# RRRRG! No! Shut up! It's irrelevant!! \[Deal or no Deal pet peeve\] **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 14, 2007, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rrrrg-no-shut-up-its-irrelevant-deal-or-no-deal-pet-peeve/422662 "2007-10-14T07:31:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2007, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rrrrg-no-shut-up-its-irrelevant-deal-or-no-deal-pet-peeve/422662/41 "2007-10-16T16:00:45Z")
[QUOTE=Baracus] What grates on me about that show is when a contestant gets offered some piddling amount, say $62,300, and Howie is like “Now $62,300 is a lot of money”. BS, you made that much during the commercial break you annoying twit! [/QUOTE] If you have a spare $62,300 lying about that you’re not using, I will happily take it off your hands. I hope one day to be so rich that I think $62K is “piddling.” ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rrrrg-no-shut-up-its-irrelevant-deal-or-no-deal-pet-peeve/422662/42 "2007-10-17T07:57:32Z")
diosabellisima - The thing is, to win the million, you have to keep the million alive to the final two, and chances are very likely that it’ll be paired with a very low value. In other words, you need to turn down an guaranteed offer in the neighborhood of $500,000 and take a one-in-two chance of walking away with crumbs. I’m not surprised at all that they haven’t found anyone dumb enough to take that gamble. There _was_ one contestant who manage to pair the million with $750,000. Of course, she was playing the enhanced version with extra $3 mil and $6 mil cases, so she still didn’t get the best case scenario. garygnu - Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against cute little formalities. I mean, there are only so many things you can do to make a 3-minute guessing game fill an hour time slot. But _keep_ it cute and little and meaningless, that’s all I’m saying. (“Okay, pick the case you want to put a pretty ribbon around, signifying your lucky number! Or unlucky number. Or whichever.”) And don’t use it to spread misery at the end. I mean, what’s the damn _point?_ Baracus - $62,300 is far higher than the median of the cases ($875!), I’d say it’s a pretty good payoff much of the time, especially with the lowballing factor. A contestant who got it to 6 figures has been _very_ lucky. ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rrrrg-no-shut-up-its-irrelevant-deal-or-no-deal-pet-peeve/422662/43 "2007-10-17T11:12:14Z")
Jeopardy is the only good, old-school game show left. God knows what will happen once Alex retires. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rrrrg-no-shut-up-its-irrelevant-deal-or-no-deal-pet-peeve/422662/44 "2007-10-17T11:22:29Z")
[QUOTE=Neidhart] Jeopardy is the only good, old-school game show left. God knows what will happen once Alex retires. [/QUOTE] Modern Jeopardy is a shadow of the original Art Fleming game. Too many bells and whistles and electronics in the modern game for my taste. Plus hearing Alex pronounce foreign phrases like the know it all that he is is rather like grinding a glass in the garbage disposal. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rrrrg-no-shut-up-its-irrelevant-deal-or-no-deal-pet-peeve/422662/45 "2007-10-17T12:49:01Z")
Hi. My name is Lib. And I like Alex Trebek. ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rrrrg-no-shut-up-its-irrelevant-deal-or-no-deal-pet-peeve/422662/46 "2007-10-17T12:59:06Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] Hi. My name is Lib. And I like Alex Trebek. [/QUOTE] I’ve never understood why you get such a bad rap on this board, I’ve always enjoyed your posts. But now, I hate you with a passion burning with the heat of a thousand suns. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rrrrg-no-shut-up-its-irrelevant-deal-or-no-deal-pet-peeve/422662/47 "2007-10-17T13:50:16Z")
The only real strategy that could come into play on this stupid show is to smuggle in a fistful of used kleenex and hold Howie Mandell hostage with it until they; A. Give you the million dollars B. Figure out a way to get “Are you Smarter Than a Fifth Grader” off the air. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rrrrg-no-shut-up-its-irrelevant-deal-or-no-deal-pet-peeve/422662/48 "2007-10-17T14:30:00Z")
[QUOTE=DKW] If the million hasn’t been opened, it makes no difference whatsoever which case it’s is in; _either way_ it’s a 50/50 shot at wedded bliss or bloody death. [/QUOTE] So it is just like real life. ---
**Author:** ![McBain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@McBain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McBain)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rrrrg-no-shut-up-its-irrelevant-deal-or-no-deal-pet-peeve/422662/49 "2007-10-17T14:43:06Z")
Of course, to really understand the game, you need to watch [this](http://crackle.com/c/Funny/Deal_or_No_Deal_parody/1582304). ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rrrrg-no-shut-up-its-irrelevant-deal-or-no-deal-pet-peeve/422662/50 "2007-10-17T18:31:32Z")
