Wednesday, April 23, 2008 Deal or No Deal hosts meet
HOWIE Mandel, host of America’s hit game show “Deal or No Deal”, arrived in Manila on Tuesday to do a special episode as part of the program’s around-the-world-tour that will let Americans experience how the game of chance is played in the Philippines.
Mandel will tape the show this week with Kris Aquino as co-host, the 26K girls, and the local game shows banker. He will show to American viewers his adventures in Manila as he goes around sampling local offerings, interacting with Filipinos, and shopping for souvenirs. The two-hour episode of “Deal or No Deal -- Around the World,” airing on May 7 in the US, will have two American contestants playing the game according to the rules of the Philippine franchise produced by ABS-CBN, “Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal,” but the briefcases will contain prizes in US dollars following the US Version.
The Philippines is one of three countries chosen to be part of “Deal or No Deal -- Around the World” covering Asia, Europe, and Africa. The other two countries are Estonia and South Africa.
According to Endemol USA Manager of Production Shannon Herlihy, the Philippines was chosen to be part of the world-tour because Endemol found it “awesome and fun.”
“Our versions are very similar, but neither our models nor our audience dance and sing,” she said.
ABS-CBN Business Unit head Alou Almaden said: “We are honored and delighted to be part of Deal’s world tour. It is a testament of our talent and creativity in localizing a game show that has an international following.”
"Deal or No Deal" is an Endemol format that began in the Netherlands and is now produced in over 50 countries. In the US version, contestants play and deal to win the top prize by opening 26 briefcases with prizes ranging from one cent to US$1 million.
“Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal,” which premiered in 2006, has been a big hit and a top-rater for ABS-CBN. Contestants likewise have to choose among 26 briefcases, held by the lovely 26K girls, with values ranging from P1 to P3 million.
Howie and Kris will be on hand to aid the American contestants as they play the Philippine version that Americans have never seen before. ABS-CBN is producing the special episode under Almaden’s business unit with Bobet Vidanes as director and Morly Nueva as executive producer. (Press release)
