It's a deal for Howie Mandel as Howie Do It, an unscripted comedy series which Mandel stars and produces, premieres January 9 at 8pm on NBC.  The network ordered Howie Do It way back in April.  It is a hidden camera series that centers on the Deal or No Deal host as he puts on a disguise to pull a prank on unsuspecting victims.

Howie Do It is conceived as a short-term replacement to Deal or No Deal, which currently occupies NBC's Friday 8pm timeslot.  The game show will be temporarily removed after the holidays.  According to reports, Deal or No Deal will revert to airing specials rather than take on its regular weekly spot.  It was Mandel who started the game show three years ago in December of 2005.

"America loves Howie and we're so lucky to have another great show that will showcase his unique signature humor," said Craig Plestis, executive VP of Alternative Programming, Development and Specials for NBC.

Several critics have commented that Howie Do It sounds very similar to Hidden Howie: The Public Life of a Public Nuisance, a 2005 improv comedy show starring Mandel about a man who creates hidden-camera segments for a talk show, mostly pranks reminiscent of Candid Camera.  This itself is a spin-off of a popular segment the comedian and game show host used to do on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Howie Do It will be one of the three relatiy shows NBC is packaging for a January premiere, alongside The Biggest Loser: Couples, the franchise's seventh overall season, and Superstars of Dance, a dance-themed reality series that features dancers from all over the globe.

"Deal can benefit from a rest," NBC programming executive Mitch Metcalf told Variety. "It's a show that can really work well for us in special situations, and we'll evaluate it as a regular series."


-Glenn L. Diaz, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Reality TV World
(Image Courtesy of NBC)