|
"Episode 1" -
December 19
The international hit Deal or No
Deal has finally landed on American television! Can someone
walk away with $1,000,000 or will they be relegated to the
payoff of a shiny new penny?
After Howie Mandel introduced the
lovely models in The March of the 26 Babes, the first player
Deal or No Deal contestant is introduced--Karen Vann, a
part-time notary public, housewife, and first-time grandmother.
Karen wants to buy a house if she hits the big bucks.
The rules of the game are
simple. The contestant takes a case numbered 1 through 26.
Each case holds a money amount from 1 cent to $1,000,000.
Players remove cases one by one. At specific intervals, the
unseen banker will tempt the contestant by offering a sure
thing. At this point, the title question is asked--"Deal or no
deal?" If the contestant is courageous and never deals, they
could get paid off handsomely or they could go home with cab
fare.
Karen takes case 14, held
by the lovely Dawn. Before we get a bank offer, Karen must
remove six cases.
| Case 23
(Nancy) |
$25 |
| Case 3 (Lisa) |
$.01
Howie: This is exactly how
to play. |
| Case 18
(Donna) |
$200 |
| Case 22 (Joni) |
$5 |
| Case 6 (Megan) |
$400 |
| Case 25
(Angel) |
$5,000
Howie: That's okay!
That's okay! That's okay! I've actually never seen
someone so excited about not having $5000. |
Everybody wants Karen to walk
away with the million. The one person who doesn't want Karen to
win big is the banker. The banker will try to woo Karen away
from her case with a tempting cash offer. For this round, the
offer is $21,000. Here's how the board looks:
|
Bank offer:
$21,000 |
|
|
|
$ .01 |
$ 1,000 |
|
$ 1 |
$ 5,000 |
|
$ 5 |
$ 10,000 |
|
$ 10 |
$ 25,000 |
|
$ 25 |
$ 50,000 |
|
$ 50 |
$ 75,000 |
|
$ 75 |
$ 100,000 |
|
$ 100 |
$ 200,000 |
|
$ 200 |
$ 300,000 |
|
$ 300 |
$ 400,000 |
|
$ 400 |
$ 500,000 |
|
$ 500 |
$ 750,000 |
|
$ 750 |
$ 1,000,000 |
Karen says it's a lot of money
but not enough. Emphatically, she says "NO DEAL!" With that, 5
more cases must be removed.
| Case 15
(Bonnie-Jill) |
$750,000
Karen: Okay. It's okay. |
| Case 10
(Marisa) |
$1,000,000
Howie: One million dollars
is off the board.
Karen: But $500,000 is still there. Let's go. |
| Case 24
(Lindsay) |
$100 |
| Case 2
(Stacey) |
$750 |
| Case 20 (Yoi) |
After a commercial break,
we'll find out what's in Yoi's case.
After returning to the
show, we see 20 has $400,000.
Karen: It's good. It's
good. |
The banker returns with his
second offer of the night. Here's the offer and the board:
|
Bank offer:
$37,000 |
|
|
|
$ .01 |
$ 1,000 |
|
$ 1 |
$ 5,000 |
|
$ 5 |
$ 10,000 |
|
$ 10 |
$ 25,000 |
|
$ 25 |
$ 50,000 |
|
$ 50 |
$ 75,000 |
|
$ 75 |
$ 100,000 |
|
$ 100 |
$ 200,000 |
|
$ 200 |
$ 300,000 |
|
$ 300 |
$ 400,000 |
|
$ 400 |
$ 500,000 |
|
$ 500 |
$ 750,000 |
|
$ 750 |
$ 1,000,000 |
On a seating area near the action
are Karen's husband Anthony, and her kids--daughter Nicole and
son "Little Anthony", the Mini-Vanns per Howie. Anthony Sr.
says that $37,000 won't do it. Karen agrees. No deal! Four
more cases have to go before another offer is made.
| Case 26 (Pilar) |
$50 |
| Case 11 (Jill) |
$10 |
| Case 4
(Lindsay) |
$100,000
Karen: I'm still in it.
I'm still in it. |
| Case 16 (Kim) |
$75,000
Karen: That's okay.
