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CNN Larry King Live
"Deal Or No Deal's" Howie Mandel
Aired May 08, 2007 - 21:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "DEAL OR NO DEAL," COURTESY NBC)
HOWIE MANDEL, HOST: Ladies, please.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LARRY KING, HOST: Tonight, backstage -- the hottest game show in theme TV -- get the real deal on "Deal or No Deal" with Howie Mandel.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MANDEL: This is just met. I can't. I'm OCD.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Opening up about a disorder that keeps him from ever shaking anybody's hand.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MANDEL: I used to wash my hands and scald my hands. I wouldn't go out. I took 10 showers a day.
KING: Plus...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "DEAL OR NO DEAL," COURTESY NBC)
MANDEL: Anya, open your case.
Katie?
KATIE CLEARY, "DEAL OR NO DEAL": Uh-huh?
MANDEL: Open the case.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: The stunning sexy beauties with the big bucks briefcases are riding an emotional roller coaster, hoping that they hold the key to somebody's fortune.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANYA MONZIKOVA, "DEAL OR NO DEAL": I've been right a couple of times on the show.
(END VIDEO CLIP) KING: And...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MANDEL: She was playing a $4 million game.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I won $750,000.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: "Deal or No Deal's" biggest winners on how beating the banker changed their lives forever.
It's all next...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "DEAL OR NO DEAL," COURTESY NBC)
MANDEL: No deal!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: ... on LARRY KING LIVE.
Good evening.
One of the most successful shows of the season has been "Deal or No Deal." So successful I even guessed it last night. And we'll show you that a little later.
But the star of the show, the man who makes it tick, the man who makes it go, is Howie Mandel, the host of "Deal or No Deal."
He appears six nights a week, by the way, at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Hotel.
He starred in the hit series "St. Elsewhere" on television and has hosted his own syndicated talk show.
How did this -- how did this come to you?
MANDEL: "Deal or No Deal?"
KING: Yes, "Deal or No Deal."
MANDEL: "Deal or No Deal" came to me via telephone. I was -- the first -- the first offer was my manager calls me up and he says NBC is doing a game -- and they were -- he was going to say game show and I just went no.
I didn't even let them get the word show out. I was not interested in being a game show host. And I hung up the phone. And lo and...
KING: Because you are a comic.
MANDEL: Because I am a comic, you know? KING: Right.
MANDEL: And I didn't want to be -- I didn't want to -- I just thought that that would be a little mar on my career, you know?
I just -- I didn't think a game show was the way to go.
And then they called me back a half hour later and said can we just explain the game to you?
And I said, you know what, go ahead and explain it. And they said, OK, here's the -- here's the idea...
KING: Were these the producers of the game or?
MANDEL: My manager -- somebody was calling from Endemol, which is the production company. He was calling my manager. My manager said he's on the other line, he just wants me to tell you what the game is. The game is there is a million dollars in play every night, but we've got 26 hot models and somebody just picks a case and then we'll eliminate cases and then throughout the evening we'll make offers on their case to go home. That's the game.
I said, well, that's not really -- it doesn't seem like a game. There is no skill. There's no trivia. There's no stunts. There's really nothing. No. No, I'm not interested.
And then they call me back about a half hour later and he says, you know what, can I just pitch you in person?
Can the guy -- he's just -- he thinks you're the man.
Can I pitch you in person?
And I said, OK. He goes because this is huge. I go what do you mean this is huge?
Apparently it was already up in 65 countries, different languages, every culture. And wherever it was, it had gone through the roof.
And Endemol...
KING: Where did it originate?
MANDEL: Denmark. Not Denmark, Holland. Holland. Not -- I don't know. Where's Endemol from?
KING: One of those places.
MANDEL: Where's John de Mol from?
Wherever it -- where it is.
KING: One of those places.
MANDEL: This guy Dick came up with the name...
KING: Oh, yes?
MANDEL: With the game. It's based on a mathematical equation. It's huge everywhere. And I know that -- they told me the guy in Italy got offered $50 million -- the host -- to stop hosting it from the challenging network because it was throwing everything else off the air.
And NBC was so committed to this -- and now it doesn't seem like anything because they've done it since -- but there were going to commit five -- they were going to do five one hour specials every night of a week in -- 18 months in December to this. This was huge, the biggest thing they had. And they were so excited. NBC wanted me. Endemol wanted me.
Can I just meet him in person?
And I said you know what?
I'm going to be in a deli.
Not yours -- not Nate'n Al -- Nate'n Al's -- but I was going to be in a deli. If the guy wants to join me for soup, I'm more than happy to see him.
I'm sitting in the Valley at Jerry's Deli. I'm having soup. And the guy shows up. Now they just told me that NBC -- this is the biggest thing they have. This is huge. The guy from Endemol -- they do, you know, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," "Big Brother." They have huge shows -- "Fear Factor."
He's going to present it to me in person.
This guy shows up with this. Look at this. This is the biggest show that NBC has. This is -- I swear to you, this is the exact card. He shows up with this. It looks like a 7-year-old...
KING: It's a card with numbers.
MANDEL: Yes. But look at it, it's not even cut. There's no -- nothing...
KING: That was the actual card?
MANDEL: This is the actual card. This is how he shows up.
KING: And what was this...
MANDEL: This is his presentation. And I'm thinking, I'm being -- I'm being "Punk'd."
KING: (LAUGHTER)
MANDEL: ... I'm being -- this is -- I'm waiting for Ashton Kutcher. This is it. He puts this down. He moves my soup out of the way. He goes this is the game. I go you're kidding me?
