Let's Make a Deal (Jayverse)

Let's Make a Deal is a television game show that originated in the United States in 1963 and has since been produced in many countries throughout the world. The program was created and produced by Stefan Hatos and Monty Hall, the latter serving as its host for nearly 30 years.

The format of Let's Make a Deal involves selected members of the studio audience, referred to as "traders," making deals with the host. In most cases, a trader will be offered something of value and given a choice of whether to keep it or exchange it for a different item. The program's defining game mechanism is that the other item is hidden from the trader until that choice is made. The trader thus does not know if he or she is getting something of greater value or a prize that is referred to as a "zonk," an item purposely chosen to be of little or no value to the trader.

Let's Make a Deal is also known for audience members who dress up in outrageous or crazy costumes in order to increase their chances of being selected as a trader.

Broadcast History
Let's Make a Deal first aired on NBC in 1963 as part of its daytime schedule. The show moved to ABC in 1968, where it remained until 1976; and on two separate occasions the show was given a weekly nighttime spot on those networks. The first syndicated edition of Let's Make a Deal premiered in 1971. Distributed by ABC Films, and then by its successor Worldvision Enterprises once the fin-syn rules were enacted, the series ran until 1977 and aired weekly.

A revival of the series based in Hall's native Canada was launched in 1980 and aired in syndication on American and Canadian stations for one season. This series was produced by Catalena Productions and distributed in America by Rhodes Productions, Catalena's partner company. In the fall of 1984, the series returned for a third run in syndication as The All-New Let's Make a Deal. Running for two seasons until 1986, this series was distributed by Telepictures before UBC picked up continuing the run in 1986 when Bob Hilton (best known for announcing other game shows) took over as the new host (while Monty Hall moved to Toronto to Host a Revival of Split Second on UBC) and in 1990 production moved to Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando, FL from July to October before they moved production back to Hollywood at UBC Television City, In 1996 Greg Lee of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? became the new host and hired The Pussycat Dolls as the new house vocal band with Tom Bahler and the Let's Make a Deal orchestra doing the music, The run lasted until 2002 when Ricki Lake became the new host and dropped the Band afterwards, However in 2009, UBC decided to decline on having Ricki host the show for the 2009-2010 season and is replaced by Wayne Brady who is hosting as of right now.

Cast
Host (1963-1977, 1980-1981, 1984-1986)/Sub Host (2010 & 2013): Monty Hall

Sub-Host (1985): Geoff Edwards

Host (1986-1996): Bob Hilton

Host (1996-2002): Greg Lee

Host (2002-2009): Ricki Lake

Host (2009-Present): Wayne Brady

Announcer (1963-1964): Wendell Niles

Announcer (1964-1977): Jay Stewart

Announcer (1980-1981): Chuck Chandler

Announcer (1984-1985): Brian Cummings

Announcer (1985-1990): Dean Goss

Announcer (1990-1992): Dean Muccio

Announcer (1992-2003): John Cramer

Announcer (2003-2005): Elizabeth Oakes

Announcer (2005-2008): Rich Fields

Announcer (2008-Present): Jonathan Mangum

Models (before Greg Lee): Carol Merrill (1963-1977), Barbara Lyon (sub, 1960s-1970s), Maggie Brown (1980-1981), Juliet Hall (1980-1981), Karen LaPierre (1984-1986), Melanie Vincz (1984-1986), Diane Klimaszewski (1990-2003), Elaine Klimaszewski (1990-2003), Georgia Satelle (1990-1992), Lynne Austin (1992-1996),

Pussycat Dolls (Greg Lee's Run only): Lindsley Allen (1996-1998), Stella Angelova (1996; First Few Months Only), Robin Antin (1996-1998), Carmit Bachar (1995-2001), Cyia Batten (1995-2002), Casey Campbell (1996-2002), Bethany Chesser (1996-1999), Nadine Ellis (1996-2002), Joie Shettler (1996-1998)

Models (since Ricki Lake and onward): Nicole Pulliam (2003-2008), Jayanna Wolfe (2003-2006), Vanessa Minnillo (2003-2013), Brandi Sherwood (2006-2009), Allison Flori (2008-2013), Tiffany Coyne (2009-Present), Katie Sticksel (2009-Present), Danielle Demski (2013-Present)

Crew
Director (1963-1977, 1984-1985): Joe Behar

Director (1980-1981): Geoff Theobald

Director (1985-1986): Hank Behar

Director (1990-1996): Barry Glazer

Director (1996-2003): Dana Calderwood

Director (1996-2003): Sandi Fullerton

Director (2003-2008): Morris Abraham

Director (2008-Present): Lenn Goodside

Music
The theme music for the 1963-77 versions was composed by Sheldon Allman. The theme, along with all incidental music, was performed by an in-studio combo led by Ivan Ditmars, consisting of an electric organ, guitar, drums, and on the nighttime version, a harp. In some seasons of the nighttime show, the combo was further augmented by a horn section. The final season of the nighttime show taped in Las Vegas eliminated the in-studio band in favor of pre-recorded tracks, due to Ivan Ditmars' retirement.

The 1984-86 version featured a brand new theme provided by Score Productions, although original composer Sheldon Allman returned as music director for the first season. Todd Thicke replaced Allman in that role for the second season. Both music directors utilized music from previous Hatos-Hall shows, such as Split Second, as incidental cues during the show and is still used to the present. Since 2011, keyboardist Cat Grey has provided in-studio musical accompaniment.

When Greg Lee became the new host of Let's Make a Deal, Tom Bahler took over as the Music Director complete with a house band and a house Singing and Dancing Group called the Pussycat Dolls under the direction of choreographer Robin Antin.

Links to these Themes (as of right now)

 * Theme Music (used since 1984 and was first used on UBC since 1986)

Taping Locations
1963-1968, 1984-1985: NBC Studios (Burbank, CA)

1968-1976: ABC Television Center (Hollywood, CA)

1976-1977: Las Vegas Hilton (Las Vegas, NV)

1980-1981: Panorama Studios (Vancouver, BC)

1985-1990: Hollywood Center Studios (Hollywood, CA)

1990-1991: Disney-MGM Studios (Orlando, FL)

1991-1993: Universal Studios Florida (Orlando, FL)

1993-2004, 2005-2015: UBC Television City (Hollywood, CA)

2004-2005, 2015-Present: Raleigh Studios (Hollywood, CA)

2009-2010: Tropicana Resort & Casino (Las Vegas, NV)

2010-2014: Sunset Bronson Studios (Hollywood, CA)