Let's Make a Deal
Let's Make a Deal (also known as LMAD) 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.
| Let's Make a Deal | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | The All New Let's Make a Deal (1984–86) Let's Make a Deal Primetime (2020–present) |
| Genre | Comedy Variety show Game show Musical comedy |
| Created by | Stefan Hatos Monty Hall |
| Directed by | Joe Behar (1963–77, 1984–85) Geoff Theobald (1980–81) Hank Behar (1985–86) Barry Glazer (1990–91) James Marcione (1990–91) Morris Abraham (2003) Lenn Goodside (2009–present) |
| Presented by | Monty Hall Bob Hilton Billy Bush Wayne Brady |
| Starring | Assistant: Carol Merrill Maggie Brown Julie Hall Karen LaPierre Melanie Vincz Diane Klimaszewski Elaine Klimaszewski Georgia Satelle Alison Fiori Tiffany Coyne Danielle Demski Chris Ahearn |
| Narrated by | Wendell Niles Jay Stewart Chuck Chandler Brian Cummings Dean Goss Dean Miuccio Vance DeGeneres Jonathan Mangum |
| Theme music composer | Sheldon Allman (1963–77, 1984–86) Marilyn Hall (1963–77, 1984–86) Michel Camilo for Score Productions, Inc. (1984–86) |
| Composers | Ivan Ditmars (1963–76) Stan Worth (1976–77, 1980–81) Sheldon Allman (1976–77, 1984–85) Todd Thicke (1985–86) Jerry Ray (1990–91) Cat Gray (2009–present) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | NBC/ABC (1963–76): 3,784 Syndicated (1971–77): 281 Syndicated (1981): 195 Syndicated (1984–86): 340 NBC (1990–91): 128 NBC (2003): 3 CBS (2009–present): 2,000+ (as of February 19, 2021) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Stefan Hatos (1980–81, 1984–86) Dick Clark (1990–91) Ron Greenberg (1990–91) Monty Hall (2003) Sharon Hall (2003) David Garfinkle (2003) Jay Renfroe (2003) Jeff Mirkin (2003) Mike Richards (2009–2019) John Quinn (2019–present) |
| Producers | Stefan Hatos (1963–77) Monty Hall (1980–81) Ian MacClennan (1980–81) Bob Synes (1984–86) Alan Gilbert (1984–86) Bruce Starin (1990–91) Paul Pieratt (1990–91) Ross Kaiman (2003) Gloria Fujita-O'Brien (2003) |
| Production locations | NBC Studios, Burbank, California (1963–68, 1984–85, 2003) ABC Television Center, Hollywood, California (1968–76) Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada (1976–77) Panorama Studios, West Vancouver, British Columbia (1980–81) Sunset Las Palmas Studios, Hollywood (1985–86) Disney's Hollywood Studios, Orlando, Florida (1990–91) Tropicana Resort & Casino, Las Vegas (2009–10) Old Warner Brothers Studio, Hollywood (2010–15) Raleigh Studios Hollywood (2015-17) Saticoy Studios, Van Nuys (2017-22) Quixote Studios, Sylmar (2022-23) Haven Studios, Glendale (2023-present) |
| Running time | 22–26 minutes (1963–77, 1980–81, 1984–86, 1990–91) 44–52 minutes (2003, 2009–present) |
| Production companies | Stefan Hatos-Monty Hall Productions (1963–77, 1980–81, 1984–86, 2009–2021) Catalena Productions (1980–81) Dick Clark Productions (1990–91) Ron Greenberg Productions (1990–91) Monty Hall Enterprises, Inc. (2003) Fremantle North America (2009–present) Marcus/Glass Productions (2021–present) |
| Original release | |
| Network | NBC (1963–68, 1990–91, 2003) ABC (1968–76) Syndicated (1971–77, 1980–81, 1984–86) CBS (2009–present) |
| Release | December 30, 1963 – present |
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 they are getting something of equal or 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 in outrageous and unique costumes in order to increase their chances of being selected as a trader.
The current edition of Let's Make a Deal has aired on CBS since October 5, 2009, when it took over the spot on the network's daytime schedule vacated by the soap opera Guiding Light. Wayne Brady is the host of the current series, with Jonathan Mangum as his announcer/assistant. Tiffany Coyne is the current model, joining in 2010, with musician Cat Gray in 2011.
From Season 12 (2020–21) to Season 14 (2022-23), Let's Make a Deal filmed with a hybrid of audience members in-studio seated in pods as well as virtual traders playing from their homes because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (nicknamed "At-Homies") that delayed the start of Season 12. According to executive producer John Quinn, all COVID-19 protocols are in effect during production, including social distancing, testing, masks (only for crewmembers and while off set), and personal protective equipment.
The 15th season of the current version premiered on September 25, 2023, and six primetime episodes were filmed during the season. One is the show's Christmas primetime episode, and five are to be broadcast in January and February 2024, between seasons of Survivor.
The show is owned by Marcus/Glass Productions, a joint venture of Marcus Entertainment (Marcus Lemonis) and Nancy Glass following an August 2021 acquisition of Hatos-Hall assets, with Sharon Hall, a former Endemol Shine executive, as the consultant. From January 2022, CAN'T STOP media will be in charge of the format's international distribution.