This is the game?
And then out of napkins we cut the different amounts of money, and we're placing that. And I'm eating my sandwich. And he has me play the game on this little card.
And I said, you know, that was kind of fun, but I don't see how this is big television. I don't -- and he gave me a tape. And it was in Italian. It was from the Italian version of the game. And I sat home with my wife and I watched it. And we didn't understand what they were saying. But the game is very simple. It's the simplest game on television.
And she sat there and she said you know what, you would be perfect for this. You've got to take this deal. If you don't take this deal, you're an idiot. So I listened to her...
KING: Good thinking.
MANDEL: To listen to her was good thinking.
I took the deal, shot the show and flew to South America. I didn't want to be here when it aired. I didn't know whether I would be the laughing stock. And when I landed -- well, first of all, I started getting pinned when it started airing. It was going through the roof. The numbers were going through the roof.
I landed here and from that day on, every third person that passes me says, deal or no deal?
KING: All right, the obvious question.
First, why is it a hit?
MANDEL: I think it's a hit because it is incredibly -- first of all, the simplicity. What I reacted to at first negatively is the positive. It is the most simple -- there is no skill. There is no stunts. There is no trivia. So anybody can play. You can be four. You can be 84.
It's incredibly relatable. It's -- you know, as a human being, as a parent, as a husband, you know, I can look into somebody's eye and see -- and learn their hopes and dreams.
They're in debt. They've never had a home. They -- you know, their lives can change forever with not only the millions, but hundreds of thousands of dollars. And anybody at home can relate to the fact that what would I do if I had that money?
KING: But Merv Griffin, one of the masters at this, always told me the successful game show...
MANDEL: Right. KING: ... is always one the home person can play.
MANDEL: Right.
KING: You can play Concentration. You can play any good game.
MANDEL: Right.
KING: You can't play this at home.
What do you do, yell out number 13?
MANDEL: Well, first of all, they do play it at home. They do...
KING: How?
MANDEL: Because -- it's amazing to me that -- and you're going to talk to some contestants -- they come to the game with theories. They go don't pick that...
KING: Theories?
MANDEL: ... theories, you know?
Well, I'm not going to start with an odd number. I know that the double digit is better if I -- you know, that million has been in the third row more than it's been in the second row. It's all random. We don't where it's been. But, also, there is a skill -- not a skill. There is a theory in how much risk you want to take....
KING: Yes, well, that...
MANDEL: You know, when the offer...
KING: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
You've $90,000.
MANDEL: Right. And you sitting at home know that what $90,000 would mean to you. And you have three cases left to open. And there's only one case, granted, that's still a million.
Do you take the shot?
Because the $90,000 is guaranteed. Guaranteed.
KING: Now explain something to me. You've got $90,000. There's three cases left.
MANDEL: Right.
KING: If the case you open says a million, you don't win it?
MANDEL: Well, for those that haven't seen the game, you know what? You want to keep the biggest amounts in play. You pick one case. That case... KING: You want the biggest amount?
You want the last three to be $1 million, $800,000 and $900,000?
MANDEL: Well, the best case scenario is that there's two cases left and that's $750,000 and $1 million.
KING: You can't lose.
MANDEL: And we did have a player, Michelle Falco...
KING: The one that (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
MANDEL: Well, we could -- that was the dilemma. She had two cases left. And we said go home now. You could have a million. You could have $750,000. We're going to offer you $880,000 right now.
Do you take the $880,000 guaranteed or do you go for the shot and say no deal?
And maybe your case has $750,000 or it has a million.
What would you do?
KING: Eight-eighty.
MANDEL: You'd take the 880?
KING: Yes.
MANDEL: Well, Michelle said no, took the shot and went home with $750,000.
KING: More with Howie Mandel when we come back, including a look at a certain celebrity guest who you all know.
MANDEL: Amazing.
KING: As we go to...
MANDEL: I don't know how they got him.
KING: As we go to a break, a behind the scenes tour with the man himself, Howie Mandel.
Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MANDEL: Hi, Howie Mandel here.
I'm backstage in the bowels of the backstage area for "Deal or No Deal."
I don't know if you can get shot of this from behind -- all the money amounts that can, you know, make or break people. When we have chickens on the show, we keep them in this area here.
That's our -- that's our director, Brian DiPirro.
This is a buffet that we set up because we're hoping to have the Olsen twins here today. And this is the buffet they've requested.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "DEAL OR NO DEAL," COURTESY NBC)
MANDEL: We're picking up our first contestant.
Whoops.
Leach.
Are you here, folks?
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wowie! Golly!
What about that?
MANDEL: I don't know what to say now. You just don't come up and do that to me without taking me out for dinner first.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, that's...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: We're back with Howie Mandel, the host of NBC's smash hit show, "Deal or No Deal."
How big is this show?
"Saturday Night Live" recognized it.
Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE," COURTESY SNL STUDIOS/NBC)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Okie-dokie.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you say so.
That's -- that's the banker.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He wants to buy your case from you for as little as possible and then you can decide, deal or no deal.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No deal!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not yet. Not yet. Not yet.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Perfect.
MANDEL: It was perfect.
KING: That guy had it perfect.
MANDEL: He was great. I actually called him on that Monday and said thank you. There is no better form of flattery than that.
KING: What's it done to your life?
MANDEL: Changed it. I mean at this point in my career, and at this age -- I've been in the business for a long time. Not 50 years -- and congratulations to you.
