At present, there are at least 40 versions of
Deal or No Deal that are produced worldwide, and most have variations in their rules, staging and game play. In attempt to come up with new ideas to keep the game show fresh, NBC has decided to visit and play on foreign-based production sets, starting off with the Philippines.
On tonight's episode, host
Howie Mandel and contestants from the United States will be playing the game according to the rules of the Philippine version of
Deal or No Deal.
The two-hour episode follows Mike Levy of Baltimore, Maryland and Patrick Hook of Roberts, Wisconsin as they try their luck at becoming millionaires with host Mandel and Philippine counterpart Kris Aquino at their side explaining the rules of the game.
During Mandel's four-day visit to Manila, the Canadian actor was coached to say a few lines in Filipino, which is the official language used in the Philippines. Additionally, he was accompanied by the 26K Girls, the Philippine counterpart of the briefcase models, as he visited Quiapo, Manila and also drove a pedicab around the compound of ABS-CBN, home of the Philippine version of
Deal or No Deal. Mandel even tried working as a promo boy for a grocery store.
All these has apparently made the episode very interesting to watch, prompting the network to air the Philippine episode tonight instead of its original schedule on May 7.
"The producers said they loved the episode so much, they decided to air our version ahead of the two," ABS-CBN business unit head Alou Almaden told
Inquirer Entertainment.
"Towards the end of the taping, Howie thanked the staff and the audience for their energy. He said he was amazed at all the cheering and dancing in the local version," Almaden added.
-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: NBC, Inquirer
(Image courtesy of NBC)