What's the Deal with Deal or No Deal?
Channel 7's Deal or No Deal hosted by Andrew O'Keefe is the most popular of the afternoon television game shows, easily beating Bert's Family Feud on Channel 9. What is it about the show that has viewers glued to their television screens?
Chance plays a big part in Deal or No Deal. Before each episode, a car or prize money ranging from 50 cents to $200,000 is randomly allocated to 26 identical cases. At the beginning of the episode, potential contestants are randomly selected from the studio audience and answer three simple questions to decide who gets to play the game. To begin, the contestant chooses one case which remains unopened until the end of the game. This case contains the prize that they will win if they play through to the end of the game. The contestant then opens the remaining cases one by one to reveal what is inside and therefore what is not inside the contestant's prize case.
There is one important part of the game which is not left to chance. At predetermined intervals during the game, the 'bank' makes a cash offer that the contestant can either accept (Deal) or choose to play on (No Deal). The calculation of the bank’s offer is based on the prize money that remains in the unopened cases. Early in the game, the bank's offers are well below what the contestant could expect to win to encourage them to play on. Later in the game, the bank's offers are more tempting to the contestant to lessen the chances that they play on for a big prize.
While the top prize of $200,000 is a big sum of money, most of the prizes are quite small. Half of the cases contain $750 or less and only 15% have $50,000 or more. Winning the top prize takes a lot of luck and a lot of nerve and so far, only one contestant has won the top prize. First, there is only a 4% chance that the contestant chooses the case containing the $200,000 then they have to reject all of the bank's offers until only their case remains unopened. Each contestant is different and their decisions to answer 'deal' or 'no deal' are based on the value of the prizes in the unopened cases, their personal weighing up of the amount of money on offer and what it means to them as well as how much of a risk taker they are.
Deal or No Deal first aired in Australia in 2003 on Sunday nights and moved to weekday afternoons in 2004. With the change in timeslot was a reduction in the amount money able to be won and a change from one hour to 30 minutes per episode. Andrew O'Keefe has hosted the show from the beginning and, while he is no Larry Emdur (the game show king), he keeps the show upbeat and moving along at a lively pace. The show has found its niche on weekday afternoons and has become immensely popular. The prizes are attractive, they're not lame things that no-one really wants, just cold hard cash (or a car). Viewers have their own ideas about whether or not they would accept the bank's offer and watch intently as the contestant comes to their own decision.
A number of verbal and body language rituals are observed on Deal or No Deal. Firstly, there is the defiant crossed arms No Deal gesture used by both audience members and contestants. Then there are the 'gimme gimme' fingers being rubbed together to indicate Deal (grab the money and run). High fives are obligatory for the case-holding minor contestants when they guess correctly and win themselves $500.
Verbal rituals also abound. The most common one is "Well I came with nothing..." This is used by contestants both to justify a foolhardy No Deal call, and to console themselves after losing a cool $20,000 after a failed foolhardy No Deal call. Andrew's favourite response in these situations is usually something like "Well $1000 is not bad for half an hour's work..." The other favourite contestant expression is "Well, I don’t want to be greedy..." This is usually used to justify an astute calculation to quit while the odds are clearly against them. For some mysterious reason unknown to me, the audience all yell "boo yeah" when case number 26 comes up. If anyone can shed any light on this it would be much appreciated.
Andrew O'Keefe obviously aspires to be snapped up for hosting a more demanding gig like hosting a current affairs program (to be the next mega cool Ray Martin perhaps?) He's the only game show host to regularly use words like hubris and he sometimes even uses Latin phrases like sine qua non. Never lost for a word or a song line or an impersonation, he manages to be both a smart arse and Mr Nice Guy at the same time. No mean feat.
A 2006 innovation in Deal or No Deal (apart from the money bearing girls being blondes when last year they were brunettes) is the Double or Nothing option at the end of the game. Once a contestant has done a deal they can choose to gamble away all or part of their winnings on Double or Nothing. Their fate is decided by two of the blondes bringing onto the stage a HUGE case containing the word DOUBLE or NOTHING. It is therefore possible in 2006 to come away with absolutely nothing (or $400,000 potentially), whereas in previous years 50 cents was the bottom of the barrel. This of course adds a nice little second climax to the end of the show.