KING: Thank you.
MANDEL: But 30. Thirty.
KING: Not bad.
MANDEL: So who would dream if this came, you know?
And it's a rollercoaster for most.
You have been riding it your entire career.
KING: Oh, no.
MANDEL: But at this stage of my life and my career, I mean, nobody is more thankful, more blessed and more surprised than I am to be here. I mean, obviously as a stand-up comic -- you said I'm six nights a week at the MGM. I perform 280 days a year all over the country, in Canada and any English speaking -- I'm not just a (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
KING: And you still love that.
MANDEL: But -- and, but that's -- that's grown by leaps and bounds, the amount of ticket sales and the amount of appearances that I've made. Phone calls and offers are coming in. Just the recognizability on the street has grown.
But I am so appreciative of it at this point in my career, more than I would be earlier. This is (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for me. KING: Do you thank your wife?
MANDEL: Every -- she makes me each and every day.
KING: All right, some other things about Howie -- and one of the odd things about you, and you're willing to talk about it, you have obsessive-compulsive disorder, right?
MANDEL: Yes. I do.
KING: That means you -- you shake hands like this...
MANDEL: Yes.
KING: You won't shake hands.
MANDEL: Yes.
KING: Do you wash your hands a lot?
MANDEL: That's an understatement. But less now because I'm in therapy. But -- much less. I used to wash my hands and scald my hands. I wouldn't go out and 10 showers a day. And as we speak here tonight -- today I spoke to Congress about the benefits of -- well, today is National Mental Health Awareness Day for children.
So I want to -- I would just -- would like to remove the stigma of, you know, having mental health issues. And I think there isn't a person alive that...
KING: But you're doing better.
MANDEL: I am doing better. I'm, well...
KING: You touched the table.
MANDEL: I touched the table. I didn't shake your hand.
KING: Right.
MANDEL: I just can't shake hands. But, you know, and I have issues. But I'm surrounded by very loving, supportive people and family and friends. And I'm in therapy and I'm very happy.
KING: One would ask, what's the big deal?
OK. You don't shake hands?
MANDEL: Well, that's just a small (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
KING: You wash your hands a lot.
What's the worst aspect of it?
MANDEL: Oh, OCD, obsessive-compulsive disorder is just a function of -- I don't think -- you'll get a thought in your head or a ritual that you need to do, whether you have to tap something three times. And it's hard. It's like a skipping record. You can't get past that. So if it stands in the way of your daily functions, then it becomes an issue.
KING: But everyone has little aspects of it, right?
A certain thing you'll...
MANDEL: I think if you have little aspects, then you probably don't have it. If it's so compulsive and you're so obsessed with it that you can't move on, then it becomes an issue. And, you know, I have -- I have good help and great people. And there's a lot of people that have this. And I'm actually (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
KING: Do we know why you get it?
MANDEL: You know, there are -- there are different theories. There is a school of thought that has related it back to strep. I had a lot of strep when I was a kid. And, you know, they believe it's physiological and a chemical imbalance that can be curbed with, you know, drugs. I'm not on medication right now. I'm just on -- I'm just on therapy. But I don't know...
KING: Does...
MANDEL: And there is not a cure right now.
KING: Does it affect, in any way, your doing the show?
MANDEL: I don't shake hands, but I'll hug. And I have children, so I do touch. I assume they're mine, though I haven't been on "Maury" yet. But the results are in.
KING: (LAUGHTER).
MANDEL: I think they're mine. But I just -- you know, the show is successful. I'm happy that they have me there. And I'm loving this ride. So, no -- it affects each and every moment that I'm here. It's me. And it's part of who I am.
But, you know, we all have issues. And I feel like I'm, you know, functioning and successful and I have a great marriage and a great family. I have three kids. I've been with my wife for over 30 years.
KING: Wow!
MANDEL: You know, I can't imagine -- I'm a very happy person who happens to have -- who has a few mental issues.
KING: Children and mental health -- a big problem, isn't it?
MANDEL: I think the problem is -- I think it exists everywhere. I think that mental health is just coping skills. I think if we're healthy mentally, we're going to be healthy physically. And I think when the stigma is removed and we are able to cope with stress or depression or eating disorders or drug abuse or violence -- I mean the ultimate explosion. And when you let it fester, you end up with the Virginia Tech incidences or the Columbine.
I mean this is identified in these children when they were young or they were dealing with bullies. And not -- I think that's the exception rather than the rule. But there isn't anybody alive that doesn't, you know, come from a broken home or hasn't dealt with the stress of school or illness. And I think if you can open that up to the public and it just becomes part of the curriculum, you take care of that like you take care of your dental health.
You go to a dentist to check your teeth even if you feel good.
Why don't you sit down and talk to somebody and tell them how you're dealing with your day to day stresses?
Without it -- without feeling like it's a stigma, I think this would be a better, healthier world.
KING: Our guest is Howie Mandel.
He's the host of "Deal or No Deal."
He's our headliner tonight.
Later, we'll hear from two of the big bucks beauties who hold those briefcases that hold that hold that cash.
And you'll meet the show's top two money winners of all time.
MANDEL: You said "big bucks beauties," right?
KING: Yes.
MANDEL: Oh, OK, good.
KING: Buck, yes.
MANDEL: OK.
KING: Howie will give me a behind-the-scenes second look at the workings of America's favorite primetime game show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MANDEL: How are you doing?
MANDEL: Mandel.
Mandel.
This is just me, I can't. OCD.
