# Let's Make a Deal (1963)

> A long-running American game show where audience members trade for hidden prizes or zonks offered by the host, many dressed in outlandish costumes.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/977

## Facts

- Seasons: 19
- Episodes: 53
- Episode runtime: 30 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: reality
- Created by: Monty Hall
- Network: ABC, CBS
- Cast: Monty Hall, Wendell Niles, Billy Bush, Jay Stewart, Carol Merrill, Bob Hilton, Vance DeGeneres, Chuck Chandler
- TMDB rating: 6.9/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056770/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: none
- Tone: breezy, playful, comedic, communal

## Synopsis

Let's Make a Deal (1963-2003) is an American game show created by Monty Hall for ABC and CBS. Hosted for decades by Monty Hall, with announcer Wendell Niles and model Carol Merrill as recurring presences, the show invites audience members to trade for hidden prizes. Each trader weighs a host's offer against the risk of an undesirable item known as a zonk, a choice that drives every episode. The format is built around dramatic suspense, playful banter, and the eccentric costumes audience hopefuls wear to catch the host's eye. Later hosting came from Billy Bush and others, with Hall's original version defining the tradition. Its tone is breezy, comedic, and communal, closer to a studio party than a high-stakes contest. Fans of The Price Is Right and Deal or No Deal will find similar pleasures in its trading gambles and lively hosting. The series spans nineteen seasons and features an enduring atmosphere of spontaneous, crowd-pleasing fun.

## Shows like Let's Make a Deal

- [Jeopardy! (1984)](https://ember.film/tv/2770)
- [Whose Line Is It Anyway? (1988)](https://ember.film/tv/3110)
- [Match Game (1973)](https://ember.film/tv/8)
- [Password (1961)](https://ember.film/tv/4763)
- [To Tell the Truth (1956)](https://ember.film/tv/4911)
- [Celebrity Name Game (2014)](https://ember.film/tv/57561)
- [Press Your Luck (1983)](https://ember.film/tv/3600)
- [American Gladiators (1988)](https://ember.film/tv/6146)
- [The Price Is Right (1972)](https://ember.film/tv/1942)
- [Million Dollar Secret (2025)](https://ember.film/tv/191031)

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