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What to do with Deal or No Deal?

Deal or No Deal is tired and under-performing, amid rumours Andrew O'Keefe may not return.

For year after repetitive year, Deal or No Deal was a license to print money.

It had a killer format with an enthusiastic host that was driving glorious numbers from 5:30pm into Seven News.

No matter what Nine threw at it: Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune, Family Feud and Antiques Roadshow, none could topple the briefcase bonanza. Until, that is, Eddie McGuire reinvented Millionaire as a fast-paced quiz show.

For some time audiences have been more attracted to the diversity of quiz questions than the opening of yet another briefcase.

Last week Hot Seat averaged 558,000 while Deal was 457,000 (for the record, TEN News won the slot with 634,000 and it usually does). How Andrew O’Keefe manages to maintain enthusiasm in the face of another briefcase is the equivalent of defying gravity.

A year ago he said, “It is fair to say that Deal, for the first time in its eight-year history, is facing its stiffest competition ever, and showing signs that it needs rejuvenation.

“I am tilling, I think, the same soil nowadays to try to produce prize-winning fruit, which is hard work. It is tiring and taxing and lonely.”

This week it is attempting rejuvenation with 5 giveaway trips to China, a stunt that newspapers often employ with Bingo scratchies.

Deal‘s real problem is that it is no longer delivering the numbers into Seven News. In Melbourne the bulletin has had some of its lowest numbers in five years, where it hasn’t won a week all year.

Deal wrapped production some weeks ago but wasn’t listed on Seven’s 2013 highlights, but Seven confirmed it would go back before the cameras (just as they also confirmed Australia’s Got Talent was returning?).

However there are still modifications that could signal change.

One option would be to move the show to 5pm and introduce a new show to 5:30pm. Forget about The Price is Right. The audience was pumped for a revival with the lovable Larry Emdur, but Seven took the cheap option as branded entertainment and betrayed loyal viewers.

There are also rumours that Andrew O’Keefe may not return to host Deal.

As one who is on the record as enduring “tiring and taxing and lonely” work, the gifted O’Keefe undoubtedly gets a more creative kick from Weekend Sunrise than a game show nudging 2000 episodes.

Either way, Seven cannot afford to hit the replay button in 2013 if it wants to rescue dwindling early-evening numbers. It’s one thing to talk about a bricks and mortar network, but this brick hasn’t been working for some time.

Seven did not return calls.

49 Responses

  1. I haven’t seen the Price is Right since it was moved from Nine to Seven but it looks kind of cheap these days.Where are the Hawaiian Holidays and Alfa Romeo Cars amongst the prizes they give away now.
    The Original TPIR redone for 2012 to it’s old format but with New Hosts and a time slot after the News and Current Affairs Trash would have been great over at Nine who as of Tomorrow are going back to old dependable Big Bang Theory Episodes just to save a few thousand dollars

  2. David, your quote about The Price Is Right-: “The audience was pumped for a revival with the lovable Larry Emdur, but Seven took the cheap option as branded entertainment and betrayed loyal viewers” was spot on. I watched the first couple of episodes and didnt go back. I loved the earlier versions of PIR with Larry and Turps before him..

  3. Should be that when a contestant says “Lock It In Eddie,” that is it no going back, there have also been many times when they’ve said that and Eddie waffles on and the time runs out as well (so they lose because they didn’t answer quick enough).

  4. AOK makes me thankful for having a multi channel option of either the Brady Bunch on 11 or that 70’s show on 7 mate amongst many other things when I am home around 5:30pm on my weeknight off work.Has anyone got any better ideas for a news lead in that hasn’t been done already and isn’t a game show.

  5. @Jennome

    What you suggest, could be interpreted as any number of different discriminations?

    The aim of the game is to maximise the effect for the cheapest outlay, such as the big drop in the prize values for wrong answers by other contestants, who have an option to change their position among fellow contestants.

    My concerns are the seemingly flexibility and mobility of questions, available via the use of the lap top especially, then being even surer and able to ask questions around the actual knowledge strengths/weaknesses of each particular contestant regardless of age or gender etc.

    Nine could debunk any doubts immediately,by declaring that all questions and their order, are submitted to an independant arbitor prior to each particular game, and strictly adhered to, and still allowing the theatre the lap top

  6. @ David it’s amazing I’ve noticed that too. If he likes the person he’ll give them clues and it’s just so obvious but if you get on the wrong side of him watch out, you are out!

  7. Avoc8, I often wonder about Eddie’s laptop too – as to whether the questions are shuffled / geared according to the age of the contestants, as it gets closer to someone winning big money, i.e. a younger contestant is asked a question about an event 40-50 years ago which an older contestant would (presumably) have no trouble with.

    I would certainly hope not, but it does cross my mind!

    1. My main beef with Hot Seat is Eddie gives people more time to lock in an answer when it’s wrong (“Are you sure? Tell me what to lock in”) but if they have it right he just locks it in straight off the bat. Unless he doesn’t like the contestant, then he happily locks in the wrong answer….

  8. As long as everyone is throwing out suggestions for resurrecting old game shows.Did you ever watch the Newlywed Game or have an aussie version of it?It’s famous for maybe the greatest blooper in the history of tv…Bob Eubanks throws out the question..”where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever had the urge to make whoopee”?For the jaw-dropping answer from the newlywed bride…see Youtube..lol

  9. Regardless of any particular format, Andrew OK, would have one of the quickest and most intellegent wits on offer, among those on all the networks at present.

    To me DoND, has to be one of the cruelest games shows doing the rounds, and even worse which I strongly suspect, if ” Walter” knows what is each case from the beginning of each game?

    As far as Nine goes, I’ve never trusted any game show they have anything to do with,ever since the very dodgy late night phone in game shows they made $$$$$$?? out of, what a rort they were.

    My concerns with Hot Seat, is Eddie’s Lap Top and the questions and topics etc. it introduces randomly??, what happened to All questions coming from printed cards,used in an unchangable order and topic etc. from the beginning of each game?

  10. The Rich List would be great to get back always loved that show and prefer that type of show to DOND (even though I used to watch)

    If not that also enjoyed Family Fued, Temptation and Catchphrase but what about a new format?

  11. Certainly agree about Blankety Blanks with Bob Downe hosting. The UK version with Lily Savage was a hoot…come on! Channel 10 could have a hit with this at 7pm. And special guest host Coralee Hollow.

  12. I watched DOND for a year or so last decade & enjoyed it but quickly got bored by it. As for other game shows – would love to see Sale/Temptation back but on Nine not Seven *shudders* after they ruined the classic NPIR format. Wheel worked on Seven they could bring that back. Blankety Blanks…love the GK version and Daryl’s in the 80’s. Great game show but again Seven would ruin it. Better to see Nine/Ten try to revive that one!

  13. Blankety Blanks would work if they did similar to the UK a few years ago when they had Lily Savage host it (Paul O’Grady), maybe Bob Downe (Mark Trevorrow) would fill that role well.

  14. Andrew O’Keefe used to annoy the crap out of me on “Weekend Sunrise”, but he really seems to have reeled himself in there and now presents as the intelligent and funny person he actually is. If he dialled it down a bit on “Deal Or No Deal” as well and stopped hauling out the ethnic cliches, the show might be more bearable. And why is he always fiddling with the button on his jacket???

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