KING: (LAUGHTER).
MANDEL: You're laughing at it? KING: How are you doing?
MANDEL: I'm doing OK.
KING: I'm so happy for your success.
MANDEL: I'm -- and I hear you're doing well, too.
KING: Yes, indeed.
MANDEL: That's what I hear.
KING: And you will be on...
MANDEL: The kid's going to make it.
KING: And you'll be on...
MANDEL: This kid's...
KING: You'll be one our show in April.
MANDEL: I'm so excited.
You know how big a fan I am of yours?
I just...
KING: I know. I know. I hear. It's so nice. I go back so far with you.
MANDEL: Really?
KING: When you had hair.
MANDEL: (LAUGHTER)
KING: I remember the hair days.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "DEAL OR NO DEAL," COURTESY NBC)
MANDEL: Tonight, we'll give someone the chance to pick one of these cases and possibly take home what's ever inside.
Will it be $1 million or one penny?
One million is the top prize.
No trivia questions, no crazy stunts.
All they have to do is be able to answer one question and that one question is, deal or no deal? (END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: We're back with Howie Mandel, the host of "Deal or No Deal."
I mentioned at the end that I knew you when you had hair.
Have you shaved bald or gone bald?
MANDEL: Shaved.
KING: Shaved?
MANDEL: I shaved. Originally for a movie. Not one I was in. I was going to go see one and I have curly hair and I didn't want to block the people.
KING: (LAUGHTER).
MANDEL: No, I did it -- I did it and I thought I would -- as I said, I've been with my wife for a long time. And I shaved it for a part in a movie, a little small part. And -- and I came home to surprise her. And she said that's -- wow, that looks sexy.
And, you know...
KING: That's all you've got to hear.
MANDEL: That's the key word. And I haven't stopped shaving since.
KING: Occasionally...
MANDEL: And it's cut three-and-half-seconds off of my time.
KING: Occasionally -- (LAUGHTER).
Occasionally celebrities appear on the "Deal or No Deal" program.
MANDEL: Can I tell you how honored I am?
KING: That I appeared?
MANDEL: Last night.
KING: Yes?
MANDEL: You know, it's one of -- first of all, it was one of...
KING: We're going to show a little part of it.
MANDEL: We'll show it?
You want to show it first or do you want me to mention it?
KING: Yes, let's show it and then you tell me. MANDEL: OK.
KING: All right, let's show it.
Watch.
MANDEL: OK.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "DEAL OR NO DEAL," COURTESY NBC)
MANDEL: Hello.
OK.
What is it now?
Wait, what are you saying?
He's standing up.
He's coming out the door.
(CHEERING)
MANDEL: It's Larry King!
(CHEERING)
MANDEL: It's Larry King.
Larry -- Larry, are you -- are you really the banker?
KING: I am today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MANDEL: I've got to say, first of all, thank you. And the audience went nuts
KING: It was fun.
MANDEL: ... and everybody was very excited to see you, our staff and our crew and everybody.
But that's the beauty of our show. You know, our show is -- it just takes on a life of its own. And if anybody didn't see last night's show, the thing was that this contestant, from the time they got chosen to be on the show, was sure -- you know, a big mystery on our show is who's the banker?
Everybody thinks they know who the banker is or he's not real or I'm talking. There really is a banker.
But this woman said I know who the banker is. The banker is Larry King. She called our producers. She said it's Larry King. I can tell by the profile. I know it's Larry King. It's obviously Larry King. And...
KING: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
So you made me the banker.
MANDEL: So -- but what happened was our producers called you and you were nice enough, for our 100th episode -- we made it a very special event. It is one of our -- it's our biggest show of the year. And you walk out there. I mean, she was just floored.
KING: And May sweeps.
MANDEL: Huge.
KING: Yes.
MANDEL: Huge.
KING: Well, it was fun sitting in the banker's cubicle up there.
MANDEL: Is it?
I have never sat in there.
What's up there?
KING: No. As I was telling you, there's something about -- infectious about that studio. It's -- it's almost driven to be exciting.
MANDEL: It is the most exciting place on Earth, I was just saying to you in the break. I've been to a million shows and I've done game shows. And, really, behind the scenes, people always go, can I come and hang out?
There's no glamour and it's really not exciting. And these people crew, they do their job and you show up, like nine to five, everybody -- like everybody else.
But on our show, it is truly the excitement and the energy. And you find that our crew is screaming as much as people who tell me they watch at home and get off their couch and they're yelling at the TV. Because anybody can put themselves in the position of the player. And there's so much going on. There's a -- there is a -- there's a contestant whose life may change forever. There's 400 people screaming. There's 11 cameras. The lights are going. It's just exciting. And there's 26 hot models.
KING: So you don't know what it's in the box, do you?
MANDEL: I don't know what is -- they don't -- nobody does. It's really -- I mean, it's like Fort Knox. And it's -- they're a third party -- I think it's a separate company -- randomizes all of the amounts in the different cases, so we don't know. Even to the point where, when the girls are loading up backstage, they'll give them their cases before they come over, when it -- before I say, "Ladies, please."
If one of them, backstage before the show starts, should drop a case accidentally and it should open a little bit and you see $5 and she closes it. Nobody in the audience, the contestant, I -- nobody saw it, the game has to start again. They will -- they will stop tape. They will take the cases, re-randomize it. It holds us up for an hour.
KING: There's lots more ahead, including two of the queens of cash, whose big money poses have the ability to make contestants millionaires.
MANDEL: Ladies...
