This is Deal or No Deal, a game which has several things in common with the recently-revived Press Your Luck. Both shows feature a charismatic host, a big board with lots of money on it, contestants taking big risks, an element of randomness, and a chance to win $1 million.

Both shows also feature a Whammy in a manner of speaking - PYL’s Whammy takes contestants’ money away, while on Deal, the Banker is the stand-in for the Whammy with her taunts and offers. It can also be argued that greedy players can effectively Whammy themselves by pushing the game too far and leaving with next to nothing.

Hoping to win the big bucks tonight is Michael Chandler, an MMA fighter. He plans to use his winnings to provide a better future for his son. Howie asks him if he’s ready for the fight of his life, and he says yes.

Michael picks case 23 in honour of his son Hap’s birthday, so let’s get ready to rumble.

Round 1
[20] - $10,000
[15] - $500,000 - Aww, man.
[5] - $200,000 - The man loves his reds.
[9] - $300,000 - The man really loves his reds.
[21] - $50,000 - Like, WTF is with all the reds?
[26] - $400

The Power 7 has been decimated significantly, and we’ve only just completed the first round of play. The Banker asks if the producers explained the rules of the game to Michael. The first offer is

BANKER'S OFFER

$6,000

Michael says NO DEAL.

Before the next round begins, we watch a highlight reel of Michael’s MMA fights.

Round 2
[17] - $500
[24] - $750,000 - Jesus Murphy...
[12] - $25
[18] - $100,000 - Seriously?
[22] - $.01

Not that much better of a round. The only worthwhile amounts left are $400,000 and the millski at this point. We’ll get the next offer after the break.

We’re back, and here comes offer number two. The Banker respects the fact that Michael doesn’t look like he’s rattled.

BANKER'S OFFER

$11,000

And now, let’s meet the supporters. They include Michael’s father, Michael Chandler, Sr., his wife Bree and and his father-in-law Cam, who is also Michael Jr.,’s personal dentist. His mother is sat in the audience.

Everyone tells Michael to go on, and he agrees with them. NO DEAL.

Round 3
[16] - $1,000
[13] - $100
[8] - $75,000
[4] - $1

That was a much better round. The Banker’s next call comes after the break.

We’re back, and here’s next offer.

BANKER'S OFFER

$33,000

That’s 200% higher than the previous offer. Still, Michael says NO DEAL.

Round 4
[19] - $300
[25] - $75 - Cam suggested picking this case, and he gets a big hug from Michael.
Michael goes for case 6 next, but Howie throws to a break before it can be opened. We’ll be right back.

We’re back to complete the round. Case 6, which Michael selected before the break, as suggested by his wife Bree. Let’s see what it holds.

[6] - $25,000

Well, that wasn’t so bad. The Banker says that Michael’s expertise is physical challenge, so she issues him a challenge. If successful, the offer will substantially increase. The challenge involves matching the Banker’s “champion” move-for-move. That champion is... a little girl in a black tutu. A Banker Babe then brings out a bright pink tutu for Michael to wear. Surprisingly, it fits.

Michael manages to match the little ballerina’s moves, so the Banker nearly doubles the offer.

BANKER'S OFFER

$62,000

Two cases to open if this offer is rejected. Bree says the odds of eliminating the smaller amounts is greater than eliminating the larger ones. Michael says NO DEAL.

Round 5
[2] - $5
[7] - $750

The all-blue round we’ve been waiting for. The Banker is not happy with that. Here’s the board:

$10
$50
$200
$5,000
$400,000
$1,000,000

To borrow a fighting term, it’s a split decision. As for the next offer, it will be revealed after the break.

We’re back, and here’s the next offer. The Banker wants Michael out right now, and she’s willing to pay this much for case 23:

BANKER'S OFFER

$86,000

Michael says NO DEAL.

Round 6
[14] - $1,000,000

The champion is down for the count, but is he truly out of the game? The Banker respects Michael for staying in the fight, but wonders if he went one round too far. The new offer is

BANKER'S OFFER

$45,000

Howie thinks Michael needs some time to think this offer over, and that means it’s break time once again.

Welcome back. Before the break, the Banker offered Michael $45,000 after knocking out the million in the last round. Michael says he still has the counter offer, and he elects to use it. He counters with

BANKER'S OFFER

$71,000

The call from the Banker comes quickly, and past episodes indicate that that’s not a good sign. She says Michael is the kind of guy who might take it all the way, so as a result, she ACCEPTS the counter offer.

But was that the right call? There’s only one way to find out.

Proveout
Round 7
[11] - $10

BANKER'S OFFER WOULD'VE BEEN

$93,000

Round 8
[1] - $5,000

BANKER'S OFFER WOULD'VE BEEN

$144,000

Round 9
[3] - $400,000

So Michael missed out on the opportunity to win more than double the value of his counter offer, but in the end, he did make a good deal, as case 23 held only $200.

More Dealing coming at you right now!

Some really poor offers tonight, and the fact that Michael was able to Deal for only $15,000 less than his previous offer after losing the $1,000,000 shows how poor the previous offers were.

Still, at least the low offers allowed Michael to leave with few regrets and still a nice wad of cash, so good on him.