That's good. |
The banker quickly makes Karen an
offer. Can she refuse $53,000?
|
Bank offer:
$53,000 |
|
|
|
$ .01 |
$ 1,000 |
|
$ 1 |
$ 5,000 |
|
$ 5 |
$ 10,000 |
|
$ 10 |
$ 25,000 |
|
$ 25 |
$ 50,000 |
|
$ 50 |
$ 75,000 |
|
$ 75 |
$ 100,000 |
|
$ 100 |
$ 200,000 |
|
$ 200 |
$ 300,000 |
|
$ 300 |
$ 400,000 |
|
$ 400 |
$ 500,000 |
|
$ 500 |
$ 750,000 |
|
$ 750 |
$ 1,000,000 |
Anthony Sr. quickly says no.
Karen says the deal sounds real good, but says it's not good
enough. No deal!
Three more cases must be removed
before the next banker offer.
| Case 9
(Claudia) |
$1,000 |
| Case 7 (Sara) |
$1 |
| Case 1 (Mylinda) |
$200,000
Karen: That's okay. It's
all good. |
And the phone rings. Karen says
"It's for you." Howie says "No, Karen Vann. It's for you. I'm
just the receptionist." After a commercial break, we return
with the banker's offer--$77,000.
|
Bank offer:
$77,000 |
|
|
|
$ .01 |
$ 1,000 |
|
$ 1 |
$ 5,000 |
|
$ 5 |
$ 10,000 |
|
$ 10 |
$ 25,000 |
|
$ 25 |
$ 50,000 |
|
$ 50 |
$ 75,000 |
|
$ 75 |
$ 100,000 |
|
$ 100 |
$ 200,000 |
|
$ 200 |
$ 300,000 |
|
$ 300 |
$ 400,000 |
|
$ 400 |
$ 500,000 |
|
$ 500 |
$ 750,000 |
|
$ 750 |
$ 1,000,000 |
Even though only two cases have
values higher than the bank offer, Karen's family is adamant
that case 14 holds a big amount. Nicole repeats several times
that the family came to win big. Karen's family says no deal,
but it's Karen's decision that matters. After some
contemplation, Karen says "No deal."
| Case 21 (Tameka) |
$10,000 |
Case 13 (Leyla)
Lucky play-at-home case |
$300,000
And the audience groans.
Anthony Sr. does a nervousness dance. |
The banker feels that Karen's
luck is changing in the banker's favor. The new offer is
$63,000.
|
Bank offer:
$63,000 |
|
|
|
$ .01 |
$ 1,000 |
|
$ 1 |
$ 5,000 |
|
$ 5 |
$ 10,000 |
|
$ 10 |
$ 25,000 |
|
$ 25 |
$ 50,000 |
|
$ 50 |
$ 75,000 |
|
$ 75 |
$ 100,000 |
|
$ 100 |
$ 200,000 |
|
$ 200 |
$ 300,000 |
|
$ 300 |
$ 400,000 |
|
$ 400 |
$ 500,000 |
|
$ 500 |
$ 750,000 |
|
$ 750 |
$ 1,000,000 |
From now on, one case is removed
per round. Karen's family still says "no deal". The covering
surrounding the deal button is lifted. Karen slams the covering
shut with a loud "No deal!"
The banker's offer jumps to
$90,000, an amount which gets Anthony Sr. walking around.
|
Bank offer:
$90,000 |
|
|
|
$ .01 |
$ 1,000 |
|
$ 1 |
$ 5,000 |
|
$ 5 |
$ 10,000 |
|
$ 10 |
$ 25,000 |
|
$ 25 |
$ 50,000 |
|
$ 50 |
$ 75,000 |
|
$ 75 |
$ 100,000 |
|
$ 100 |
$ 200,000 |
|
$ 200 |
$ 300,000 |
|
$ 300 |
$ 400,000 |
|
$ 400 |
$ 500,000 |
|
$ 500 |
$ 750,000 |
|
$ 750 |
$ 1,000,000 |
Howie lets Karen mull over her
decision during a commercial break. Will Karen take the sure
thing, or will she venture on? Karen asks her husband for
advice and she will follow that advice. Hubby says no deal.
Karen follows. One case must be removed this turn.
| Case 19 (A.J.) |
$300
And Karen's family is
hopping with glee. |
The banker places the important
call. Howie's first reaction is "Wow." Karen says "Wow is real
good." The offer is $138,000 for Karen to leave.
|
Bank offer:
$138,000 |
|
|
|
$ .01 |
$ 1,000 |
|
$ 1 |
$ 5,000 |
|
$ 5 |
$ 10,000 |
|
$ 10 |
$ 25,000 |
|
$ 25 |
$ 50,000 |
|
$ 50 |
$ 75,000 |
|
$ 75 |
$ 100,000 |
|
$ 100 |
$ 200,000 |
|
$ 200 |
$ 300,000 |
|
$ 300 |
$ 400,000 |
|
$ 400 |
$ 500,000 |
|
$ 500 |
$ 750,000 |
|
$ 750 |
$ 1,000,000 |
Anthony Jr. says "Don't go!"