KING: Here they come now.
MANDEL: ... please.
KING: Look at this.
MANDEL: You're not supposed to walk without me saying, "Ladies, please."
KING: They will join us...
MANDEL: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
KING: ... in the studio -- look at this.
MANDEL: Anya and Katie.
This is Anya and Katie.
KING: These are two...
MANDEL: Anya.
MONZIKOVA: Hi.
MANDEL: Katie.
CLEARY: Hi.
KING: These are two of the ugly ones.
MANDEL: Yes.
(LAUGHTER)
KING: We'll hear from them next as we go to break -- I'm kidding!
More behind-the-scenes looks at "Deal or No Deal."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MANDEL: This is where the producers will sit during the show and make their notes and see -- they can see every camera angle. There are 10 cameras in this production. And they can give their notes. And they have -- this goes right to the truck.
You're probably wondering what truck that is?
We have a little U-Haul out back.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
You guys are in the middle of a meeting?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
MANDEL: Wow!
This is like 40 safety (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
In the meeting -- you just missed part of it -- they go, you got tape?
Tape.
You have coil?
We have coil.
Look at what they're doing backstage. While I'm out there working my butt off, trying to give away millions, they're gluing water bottles to the set.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "DEAL OR NO DEAL," COURTESY NBC)
MANDEL: Number 10?
Anya, this is the last case before we go to the banker.
Please, something from the left side.
MONZIKOVA: Do I have to keep it on the left side?
MANDEL: Open your case.
(CHEERS)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The case is on the left.
(APPLAUSE)
MANDEL: If you knock out the $400,000, you know what will happen to the next (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
MONZIKOVA: Let's hope it's not.
MANDEL: Katie?
CLEARY: Uh-huh?
MANDEL: Open the case.
CLEARY: Yes!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: We're back with the star of "Deal or No Deal," Howie Mandel.
And we're joined now by two of the beautiful models who make up such a key ingredient of that show.
They are Katie Cleary and...
MANDEL: What's with this one?
Anya what?
KING: Anya Monzikova.
MONZIKOVA: Hey!
KING: Katie, how did you -- how did you get this, 11?
CLEARY: You know, it's amazing. I moved here a year-and-a-half ago from Chicago. I graduated colleague with a business marketing degree. And I said, you know what better way to get in the entertainment business than just pack up my stuff -- I'm an only child -- and moved by myself to...
KING: And how did they find you, the show?
CLEARY: ... Los Angeles.
Three weeks into moving here, my agency said you know, Katie, there's a great audition. It's a game show. It's called "Deal or No Deal." And you should audition for it.
And after three audition processes -- it was a long audition process -- they picked 26 great models.
And here we are.
KING: And you have -- you've been number 11 from the get go?
CLEARY: The whole time, except a couple of times when I was at a wedding back home and...
KING: Do you get any of the... MANDEL: What number were you at the wedding?
CLEARY: I was always number 11.
KING: You get other work from it?
CLEARY: I do. A lot of hosting jobs. We did "TV Guide", went to the Emmys and acting is my passion. So that's what I'm trying ...
MANDEL: And you're on LARRY KING.
CLEARY: And I'm on LARRY KING.
KING: This is it. Anya, number 10. How did you get this?
ANYA MONZIKOVA, "DEAL OR NO DEAL" MODEL #10: My agent called me and told me about a new show coming out. And I really hadn't heard about it ...
MANDEL: And she's a real estate agent. This is Century 21.
MONZIKOVA: Exactly.
Well, I thought I was going on to be a contestant. I had no clue I was going to be a model. I didn't know they had models.
MANDEL: Until today. We just told her she's not a contestant.
MONZIKOVA: I'm still confused.
KING: Did you like the idea of doing this?
MONZIKOVA: I was trying to focus more on acting. Same thing but I couldn't turn down a prime time show on NBC. They said it was going to be a huge success. And I had no clue what to expect and now it has blown up into this huge thing. I'm here.
KING: What has it meant for you?
MONZIKOVA: It means a steady job in L.A. which is really hard to find.
MANDEL: And quality time with Howie.
MONZIKOVA: And it pays the rent.
KING: Are you from Russia?
MONZIKOVA: I am. I was born in Russia. I came here 15 years ago.
KING: Is the pay good, Katie?
CLEARY: Well, I think, yeah ...
MANDEL: Are you negotiating for next season? This is the perfect opportunity because the producers are watching.
CLEARY: I don't want to -- but you never know.
MANDEL: You're afraid if you say it's really good, they won't give you a raise.
CLEARY: Exactly. Everyone deserves a raise once in a while.
KING: You will get raises.
MANDEL: That's why we are here today.
KING: Give them more money! What happens, Anya, at the vault? What goes on at the vault?
MONZIKOVA: That's where the money is stored. It's all very secretive. Backstage it's high security.
MANDEL: You never dropped a case? Have you ever opened a case by accident?
MONZIKOVA: I won't admit to it.
MANDEL: Isn't it true, if you guys open a case don't they have to restart ...
MONZIKOVA: Yeah, they do, they completely restart it.
KING: There's no cash there, or is there?
MANDEL: We've had big cash. Whatever it takes to tempt ...
KING: You will hold up cash?
MANDEL: No, I think Matty (ph), one of the first games this season, one of you girls bring up -- somebody did ...
MONZIKOVA: The banker girls bring out this stack of money.
MANDEL: There's been hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars of cash and there's been cars and there's been ...
KING: Katie, you don't know how much money you have listed in your number 11?
