get him to fill in for Regis Philbin on his live show whenever he can, and he's been doing that for the past ten years or so. He is a very good host, quick witted, not as goony and crazy as he used to be.

...and can fill a ton of time because this game sounds like it doesn't have any meat to it. Where's that useless $100 puzzle now?

*hands a card*

Your option, pass or play?

Bobby's World was much earlier than '98. I was a little kid when that was on, and I wasn't a little kid in '98. He's been out of the game for a while now.... interesting choice.

Brandon Brooks

He was talking about the talk show.

I worded it wrong, but I *was* indeed referring to the talk show as 1998. Bobby's World was definitely early-90s.

I say, as I always say at a time like this... "You can do much worse." :)

~C

"Out of the game" suggests he's been sitting on his front porch, living off St Elsewhere residuals and waiting for his phone to ring. Howie is by profession a stand-up comic, so most of the time he's making a very lucrative living on the road. Plus, he has been on TV a lot in the last year, maybe just not anything you've seen.

The one Australia episode of DoND I saw had a very traditional host, and while I found their little game interesting on the one viewing, I quickly saw how redundant it would be in the long run. Having a comic host could help a lot.

Agreed... Especially this comic for some reason. I don't know, something about a man putting a rubber glove on his head and having an "oh my God he's going for it" look on his face (I cite numerous episodes of Bobby's World and his guest stints as Mr. Mxyzptlk (sp?)) on Lois & Clark.

~C

For the record, he doesn't do this signature bit anymore. Turns out he perforated his sinus cavity. He's actually got a funny bit about a doctor, unfamiliar with his act, who wondered what could be putting so much pressure on his sinus.

Howie also becomes the second game show host who's made a big deal about his OCD.

Well, he did make Joan Baez laugh.


--Mike

Hmmmmmm. I did grow on Bobby's World and also remember seeing his talk show, so maybe it might work. Who knows?

While simple, especially by Jay Wopert standards, the format is on the air in 38 countries and does contain some great moments of drama. I agree with Matt that the choice of a host like Howie can add the kind of element that can make for a hit. One person working the show drew the analogy of Groucho making the simple game behind "You Bet Your Life" a monster smash.

Before somebody posts it, I know, Howie is not Groucho. But Groucho would likely go over like a lead balloon with today's 18-49 viewers. Howie is an experienced pro with exceptional ad-lib skills. I'm looking forward to seeing him combine the host responsibilities with his quick wit and his ability to draw out the relateable aspects of contestants' personalities.

The production values will be huge, and the show will feature at least one model familiar to us uber-fans from her previous game show stint. I'm thrilled to be working "Deal or No Deal", and will post more after we tape.

Randy
tvrandywest.com

Right there, on stage. Who fed you at nights?

Icey? *pants*

The one aspect of Howie Mandel's hosting career I remember was one time in the late 1980's when he filled in for Joan Rivers on her Fox show (if you remember that, congratulations, you're old). He absolutely bamboozled Dr. Joyce Brothers (one of his guests), tried to get her to flash her breasts, then came back from a commercial break totally naked behind the desk.

Hopefully Howie's reined it in - and gotten dressed - since.

I'm reminded of a Howie Mandel moment on Hollywood Squares a few years ago. Made me cringe.
---
Tom: In the classic film "It's a Wonderful Life," what did Jimmy Stewart say he would pull down for Donna Reed?

[audience laughs for a few moments, then it dies down]

Howie: His pants.
---
I mean, he may not have written that himself, but if he did, he may still have comedy/timing issues.

Thank you for that, I remember me and my mom watching the very first night. :)

One of my favorite Howie moments was one of his guest shots on Arsenio Hall's show. He was always gold there, he'd come out and do five or ten minutes where he would just go off. So during one of these, Arsenio says "Wait, I want to try something", and walks off the stage. Just takes off. And, of course, Howie milks the hell out of it. "I'm gonna wake up and say "Honey, I had the strangest dream! I was on The Arsenio Hall Show...and he WASN'T!""

