Howie Mandel is arguably one of today's most affable performers. Following six years on the critically acclaimed series
St. Elsewhere, which catapulted him to national fame and earned him Emmy nominations, he found steady work in both film and television while continuing to work as a successful comedian. For this reason, he was given a star on the Hollywood of Walk of Fame on September 4.
While Mandel, who has been in the business for three decades, has an impressive roster of credits to his name, he significantly gives credit and recognition for his present hosting gig on
Deal or No Deal.
"This game seems to cater to the needs of the widest audience that I've ever done any project for," Mandel told
The Hollywood Reporter of
Deal of No Deal's broad appeal that has helped him achieve a new level of exposure.
"For me, the huge success is just having a job," Mandel added. "So having this job now is just amazing, and then to get all these accolades for this job is like icing on the cake."
Mandel, however, isn't the type of person who dares to take a risk, unlike some of the contestants on
Deal or No Deal. In fact, he initially rejected the offer to host the NBC program.
"I didn't want to host a game show. I didn't see that as a viable path for my career," he said. "Through great coaxing from my wife -- she said, 'Take the deal, otherwise you're an idiot' -- I took the deal, and I had no idea where it would lead."
Interestingly,
Deal or No Deal has earned Mandel his first major award nomination, an Emmy for outstanding reality/reality-competition host, a category that debuted this year for the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony, which will commence on Sunday, September 21.
-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source:
The Hollywood Reporter
(Image courtesy of NBC)