What used to be quality time spent with my family has turned into a Wednesday night tradition in my friend group. It is often referred to as the most riveting hour in the history of television.
I am, of course, talking about the reboot of CNBC’s “Deal or No Deal.”
Twenty-six cases, ranging from a single penny to $1 million. Must. Watch. TV.
For those of you who have had to go through your life without tuning in to this masterpiece, let me run through some of the rules for you.
Hosted by the stunningly handsome Howie Mandel, who adds his bountiful charm and never fails to cut to a commercial break just as you’re on the edge of your seat. Howie and his ‘80’s style soul-patch are a perfect fit for this dramatic masterpiece.
The contestant chooses one single briefcase and is then asked to open six cases. The models, who are by a numbered briefcase, open the case once the contestant says their number. That’s where the banker comes in.
Only able to see the shadow of the banker, she is an intimidating presence whose sole purpose is to send you home with as little money as possible. The lower the amount the contestant opens, the higher their offer from the banker will be. Then it becomes a game of risk; how far are you willing to go? Do you believe luck is on your side? I can hear Howie uttering those words to me as I type this. What a guy.
My friends and I take “Deal or No Deal” very seriously. To us, it’s more than a TV show; it’s a way of life. There’s typically about five of us watching, and we’ll all pick a case to see who can predict the case holding the most money. All in all, it’s really a rollercoaster of emotions, I’ve seen both the highest highs and the lowest lows. A few weeks ago, I picked the $1 million case and felt untouchable. These last two episodes, though, I’ve been doing terribly. Two weeks ago, my case held only $500, and last week I picked the case with a penny in it. How humiliating.
One thing I love about this reboot is their upgrade in technology. The banker used to call down from his office and Howie would answer the phone on a landline. But we are not in 2008 anymore, oh no. Howie answers the banker with the iPhone 10 these days; straight upgrades!
Recently, I’ve been unable to watch the show live because I am busy on production nights putting together the sports section of The New Hampshire. Do you think that stops me from enjoying “Deal or No Deal”? Hell no.
If you want something bad enough in life, you learn to adapt and make time for it. I text in the case number before the official 9 p.m. start, and my roommate records the show for me. I refuse to let him tell me anything about the show, because as soon as I get back home (usually around midnight), the first thing I do is turn my beloved show on.
I’m feeling case number eight tonight; write it down. I feel like I have the $1 million case.
(It’ll probably have $5. But a man can wish, can’t he?)