ROUND 1: MASS APPEAL
MILLIONAIRE: Who wants to be a millionaire? The real question is who doesn’t? That’s what the quiz show of the same name wants to know. Contestants who correctly answer 15 multiple choice questions will walk away with $1 million. Sounds easy? It’s not.
DEAL OR NO DEAL: You don’t need to have Einstein’s IQ to win big on DEAL OR NO DEAL. Just pick a numbered suitcase from 1 to 26 and open the remaining cases, as the banker offers you cash to cut and run. It’s anyone’s game, so you can watch the show without worrying about how much (or how little) you know.
DEAL OR NO DEAL appeals to a greater audience. Game on!
SCORE: MILLIONAIRE – 0 DEAL OR NO DEAL – 1
ROUND 2: EMCEE DEBRIS
MILLIONAIRE: When the show first debuted on ABC in 1999, Regis Philbin was at the helm as its inquisitive host. He even won an Emmy for Outstanding Game Show Host, which is not surprising considering he actually asks questions.
DEAL OR NO DEAL: Howie Mandel’s job, on the other hand, is limited to answering phone calls from the elusive banker and idly standing by as the excitable contestants shout out numbers at random. Next to Philbin, Howie is little more than a receptionist.
The DEAL falls through. Regis wins Round 2!
SCORE: MILLIONAIRE – 1 DEAL OR NO DEAL – 1
ROUND 3: CANADIAN, EH?
MILLIONAIRE: WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE: CANADIAN EDITION was a short-lived spin-off in 2000 hosted by Pamela Wallin, complete with Canuck-inspired questions. The catch? It was filmed in New York.
DEAL OR NO DEAL: Meanwhile, DEAL OR NO DEAL CANADA is shot in Toronto with 26 Canadian models, an all-Canadian crew, and Howie Mandel as the host! Did I mention he’s Canadian too?
MILLIONAIRE gets lost in New York, while Howie gets ahead…
SCORE: MILLIONAIRE – 1 DEAL OR NO DEAL – 2
ROUND 4: CATCHPHRASE CONFLICT
MILLIONAIRE: “Is that your final answer?” is the uncomforting catchphrase that exploded into a pop cultural phenomenon in the vein of Paris Hilton’s “That’s hot” or Donald Trump’s “You’re fired!” And since Regis only said it after the contestant already gave an answer, it made you second-guess yourself!
DEAL OR NO DEAL: The DEAL OR NO DEAL signature saying is just that: “Deal or no deal?” It’s a question Howie asks before the player gives an answer, so it doesn’t evoke the same tension as the MILLIONAIRE motto. Plus, you probably won’t hear people quoting it on the street.
MILLIONAIRE ties the match!
SCORE: MILLIONAIRE – 2 DEAL OR NO DEAL – 2
ROUND 5: STRATEGY STRUGGLE
MILLIONAIRE: Both MILLIONAIRE and DEAL OR NO DEAL offer up to $1 million, so how likely is one to win it all? The odds are against you in both games, but MILLIONAIRE is a game of intellect. You can improve your odds, depending on how much you know about the questions. If you win the million, consider yourself smart.
DEAL OR NO DEAL: DEAL OR NO DEAL is simply a game of chance. You can’t improve your odds of winning the million-dollar prize because there’s no way to prepare for the game or of knowing which case holds the top value. If you win the million, consider yourself very lucky.
MILLIONAIRE lets you take matters into your own hands. Game over!
SCORE: MILLIONAIRE – 3 DEAL OR NO DEAL – 2
ROUND UP: Money doesn’t buy happiness for Howie. DEAL OR NO DEAL may have a wider appeal, but Regis is the original million-dollar man. WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE? has changed the face of game shows for good, which is why millions have made MILLIONAIRE number one. That’s my final answer.
Web Links:
www.nbc.com/dealornodeal
www.millionairetv.com