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The Schmooze

Howie Mandel’s New Gig

Howie Mandel is trying to bring the holidays to America all year round. Host of the popular game show ‘Deal or No Deal,’ Mandel will produce and host a new show based on the holiday game favorite, White Elephant in which players choose a present from a pile full of wrapped gifts. They unwrap it and have to decide whether they would like to keep their prize or take a risk by choosing another gift from the pile.

Mandel posted on reality TV casting website, realitywanted.com to find contestants.

NBC has already ordered seven episodes of the new show. Shmooze would like to know: how are you supposed to fill an entire time slot with people choosing gifts and deciding if they should keep them or take their chances? Although, the show will probably bet on the contestants trading their mediocre prizes (think $200 in cash), and ending up with something no good. (A sock maybe? But just the one sock, not even a pair.) That would certainly be good for a few laughs. Whether Mandel can sprinkle some of his game show magic on this new venture remains to be seen.

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