It was both title and catchphrase! "Deal... or no deal?" Over and over, host Howie Mandel posed that question to players on his NBC game show, a ratings-grabber from its December 19, 2005, premiere. (All five episodes in that Christmas week stunt landed in the Top 15.) Contestants would pick one briefcase out of 26 that held a hidden dollar value - from a penny to $1 million - and repeat until tension reached health-hazard levels. A low amount inside meant big bucks would remain in play. "This was the most relatable, maddening, 'engageable' television, I think, to date," Mandel tells Us. "Everybody could open a case and take a chance." Who Was Involved Trae Patton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images; NBC; Trae Patton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images Mandel, 70, was planning to quit TV and focus on stand-up when he got the call. "I was insulted," he says. At the time, "People who did TV wouldn't do commercials, people who had sitcoms and series wouldn't do soaps, and comedians didn't do game shows." After seeing the original Dutch series from reality titan John de Mol (creator of Big Brother and The Voice), and with a push from wife Terry, Mandel said yes. Behind every case was a model on tenterhooks, fearing she'd bring bad news. 'Deal or No Deal Island' Winner Jordan Weighs in on 'Sassy' Howie Mandel "We cried all the time for strangers. We'd root for the people like they were our family," says Claudia Jordan, 52, a Price Is Right alum who held briefcase No. 1 for four seasons. Meghan Markle famously spent a season manning case 24. (Jordan remembers her as quiet, studying scripts vs. playing Never Have I Ever with the others.) Also, Chrissy Teigen briefly held case 12 and acted as henchwoman to "The Banker," the disruptor seen in silhouette who would call Mandel with cash offers to sway players to quit. Among the occasional guest Bankers? Donald J. Trump and Darth Vader. Why We Remember It That pit-in-the-stomach feeling as contestants took life-changing risks! Jessica Robinson, the first $1 million winner, had to turn down the Banker's $561,000 offer to get there. Louis Green said no to $333,000 - and went home with $5. For Mandel, a plan to showcase his comedy shifted into a desire to help players be smart and "leave in a better place than they had come." Boston Rob Says 'Deal or No Deal Island' Will Be Hard for 'Survivor' Alums Key Details Jordan tells Us about one 19-hour day. Because the models couldn't wrinkle their dresses, they couldn't sit! "I had back spasms, and my feet were bleeding," she tells Us. "They realized it was too much." Mandel also pulls back the curtain to share a Banker story: "He was single, and people used to tell me that all around town, he'd use that line and tell young women he was the Banker, but they couldn't recognize him. Then he'd have them shine a flashlight or something so they could see his shadow." The Aftermath Monty Brinton/NBC The classic returned in the form of Deal or No Deal Island, hosted by Joe Manganiello and tweaked to include elements of Survivor. In 2025, Australian Survivor legend David Genat won season 2 and $5.8 million, the biggest prize in reality TV history. Deal or No Deal Island was not renewed for a third season. Seychelle Calls 'Deal or No Deal' Castmate CK a 'Loser' After Cheating A New Perspective Mandel believes Deal or No Deal reinvented the genre. "The fact that we leaned more into humanity than gameplay changed the way they produced game shows," he says. Deal also changed how producers viewed the hosts. "From that moment, they started hiring comedians," Mandel adds, pointing to Jeff Foxworthy of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? and Steve Harvey of Family Feud. Where Are They Now? Trae Patton/NBC via Getty Images Mandel joined America's Got Talent in 2010 and is its longest-running judge. (Acts interested in auditioning for 2026 can head to AGTAuditions.com.) He also podcasts ("Howie Mandel Does Stuff") and is set to host a primetime Canadian version of The Price Is Right. Jordan, briefly one of the Real Housewives of Atlanta peaches, appears on the podcasts "Accidentally Informed" (as a cohost) and "Reality With the King" (as a guest).