Are you the chosen one? (Deal or No Deal)

Member Name: abbadabbado

Product:	Deal or No Deal
Date:	30/10/08 (165 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: a simple game

Disadvantages: not a big chance of winning huge amounts

I have never been a big fan of Noel Edmonds, especially since his Mr Blobby days. I have found myself watching Deal or No Deal more frequently over the months and actually enjoying it despite not wanting to.

** What's the show about? **

Deal or No Deal is a game show which consists of twenty two contestants and twenty two sealed boxes. One contestant is selected at random at the beginning of the show, and that player becomes the chosen one who gets to play the game through for a chance to win money at the end. There are different monetary amounts in each box, ranging from 1p through to 250,000 pounds.

** How does it work? **

The chosen contestant takes their place at the front of the stage and faces the other twenty one contestants who all have a sealed box. Edmonds makes a big deal about the contestants having chosen their box at random before the show.
The chosen one gets to choose a box number one by one until there is only his box and one other box left.

There are equal amounts of blue monetary amounts which range between 1p and 500 pounds, and red monetary amounts which start at 1,000 pounds through to the top prize of 250,000 pounds.
The aim of the game is to try and rid the lower amounts so you are left with a higher change of your box containing the big money.

** Twists and turns **

The chosen one gets to pick three boxes before the telephone rings. On the other end of the phone is a person called The Banker. The banker is brought into play to assess the boxes that are left in play and to try and bribe the chosen one with an offer of money to exchange for their sealed box.
Generally the amount of money offered is somewhere in the middle of all the boxes left in play. The deal is usually slightly lower than the contestant would want to take.

The chosen one has the choice whether to deal or not, hence the title of the show, Deal or No Deal.

** Deal? **

If the chosen one chooses to Deal, they are guaranteed to go home with the amount of money the banker offered them. The game then continues in play just to see how it would have ended up.

** No Deal? **

If the chosen one chooses not to deal then the game play continues for the next three boxes until the banker comes into play again.
During each round the chosen one has to attempt to find all the blue boxes so the next deal is better. Once the big amounts start to be revealed, the banker doesn't feel so threatened about having to give away large amounts of money and is free to offer lower amounts on each deal.

** Decisions **

The chosen one is face with a lot of decisions, sometimes about life changing amounts of money. I would personally go into the show with a figure in mine, but some players are there with the attitude that they came with nothing and are quite prepared to go home with nothing.

** Noel Edmonds **

Noel Edmonds actually is a very good host for this game show. He adds a sense of personality to the whole show and seems to put the contestants at ease. There is always a lot of laughter during the show and usually a few tears too.
He gets the audience involved, and interacts well with all the players.

** Contestants **

Some of the contestants will have been on plenty of shows until they are chosen. If I am correct, there are three shows recorded each day and put out on air once per day Monday to Friday. This means some players can be there for a few weeks until it's their turn.

You can apply for the show via their website when the chance is there to apply.

** Overall **

As I mentioned I do like this show despite thinking I wouldn't. It airs on channel 4 at around 4.30pm. The banker, although never seen in real life, comes across well in personality as he somehow gets into the psychology of the chosen one as he watches from wherever he is.
If you have 45 minutes to spare then I would recommend watching this. You might find yourself getting hooked on this simple idea for a gameshow.

Summary: a good idea for a game show