CLEARY: We have no idea. Everyone thinks we do. Everyone asks me. But no. And I kind of wish we did.
MANDEL: Why? It's more fun.
CLEARY: It is more fun. But we get so nervous when we are up on stage because we have no idea what we're going to have and sometimes I open the case and I'm like, oh, my gosh it was really a million.
KING: You've had the million? CLEARY: I've had it three or four times and I thought it was the hundred that you. Great -- no, it's the million. Oh, my gosh. That's happened to me twice.
MANDEL: Really. Maybe that's happen to you in your paycheck, too. Maybe you're getting a lot more in your paycheck than you think you are. I bet you that's happened.
KING: Do you root for the contestant?
MONZIKOVA: Yeah. My whole heart shakes. It's so -- I get ...
MANDEL: That. She gets that. But it's true. It's amazing. You watch the girls. And if their case makes it or breaks it, and I've seen that with both of you and other girls, if they break the contestant, they are in tears.
MONZIKOVA: I've had a couple of times on the show where I get so emotionally hung up on the person. You hear them tell their life story and it means so much to that person. To ruin it for them, you just feel horrible.
KING: Do you want them to call on you?
CLEARY: Sometimes when it's getting towards the end of the day, past 10 hours, I'm like, oh my gosh, my feet are blistering, they are killing me. You feel like these hot flashes because of the lights. You feel like you're a little dizzy. I'm like I need some water.
MANDEL: At the end of the day?
CLEARY: At the end of the day. In the beginning I like to stay on a little longer because you get a little more face time.
MANDEL: Oh, great.
KING: You want face time.
CLEARY: But towards the end ...
MANDEL: The shoes hurt. I know.
KING: Have you worn them?
CLEARY: He tried them on.
KING: It's OK, Howie.
Would you like -- supposing this show ran five years, six years.
MONZIKOVA: Would I stay with the show? You know, it just kind of depends on the time and where I'm at in my life. There are times we all have dreams and goals and other things that we are looking to do. I love the show. It's helped me so much, and I love being on set every day because those girls are like my family now. And, yeah, I see myself maybe being on the show. MANDEL: Family? I'm all for adoption!
KING: We will be back. Katie and Anya will remain with us. And we will also meet Michelle Falco, the biggest winner to date. She walked way with $750,000.
We will also meet Kimberly Chastang, second biggest winner, took home $701,000. And more about those secret cash briefcases too and how they are cared for right after this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MANDEL: This is where every show begins, in the vault. I don't know if you have ever seen the beginning of the show. Larry King is in the house, ladies and gentlemen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Larry!
MANDEL: This is the vault, where we keep all of the cases with the big cash prizes. Sometimes I will start a show from here. I will go, tonight some -- and you follow me through here. Look at this. I get to walk down -- It's very dramatic.
They are loading in. Hi, how are you? These are actual audience members.
Hey, person ...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Howie!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MANDEL: Kimberly Chastang, "Deal or No Deal"?
We're about to find out how great eight is. Is this the first $1 million we give away? About to find out.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm ready for it.
MANDEL: Are you ready?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Welcome back. We are saluting "Deal or No Deal," with its star Howie Mandel. The host of that smash hit show. He's starred in hit series like "St. Elsewhere", host of his own syndicated talk show ...
MANDEL: Look at this frame I'm in. Can I have that -- Which one is me?
KING: That was one of the unique shots in television. MANDEL: A shot of five shaved head. Guess which one is Howie.
KING: Unique shots in television history. Why don't we just leave it right there. The ratings are going through the roof. People are tuning in.
Anyway, remaining with us are Katie Cleary, "Deal or No Deal" model number 11 and Anya Monzikova, model number 10. And we are now joined by Michelle Falco, the biggest winner to date on "Deal or No Deal." She went away with $750, 000 and Kimberly Chastang, second biggest winner, took home $701,000. Kimberly is with child. Is this your first.
KIMBERLY CHASTANG, "DEAL OR NO DEAL" WINNER: Yeah, this is my first.
KING: When did you win it?
CHASTANG: That was back in June, I believe.
KING: Last year. When did you win yours, Michelle?
MICHELLE FALCO, "DEAL OR NO DEAL" WINNER: July. Back in July.
KING: When you got to the end, what was the choice of?
FALCO: I didn't have much risk at the end. I had two cases left. And one of them contained $750,000 in it and the other one $1 million.
KING: And they offered you $880,000.
FALCO: And they offered me $880,000.
KING: Why didn't you take that?
FALCO: I got to tell you, after two days of going through the intensity of playing this game, you kind of forget all rationale.
And what happened was, I got to this point in thinking my worst case scenarios with $750,000, that was way higher than I had ever anticipated walking away from the show with. So I figured, let's go for it. Let's play the game. I have the best safety net you can possibly have. Let's shoot for the million.
KING: So when they turned up the thing and it was what ...
FALCO: Seven hundred fifty thousand dollars in my case.
KING: Did you go oh ...
FALCO: No. For like a millisecond I was like -- but I won $750,000.
MANDEL: And very deservingly. Her and her husband and her are both in education. Her husband is a teacher. And she wants to be a guidance counselor. I just think that those are most underappreciated people in America.
KING: How quickly do they pay you?
FALCO: They pay you a few months after the show airs.
KING: They take the tax out?
FALCO: They took some out for California. I was hoping to get the check that said $750,000. I wanted to make a photocopy of it. But they took a little out.
KING: Kimberly, you got $701,000. Did you take an offer?