I question whether he will be good on DoND, because I dunno if his "going off" is a good fit for a show that otherwise has...well, no show, but I'll certainly watch to see and I'll happily eat my words if he proves me wrong.

Compared to a person who is related to two US Presidents and a Governor, I think Howie will be a good choice. However, given this is NBC I hope the Peacock Network will allow this show to grow some roots in the soil for a while as, with the exception of Weakest Link, NBC hasn't taken too kindly to Game Shows in the last umpteen years.

But then again, now that ABC and the CSI,...er, CBS Television Network are putting Fox and NBC to shame so far this season in ratings, (although FOX will gain some ground midseason with 24 & Idol) I think NBC will give DoND a better chance to find their audience now than in the days when Frasier & Friends were still on the sched.

My guess is that DoND will be airing on NBC by January, if not sooner.

BTW, Howie is currently doing radio spots for the Boston Pizza chain in Canada.

Are pauses like that why those annoying drive-time radio hosts always say "wait for it, wait for it" before delivering a punch line?

NOTE: No offense to any drive-time radio hosts on this board.

ObGS: Two former Boss Jocks were also game show announcers.

What's going to be interesting is seeing whether America warms up to this. Sure, it's got tension created by the large prizes available and the risks involved, but the show is definitely more glitz 'n' glamour than it is game. I don't think it matters who hosts it, to be perfectly honest. Dick Clark couldn't keep Winning Lines afloat through all the shows it taped, and that was through no fault of his own. We'll see. Put 'Deal' on the air, and let's see what happens.

*edit*
Randy, glad to see you're on the show, and I'm looking forward to seeing the mystery hostess returning to TV! Despite my leeriness above, I hope you have a great run with this.

How soon do you suppose it'll be before the special celebrity editions will begin to air?

If this is any indication, the UK premiere of the format yesterday on Channel 4, with veteran "presenter" Noel Edmonds hosting, held on to most of the audience from the season premiere of "Countdown," the first with new host Des Lynam and took most of its time period (although an episode of "Flog It!" on BBC2 did--ahem--beat it in its first 15 minutes). Of course, much of this was the curiosity factor from Edmonds' return to television after five years and Lynam replacing the beloved Richard Whiteley after his untimely death. It's going to take a while to see if the show gels--and "teatime" in the UK (4:15 p.m. for "Deal," after "Countdown" at 3:30 p.m.) and prime time in the U.S. are two different things.

BTW, "TWL" is still pulling in the numbers at 5:15 p.m. on BBC2, with only the venerable Aussie soap "Neighbours" on BBC1 doing better. "TWL"'s handily beating its talk show competition of Paul "Lily Savage" O'Grady on ITV and Richard and Judy on Channel 4.

Sure was...It was 1990 when it premiered, and IIRC, one of the first cartoons on Fox's Saturday Morning offerings.

My same sentiments, Matt; the question is not if he'll be doing his old shtick, it's whether or not he'll be wearing the latex gloves on his hands, instead.

BTW, still no updates other than the press release that I received today that everyone else is discussing. You would think that it would warrant their own show materials page, like the one for Sunday Night Football, but then again, I'm biased.

What gets me most, though, is that this is called an "alternative" series -- like we need to call a janitor a "building engineer." Puh. Leeze.

Randy West wrote:

I should hope so; not many 115-year-old guys would go over well with today's youth-obsessed audiences. ;-)

(I'll be damned if I know how Bob Barker does it, and he's young enough to be Groucho's son....)

Then how do you explain Bob Barker?

Almost all of Groucho's repartee on YBYL was scripted. Groucho would do just fine today given decent material.


Youth-obsessed audiences??? You mean youth-obsessed advertisers.

It's nice to hear a game show pro is working on it...

and I'm guessing Laura Chambers is the show's contestant coordinator, right? ;)