Deal or No Deal?

Television is uncanny in its mimicking abilities. When "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?" became an overnight hit for NBC in 1998, networks were quick to take notice. Within a year game shows like "The Weakest Link", "Greed" and even a "21" revival attempted to emulate "Millionaire's" charm for similar ratings boosts. A few years later "Survivor" overtook the "must-see" sticker and networks again flocked to the scene and filled their schedules with inexpensive, unscripted reality-TV. Both situations seemed to work, temporarily.

In 2005, the game-show trend was revisted and updated with "Deal or No Deal". The gaming concept was slightly altered, featuring a more open, 'flashy' set, a celebrity host, and a mindless theme. (maybe the concept wasn't that different) The suitcase-opening phenomenon was a surprise smash for NBC, and networks again observed programming potential. Months later, "Show Me the Money" (similar look to "Deal" with William Shatner at the helm), "Identity", and "1 vs. 100" jumped aboard the game-show rennaisance, proving yet again television's cyclical behaviour. This time, however, the concept could have a shorter self-life.

"Deal or No Deal" concluded its second season last night, and as the show attempted to stay fresh throughout the year by offering tangible prizes in deals and surprising contestants with celebrity guest stars, the reality of the show's repetitiveness began to sink in. Luckily, Howie Mandell has performed hosting duties masterfully, and his charasmatic interaction with contestants as well as his genuine emotion over the game at hand has been critical to the show's success. Mandell, however, can only take the game show so far.

Like "Millionaire" the program follows similar patterns every night, and with new shows airing twice a week TV audiences could grow weary of the formula. The show will undoubtedly rely even more on special deals, weekly spectacles, and celebrity guests to energize the game-show, but don't be surprised if ratings begin to slip next season and NBC announces "No Deal" sooner than expected.