CHASTANG: Yes, I did, I took the offer.
KING: What were you at?
CHASTANG: I was at 176,000 so the jump was very large and very ...
KING: Why was the jump so large?
CHASTANG: It was the cases that were left. I know you're going to ask me which cases are left. It was, like Michelle said, such a surreal moment.
KING: But that's some jump.
CHASTANG: It was a huge jump. But I had two, three large cases left. I don't remember.
MANDEL: It's done on a mathematical equation. So it depends on what she had knocked out.
KING: She had already come down so you had to offer her a lot.
CHASTANG: I had a $4 million case left.
MANDEL: She was playing a $4 million game. The top prize was $4 million.
CHASTANG: I still had $4 million on the board and I had a million on the board.
KING: How long did it take to decide I will take the $701,000?
CHASTANG: I can't believe this. But I actually thought about going on. And I'm sitting here thinking, what are you doing? In my mind, I was going on the show. I said if I won 100 and some thousand dollars, I was completely happy. When it hit 701, I became this different person. I couldn't believe I was actually thinking about going on.
HANDEL: Everyone says that to me. All the contestants talk to me. After I go to commercial, everyone says, this is so different. I had a plan. And it seems to easy when I am sitting at the couch and I point at people and I go, you idiot, get out. Here I am under the lights and the camera, this doesn't feel real. They all make the same statements.
KING: Katie, you open the case on some big winners.
CLEARY: Oh, yes, I've had a $3 million. I've had the 1 million about three or four times. Heart breaking, literally heart breaking.
KING: Anya?
MONZIKOVA: I think I had the million 10 times.
KING: Really?
MONZIKOVA: To date.
KING: In other countries, has anyone hit a million or is it different there?
MANDEL: I think there are different amounts. So I don't know that anybody has actually walked out with the -- they probably have. I don't really follow ...
KING: Michelle, how has it changed your life?
FALCO: Well, you don't have to worry so much about the future because you have a bank account. Ultimately, there are a few things my husband Anthony and I want to do with the money. And they involve buying a bigger house and having children and paying for a college education someday.
So it's really just that security of knowing that we don't really have to worry about making sure I'm getting the best paying job or saving every penny and not vacationing if I want to.
KING: Kimberly, what's it done to your life?
CHASTANG: For me, we just bought a home. We just moved into our home about a month ago. So at the time when we taped the show, I was engaged. So we got married after that. And the big worry for us, is how do we afford a house? We live in Southern California, it's so expensive. And then that made all of the worries go away.
KING: Was your fiance with you?
CHASTANG: Yes, he was one of my supporters. He was actually the one at $706, hit the button. Hit the button. What happened to our plan?
KING: When we come back, there will be more with the winners, the women with the cash-filled briefcases and our man Howie the host. As we go to break, if imitation is the best form of flattery, I'm flattered. We will be right back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MANDEL: Larry, if you're watching this tape, you're playing this tape through the show, I want to tell you, I got a little inside scoop here. I watch you. You know, you are the consummate broadcaster and interviewer and part of my job is flesh out the people and players and find out about their hopes and dreams. So I take a little bit from you.
And you can't tell just by watching the show but I'm actually wearing suspenders. I put them on under my underpants and they are under my shirt.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MANDEL: Don't even tell me when you're using this for. I don't want to know. Let's just say it's a very emotional show and contestants get very emotional. And things can happen. You know what this guy does? He shines all of the cases.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm the luckiest man in Hollywood.
MANDEL: What are you bringing?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A little bit of glitter and suction.
MANDEL: I will just leave that alone.
What I do, is I like to start each morning by celebrating myself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: We are back with Howie Mandel and the gang from "Deal or No Deal." Were you a viewer of the show, Michelle?
FALCO: Yes. Yeah, I was.
KING: How did you get on?
FALCO: That's interesting. My husband was obsessed with the show at the time. And happened to say to me, figure out how to get me on the show and I was working on getting a job because I had just finished my masters degree. So I said figure out how to get yourself on the show.
A few months later I'm driving to work on a Friday morning and I hear they are having an open audition in Manhattan. So I immediately call him up and say tomorrow we are going to Manhattan. I know how to get you on the show. And after a little whining and complaining I got him to agree. We waited online, with 5,000 people in line. We showed up at 8:30 when they started auditioning 8:30 to 1:00.
KING: What were they looking for? FALCO: I have no idea. All I know is someone at a stop watch and they said you have 15 seconds to convince me to put you on the show and I had an emotional breakdown. Because I didn't want to ...
KING: And it was your husband wanted to be on.
FALCO: He talked me into auditioning.
KING: What did you say?
FALCO: I don't really remember.
MANDEL: You have 10 seconds to answer this question.
FALCO: I love my husband. I was crying. I thought I was going to faint.
KING: How did they let you know, right there?
FALCO: Yeah, think they found it very entertaining. They said well, this is entertaining. Here, let's give you a slip to go to the next round.
KING: The next round?
FALCO: Oh, yeah. Yes.
KING: How many ...
MANDEL: I didn't know that.
KING: How many rounds did you go through?
FALCO: There were two auditions and then you didn't hear from them. I just assumed they didn't like me and a few months later randomly my cell phone rings while I'm on vacation and someone on the line ...
MANDEL: Like dating.
KING: Like they are calling you to be on the show.
FALCO: Yeah, you're a finalist.
KING: How did you get on?
