Let's Make a Deal

Let's Make A Deal is an American television game show created by Stefan Hatos and Monty Hall. Premiered in 1963 on NBC, the format of Let's Make a Deal involves selected members of the studio audience, referred to as "traders," making deals with the host. In most cases, a trader will be offered something of value and given a choice of whether to keep it or exchange it for a different item. The program's defining game mechanism is that the other item is hidden from the trader until that choice is made. The trader thus does not know if he or she is getting something of greater value or a prize that is referred to as a "zonk," an item purposely chosen to be of little or no value to the trader.

The most recent edition of Let's Make a Deal has been airing on CBS since October 5, 2009, when it took over the spot on the network's daytime schedule vacated by the long running soap opera Guiding Light. Wayne Brady is the host of the current series, with Jonathan Mangum as his announcer/assistant. Tiffany Coyne is the current model, joining in 2010, with musician Cat Gray in 2011.

Why It Rocks

 * 1) Masterful hosting from Monty Hall. Wayne Brady is a suitable successor.
 * 2) Excellent format that involves the contestants (aka. the traders) make deals with the host.
 * 3) Very good minigames, like Go For A Spin, Accelerator, Gold Rush, etc.
 * 4) The contestants’ costumes are very wacky, creative, and truly great.
 * 5) Nice sets, except for the 2003 version.
 * 6) Catchy theme songs.
 * 7) Funny moments, like the ridiculous Zonk prizes.
 * 8) *Speaking of #7, the Zonk prizes typically range from junked furniture, ridiculously large amounts of food, live animals, you name it.
 * 9) Great announcing from Jay Stewart, Brian Cummings, Dean Goss (depending on your view), and currently Johnathan Mangum.
 * 10) Lovely models, such as Maggie Brown, Juliet Hall, Karen LaPierre, Melanie Vincz, Tiffany Coyne, etc.
 * 11) It recently had "mash-up weeks" with The Price is Right, which were very decent.

The Only Bad Quality

 * 1) The 2003 Billy Bush-hosted version was terrible.