Love it Love it Love it.... Can someone please tell me how to get tickets for the show???? I can't seem to find any information on being in the audience.
Amanda , June 22, 2006 8:00
I watch your show every afternoon.I thought id enter as a contestant.Im dissapointed that Sydney residents cant be part of the show
Angelo Kondos, June 22, 2006 4:03
An highly enjoyable game-show. I always hurry to watch as I do not want to miss it. I love it. I would be grateful if I could be a contestant and be in this full of fun show/game. Please accept my warm and heartfelt thank.
Piphal Engly, May 30, 2006 6:44
a Fantastic and remarkable popular game/show. I watch it all the time. It inspires me to be in it. I wish so much to be in it. Please Advise me how I can place my name or be a contestant. Looking forward impatiently to hearing from you. Best regards and warm thanks.
Piphal Engly, May 30, 2006 6:40
hey all@deal or no deal,anychance of making u any kind of deal 2get on my favourite show&my favourite "host" in da hole wide world?
michelle jacques, May 25, 2006 10:26
Can u please advised how I can get on the show.my kids and I watch it every afternoon Im sure they would love to see me on tv in your show.
thanks Richard Bustamante
Richard Bustamante, May 16, 2006 3:07
to get on the show you go to the channel 7 website like i did, i am going to a taping on monday 22 may and i cant wait for my chance at a shot at 200,000 on the best game show by far i have seen!!!!, does anybody know what cases the 200,000 has been in so far
jon paul, May 15, 2006 5:29
l love deal or no deal.
l would love to appear on the show
letitia gordon, May 13, 2006 1:49
hi,i love deal or no dealwould love to be a contestant or even for double deal friday (i think thats what u call it)
Thanking you
Angelique Kelly
Angelique Kelly, May 4, 2006 2:44
Can you please let me know how I can get on the show - I don't miss an episode & have hooked my friends to the show as well.
Sailesh Naidu, April 28, 2006 11:04
Fantastic show, please tell me how to apply to get on the show
JIM CLEWS, April 28, 2006 5:28
what did we do for entertainment before andrew o keefe?? a good all rounder funny man. can i please meet him on his deal or no deal?can i bring him home with me if i dont win a prize? he is so o o cute///
evelyn pringle(age 75 ), April 26, 2006 8:15
please how do I go about being a contestant on the show
Frederick Walker, April 23, 2006 6:04
andie o keefe is the greatest///best thing since sliced bread/// i want to meet him , and be on his show . and if i dont win anything, i will bring HIM HOME AS MY PRIZE. LOVE FROM EVELYN XXXXXXX
evelyn pringle ( age 75.), April 23, 2006 1:26
Could you please advise me on how to become a contestant? On any current game show or at least give me a hint how people get to be contestants even before a program goes to air .(sorry if this seems dumb)ive always wondered.Thank you Best Regards PHIL
philip gallen, April 21, 2006 4:55
I definitely agree with Angela, Andrew O'Keefe is HOT!
Jonathan, April 15, 2006 7:48
I wish to try my luck .
stephen kyriakakis , April 6, 2006 7:28
hello i would love to join the team on 7 to join in all the fun with deal or no deal ,can u let me know how to become a part of this great deal show please..
DEBBIE, April 5, 2006 2:43
Andrew O'keefe is definitely by far the most sexiest sex symbol in all of Australia!!!! I'm having multiple orgasms every time I watch his show. He is HOT HOT HOT. LOVE ALWAYS
ANGELA DAWSON XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Angela Dawson, April 4, 2006 7:47
CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME HOW I CAN GET ON YOUR SHOW PLEASE ? ps. i never miss an episode great show keep up the good work.
greg beeken, March 22, 2006 2:33
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE LET ME DO THE DEAL. no Larry Emdur (the game show king), Hey how are you xoxoxo
Reegan Humphreez, March 14, 2006 4:58


