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.

NBC revived Let's Make a Deal beginning in 1990 and is co-produced by Hatos-Hall Productions along with Ron Greenberg and Dick Clark, and featured Bob Hilton (best known for announcing other game shows) as host (although Hall would work as a consultant to the show) and production moved to Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando, FL later on in October, Bob Hilton left the show and is replaced by Michael Carrington (who hosted Season 1 of the Game Show, Think Fast on Nickelodeon and also hosted the Live Shows of Let's Make a Deal at the Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando, FL) and it turned out to be a huge success in the afternoons however Carrington hosted the show and stayed here until 1998 and is replaced by Gordon Elliott and went on to stay here for 5 more years before being replaced with Billy Bush and went on to host until 2004 before being replaced with Ricki Lake for the Shows 15th season on NBC, However in 2009 NBC 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

Sub-Host (1986): Dean Goss

Host (1990): Bob Hilton

Host (1990-1997): Michael Carrington

Host (1997-2002): Gordon Elliott

Host (2002-2004): Billy Bush

Host (2004-2009): 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 (1985-1986): Dean Goss

Announcer (1990-1993): Dean Muccio

Announcer (1993-1994): Doc Holliday

Announcer (1994-1996): Edd Hall

Announcer (1996-2002): John Cramer

Announcer (2002-2005): Elizabeth Oakes

Announcer (2005-2009): Rich Fields

Announcer (2009-Present): Jonathan Mangum

Models: 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 (1990-1991), Brenda Leithleiter (1991-1993), Lynne Austin (1992-1996), Leeann Tweeden (1994-2000), Nicole Pulliam (2000-2008), Jayanna Wolfe (2003-2006), Vanessa Minnillo (2002-2013), 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 (1990-1998): Barry Glazer

Director (1998-2003): Jared Cory

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.

The 1990 revival features another new theme composed by Brian Teed which was introduced in 2009 in addition many of the 1984-1986 Cues have returned to be used when the show moved back to Los Angeles in 1994. Since 2011, keyboardist Cat Grey has provided in-studio musical accompaniment.

Taping Locations
1963-1968, 1984-1985, 1994-2004: 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)

1985-1986: Hollywood Center Studios (Hollywood, CA)

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

2004-2009, 2015-Present: Raleigh Studios (Hollywood, CA)

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

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