Let’s Make a Deal

Let’s Make a Deal (also known as LMAD) is an American 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.

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 or crazy 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 long-running 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.

Starting in fall 2020, Let’s Make a Deal began filming with a hybrid of audience members in-studio as well as virtual contestants playing from their homes due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 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 offset), and personal protective equipment.

The 12th season of the current version premiered with a special primetime edition on October 27, 2020. New episodes for the daytime series began airing on November 16, 2020.