“Let’s Make A Deal” Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Return of Original Hosts Monty Hall and Carol Merrill
It’s hard to believe but the CBS daytime game show Let’s Make A Deal will celebrate 50 years on the air this month. The first pilot was taped on May 25, 1963. What’s amazing is that, over the course of these 50 years, practically nothing has changed beyond the hosts. Even the set, though updated with modern technology, has remained the same…audience gallery and three iconic doors is all it needs to entertain audiences for decades. The current CBS version, now in its fourth season and hosted by Wayne Brady alongside Jonathan Mangum and Tiffany Coyne, has never been shy about embracing its history. Monty Hall spent a week on the show making deals with contestants during its first season. Let’s Make A Deal will celebrate its 50th anniversary starting next Monday, February 18th, with three things that are going to make genre fans very happy: the return of the original hosts and Super Deal.
Each of the shows during the two-week honor of the 50th anniversary of Let’s Make A Deal will feature one deal which pays tribute to the iconic show’s long history. Everything from trivia to classic clips will be included. The popular “Super Deal” will make a return as well. If the day’s biggest dealer can find the Big Deal of the Day behind one of the three doors they face one final decision. Do they keep what they have…or do they gamble it all for a chance to win $50,000 plus everything they won up to that point. It’s a one in three gamble for over $75,000 in cash and prizes. This current version of Deal first brought back Super Deal in March 2012 for two weeks. In April 2012 contestant Jorge became the show’s biggest winner, taking home the $50,000 plus his Big Deal.
I think most of you will be more excited about the return of the original on-air crew, though. The anniversary shows will culminate with the return of the show’s co-creator, original host, and current creative consultant Monty Hall. Monty made a very infamous deal back in 2010 which you can watch here. That’s not all, though. Original prize model Carol Merrill will also be making her return for the first time since the 70s. Again all of this starts Monday, February 18th.
It’s nice to see Let’s Make A Deal pulling out all the stops to honor the format’s history. We’re looking forward to seeing the next few weeks. Congratulations, though, to everyone at Deal for keeping the ship on course successfully for 50 years and for bringing the show back for a new generation of fans to enjoy
This will be an awesome event…the return of Monty and Carol!! No wonder Let’s Make A Deal is still an awesome show and format!!
Monty Hall still going strong at 92. Jay Stewart must be up there looking down and very happy of what has become of the latest incarnation of Let’s Make A Deal. Carol Merrill, I think, is the greatest game show model of all time. She displayed every prize with grace. From the extraordinary to the ZONK! It will be great to see Monty and Carol again!
What days will Monty and Carol be on?
I’ve just heard that March 1 will be the day Monty and Carol will be on.
This is beyond awesome. Like I said in the Facebook story, though, I’m excited about the current “Let’s Make a Deal” no matter what. This is just icing on the cake. They all do a great job.
The one thing that the current version of LMAD doesn’t have are pricing games. Instead they have more games with improv & music. It works well eather way.
Although Carrol & Tiffany are in the same roll, Tiffany is more involve in some of the deals & isn’t just there as eye candy.
I think that little show that comes after it has something to do with that…
The only thing I don’t like about the Wayne Brady version is the skits they do.It takes away time that could be used to fit another game in .Other than that,the new version is pretty darn good.Having Monty and Carol is the best thing they could have done for the 50th anniversary.
That’s funny, as people complained at first about the show being an hour and thus having too many games. I think the skits add enough padding to not make either boring.