CHASTANG: I was obsessed with the show. So I kept telling my husband - my husband now, fiance at the time, I want to go on a game show and I found out they had open casting call in Universal City. So I convinced him to miss some sports game that was on. Insignificant to me. But I was like, I've got to get on the show and I went down there. We stood in line for like hours and hours. We just had like a few minutes to talk about, what would you do with a million bucks?
And I remember everyone at my table, I would give to charity. I felt bad. But I thought, no, I'm the charity case here. I'm giving the money is for myself and the guys just started laughing. And at the end, I was like can I have my slip now I would rather not wait for you too call. Can I have my slip now and he gave me the slip and that was it. That's where it all started.
KING: That's great. And then they call you up.
CHASTANG: They called me back but it was a lot of time in between. It's kind of like, you know ...
MANDEL: And we sometimes do it differently. In shows coming up, in the next couple of weeks, we are always trying to change it up and make it interesting. So there are some contestants who don't know they will be on the show and they are totally surprised. And we are actually going to somebody's home, we are going to knock on their door and play in their driveway and have them go for a million on their lawn. They have no idea they are going to be on the show.
CHASTANG: That's awesome.
MANDEL: We take all of the girls ...
KING: There's an element of wacko involved here? Isn't there?
MANDEL: There is. But it's the most exciting thing and it's so thrilling for me even to sit here and hear you guys talk about how now you don't have worry about your future. You buy a home. You're starting a family. I really have nothing to do with it but to be a part of it is very exciting -- I don't mean I had nothing to do with it.
CHASTANG: Yeah, you had nothing to do with it.
MANDEL: You know what I'm saying, right?
KING: I got you.
MANDEL: I hope people are taping this so they can play it back.
KING: Somebody is going to go walking down the block and see a ton of you girls standing in front of a house ...
MANDEL: Don't mention weight. They don't like that.
KING: I meant a large ...
MANDEL: Oh, a large group ...
KING: On the lawn. You're going to play it on the lawn.
MANDEL: On the lawn. We are going to knock at somebody's door. They will hopefully recognize me or not. I will say come on out and play for a million. We have great shows coming up.
KING: They will think it's Publisher's Weekly.
MANDEL: Do I look like Ed McMahon? KING: We will be back with more moments. Coming up in the final segment, makeup tips from someone who knows, not from the models, but from Howie. Don't go away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get down.
MANDEL: Pardon me?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get down. So they are low.
MANDEL: Oh, all right. All right.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Be like this.
MANDEL: All right. Be like this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Low!
MANDEL: Let's keep the half a million dollars in play.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Open it! God, what's taking them so long.
MANDEL: I don't know.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Open it! Open it!
MANDEL: That's OK. That's OK, $75,000.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MANDEL: I just got out of my morning meeting. Now I'm heading to makeup. How much better -- what can they do?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Howie's in the room.
MANDEL: Wendy, Howie for Wendy.
I'm in the room.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Howie, I'm coming, Howie.
MANDEL: OK. She's coming. Howie for Wendy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm coming, I'm coming.
MANDEL: Howie for Wendy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Howie, I'm coming.
MANDEL: Howie for Wendy. She's close. I can hear me. Just give me half a walkie-talkie. Begin makeup. And -- I'm done!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: I feel the same way. Yeah. In our remaining moments, a couple of personal questions. Katie, do you have a boyfriend?
CLEARY: Ooh, well ...
KING: Is that hard?
MANDEL: She's negotiating again.
CLEARY: I did. And now he's trying to come back into my life. So we will see.
MANDEL: We will take the third caller.
KING: You tossed him?
CLEARY: I did toss him.
KING: But you might take him back?
CLEARY: We'll see.
KING: Anya?
MONZIKOVA: I do.
MANDEL: It's her ex-boyfriend.
CLEARY: Oh, wow!
KING: Are you serious, Anya?
MONZIKOVA: Yes. Very.
KING: So you could marry this guy?
MONZIKOVA: Maybe.
MANDEL: Let's make the announcement right now. I will look in the camera.
KING: Michelle, how is your husband reacting to all of this?
FALCO: He is ecstatic.
MANDEL: Why is he so excited that Anya has a boyfriend?
FALCO: I'm so happy for her. She has a bright future.
KING: Is he still obsessed with the show?
FALCO: Oh my God yes, yes. Worse than ever. Now -- we never thought we would break a record. And now that I did break a record, he wants to see me maintain this record. He's super competitive. He's an athlete. He watches every single episode to see what is going to happen.
KING: Sort of like Hank Aaron. And Kimberly, what about your guy?
CHASTANG: My husband gets a lot of flak from folks. He was trying to convince me to take the $176,000 and I didn't listen to him. Everyone teases him in and out but it's all in good fun. And he's ecstatic over it.
MANDEL: But he's in a much better position than those people. I think about these people who are standing there and say into deal and loved one who convince them to say no deal and go on and walk out of there with $10. I promise you, they are not engaged. They are not married.
CHASTANG: That's true.
KING: Howie, this show goes on and on? You're with it?
MANDEL: Please, please, you know somebody? I would like to be on this as long. Look at this, remember ...
KING: I forgot. Bye, guys. Anya and Katie and Kimberly Chastang and Michelle Falco and, of course, Howie Mandel and wonderful "Deal or No Deal." it's as much fun being around the show. Being a part of it, even standing outside watching them do it as it is to be on it.
They are great people. Wonderful crew. Thanks for joining us.
Tomorrow night, Jane Fonda. You may have heard of her. Anderson Cooper is next with AC 360. Good night.
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