Deal or No Deal - TV-PG
TV Rating: TV-PG
Network: NBC Cast: Howie Mandel
Genre: Game Shows
Available on: 
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Common Sense Note
Parents should know that greed and risk-taking can play a factor in the contestants' decision-making on this engrossing primtime game show, sometimes with a negative outcome. But some contestants also make smart decisions and settle for a more modest amount than the $1 million they dream of.
Families can discuss the contestants' decisions, and what each family member would do if they were playing the game. Would you be satisfied with the amount of money a contestant won? Why or why not? Do you think the contestant was too greedy, or too much of a risk-taker? What would you have done differently, and why? Another discussion topic could be money itself and its value. What would you do if you won a lot of money? Aside from buying material things, can you think of some ways you could put the money to good use?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Larisa Wiseman
DEAL OR NO DEAL is a primetime game show in which each contestant, chosen at random out of a pool of audience hopefuls, is presented with 26 briefcases displayed by lovely models on a stage. Each briefcase contains a tag showing a certain dollar amount -- from $.01 to $1 million.
First, contestants choose one briefcase that will remain unopened beside them until the end of the game. Then, with help from family and friends on the sidelines, the contestants pick several more cases to be opened one by one, revealing the various dollar amounts inside.
The more briefcases the contestants open, the better they can calculate the odds that the unopened case beside them contains a high dollar amount. After each round of briefcase-opening (six are opened in the first round, five the next, and so on), the show's host, Howie Mandel, receives a phone call from "the bank" offering contestants a certain amount of cash if they walk away now.
If the contestants accept the amount, the game is over; if they decide "no deal" because they believe the unopened briefcase contains a higher amount than what was offered, the game continues until they either accept an offer or open the briefcase to find out how much they won.
It's surprisingly easy to get sucked in by this game, even if it is a bit like watching someone play roulette in a gambling hall. You never know which number will turn up, and part of the fun is watching the show with a group of people and talking about what you would do in a given situation -- accept the bank's offer, or take a chance on the unopened suitcase?
Although there's little brain power involved aside from making smart decisions -- the show is more about luck and is far from being a brainteaser like Jeopardy -- the decision-making element is crucial, as is resisting being swayed by greed. Deal or No Deal is decent entertainment that actually makes you think -- just a little -- and could possibly help teach younger viewers the value of a dollar.
Fans might also enjoy Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and Gameshow Marathon.
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Sexual ContentThe "briefcase models" are all very sexy and wear slinky, somewhat revealing dresses. |
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Social BehaviorSome contestants get very caught up by greed. The show can feel like watching someone gamble. |
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