Today I am in a foul mood, and so we're going to dispense with all (or most of the) pleasantries. Before I begin though, let me say that I completely respect the series I am about to question. I don't understand it, which is what we're going to talk about, but I respect it because whatever they're doing, it's working.
Can someone explain the appeal of Deal or No Deal to me (outside of Howie, who, I'll be honest with you, I really do enjoy seeing on my TV)? You probably watch it, you're probably excited by it, and I just don't get it. I can't for the life of me figure it out. I've sat there, I've watched the program, and I have no idea what it's appeal is, I don't get it.
It requires no skill. It requires no thought. It requires nothing but luck. It's like a game of three card monte, but you don't have to pay to enter it (except, you know, for exposing your life and loved ones on national television). Jeopardy, I get. Wheel of Fortune, I get. I even get The Moment of Truth (it's not for me, but I understand it). Deal or No Deal I simply cannot figure out.
Pick a case, get cash.
Maybe you get what's in your case, maybe you get more, maybe you get less. You're going to get money for simply eliminating, randomly, other cases. You don't have to do anything special to eliminate the cases, you don't have to guess the retail price of a bottle of Windex, you don't have to know which state was the 14th to enter the Union, you don't have to know the last paragraph of Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address (hint, it begins "With malice for none…"). No, in Deal or No Deal you get money for showing up.
Article comments
1 - Jordan Richardson
It requires no skill. It requires no thought. It requires nothing but luck.
And you say you don't understand the appeal?
2 - robert
If you will notice, the contestants and their family/friends really believe they have some kind of mojo, esp, feeling, or hunch that they know which cases to pick? "I know my case has the million dollars."
The appeal is in the belief (just like roulette, slot machines, etc) that a person has a system. Plus, you are absolutely correct. The contestants have not put any ante up.
Now, what is the appeal for the audience. I believe we are in the confortable position to talk to the tv set, actually believing the idiots can hear us exclaim the illogic of their moves. No pressure on us. Keep going. Maybe the case has the enormous amount.
Ever notice how the audience is always screamin:"no deal".