Anthony Sr. says that the entire family has a feeling about case
8, that "8 is great." Finally, her hubby says no deal. Karen's
doing lots of mental flip-flopping, saying that even though
Anthony Sr. makes the decisions at home, they're not at home.
Karen feels that 8 has the $500,000. Anthony Sr. says they'll
win either way. Karen opens the button's covering, looks
towards her family, and shuts the case. No deal!
One more case needs to be removed
before another bank offer is made. Cases 5, 8, and 17 remain.
| Case 8
(Patricia) |
Karen: I came with the
family. I'm going with the family.
Before opening the case,
surprise! A break.
What's in 8? $500,000
Karen: I told you. I knew
it. What did I say? |
The banker quickly dials in with
his newest offer.
|
Bank offer:
$17,000 |
|
|
|
$ .01 |
$ 1,000 |
|
$ 1 |
$ 5,000 |
|
$ 5 |
$ 10,000 |
|
$ 10 |
$ 25,000 |
|
$ 25 |
$ 50,000 |
|
$ 50 |
$ 75,000 |
|
$ 75 |
$ 100,000 |
|
$ 100 |
$ 200,000 |
|
$ 200 |
$ 300,000 |
|
$ 300 |
$ 400,000 |
|
$ 400 |
$ 500,000 |
|
$ 500 |
$ 750,000 |
|
$ 750 |
$ 1,000,000 |
Karen says that at this point,
she might as well go for it.
The banker quickly dials in with
a bank offer of $25,000.
|
Bank offer:
$25,000 |
|
|
|
$ .01 |
$ 1,000 |
|
$ 1 |
$ 5,000 |
|
$ 5 |
$ 10,000 |
|
$ 10 |
$ 25,000 |
|
$ 25 |
$ 50,000 |
|
$ 50 |
$ 75,000 |
|
$ 75 |
$ 100,000 |
|
$ 100 |
$ 200,000 |
|
$ 200 |
$ 300,000 |
|
$ 300 |
$ 400,000 |
|
$ 400 |
$ 500,000 |
|
$ 500 |
$ 750,000 |
|
$ 750 |
$ 1,000,000 |
After looking at her family,
Karen says she's taking the deal. She confirms her decision by
hitting the deal button. The Vanns leave with $25,000. What
was in case 14? Just $500. A smart move indeed!
After another break, a new player
is introduced--Jason Vittorini. Jason is a carpenter originally
from Town Hall, Massachusetts. Admittedly, Jason's not too
lucky in life. He separated his shoulder playing wiffleball.
Jason picks case 2, held by Stacey. Before the first offer,
Jason must remove 6 cases.
| Case 24
(Lindsay) |
$200 |
| Case 5 (Kristal) |
$200,000 |
| Case 17
(Alike) |
$25 |
| Case 15
(Bonnie-Jill) |
$50,000 |
| Case 21 (Tameka) |
$25,000 |
| Case 13 (Leyla) |
$750,000
And the audience groans
loudly. |
The banker rings up Howie, as
Jason says that the million is still up there. The banker's
offer is $7,000, which elicits boos from the audience.
|
Bank offer:
$7,000 |
|
|
|
$ .01 |
$ 1,000 |
|
$ 1 |
$ 5,000 |
|
$ 5 |
$ 10,000 |
|
$ 10 |
$ 25,000 |
|
$ 25 |
$ 50,000 |
|
$ 50 |
$ 75,000 |
|
$ 75 |
$ 100,000 |
|
$ 100 |
$ 200,000 |
|
$ 200 |
$ 300,000 |
|
$ 300 |
$ 400,000 |
|
$ 400 |
$ 500,000 |
|
$ 500 |
$ 750,000 |
|
$ 750 |
$ 1,000,000 |
Jason says "No deal, Mr.
Banker." Time is up on the premiere episode of Deal or No
Deal. Does Jason have a million or a penny? Find out tomorrow!
For those playing along at home,
the $10,000 Lucky Case Winner was Cynthia Curtis of Coffeeville,
Mississippi. |