[QUOTE=Diomedes] I’ve never understood why you get such a bad rap on this board, I’ve always enjoyed your posts. [/QUOTE] I’ve been meaning to tell you: I don’t think you’re half as dumb as everybody says. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rrrrg-no-shut-up-its-irrelevant-deal-or-no-deal-pet-peeve/422662/51 "2007-10-17T18:52:35Z")
We should all strive to measure up to the godlike Alex Trebek. Humanity is not worthy of a man who is so impressive. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rrrrg-no-shut-up-its-irrelevant-deal-or-no-deal-pet-peeve/422662/52 "2007-10-17T20:51:32Z")
Meh, they’ll probably give the gig to Drew Carey. ---
**Author:** ![Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@Baracus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baracus)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rrrrg-no-shut-up-its-irrelevant-deal-or-no-deal-pet-peeve/422662/53 "2007-10-18T01:26:56Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] If you have a spare $62,300 lying about that you’re not using, I will happily take it off your hands. I hope one day to be so rich that I think $62K is “piddling.” [/QUOTE] Piddling compared to the million dollar prize. An extra $62K would be nice but for most people it isn’t going to be life changing. ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rrrrg-no-shut-up-its-irrelevant-deal-or-no-deal-pet-peeve/422662/54 "2007-10-18T02:55:40Z")
The key to make the game “entertaining” is to screen out the numerate people, leaving only the innumerate, superstitious, manipulable people as potential players. These saps are most likely to stumble through the game, making stupid, idiotic choices, and reacting to the filler components of the show. It works better when you have both intelligent and stupid “friends’n’family” offering up conflicting advice. Watching the visceral pain in the faces of the intelligent family members/friends as the player blows the game provides a thrill not unlike that of watching a wreck at a NASCAR event. That, and it’s really funny when the oblivious masses violate Howie’s notorious OCD boundaries. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rrrrg-no-shut-up-its-irrelevant-deal-or-no-deal-pet-peeve/422662/55 "2007-10-18T03:42:16Z")
[QUOTE=cerberus] That, and it’s really funny when the oblivious masses violate Howie’s notorious OCD boundaries. [/QUOTE] Really that’s the only interesting thing on this whole show. Lately there’s way more host touching than when it first came on the air. I was with friends tonight and the show was on and the Mrs. Potato Head that was playing kept grabbing him and lifting him off the ground. I wonder if there’s like a lab style decontamination shower just off the side of the studio for him. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rrrrg-no-shut-up-its-irrelevant-deal-or-no-deal-pet-peeve/422662/56 "2007-10-18T04:08:34Z")
I agree that winning the million has zero to do with strategy or decision making. You either choose the 1 case out of 30 at the beginning (or however many it is, I don’t really give a shit), or you don’t. The rest is just trying to luck out enough to get a good offer and sell out. Statistically, you have to be kind of a dumbass to really stick it out to the bitter end, which is definitely a major flaw in the premise of the game. I’m not sure it matters much, though, because there is so much else so horrifically wrong with the show that forgetting to provide either a motive or a method for getting the big case is a drop in the bucket. I used to think that _Deal or No Deal_ was the worst piece of shit on the tube and the lowest network television could sink. Then I saw _Are You smarter than a 5th Grader?_ ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rrrrg-no-shut-up-its-irrelevant-deal-or-no-deal-pet-peeve/422662/57 "2007-10-27T01:46:10Z")
Dang, really ought to check up on my own flippin’ Pit threads more often… Well, the Million Dollar Hey At Least We Tried is now long over. Can’t say I’m too shocked at the fact that they’re still millionaire-less…statistically, if 8 cases out of 26 have the grand prize, the odds are still well in favor of not having two intact at the end. Seriously, though, just to bring up a different angle on Wynetta Williams (definitely the most needless run-through-the-wringer contestant in recent memory): There were four small values left against one big number. One. Which means that if the big number goes, that’s it, disaster, calamity, she’s walking out of there with lunch money or worse. If luck wasn’t on your side and you’ve lost all but one good case, the directive is very clear…CUT YOUR LOSSES. Defy fate, and chances are good that you get smacked down _hard_. We’ve seen this happen countless times…hell, the _previous contestant_ got crushed in this very manner! (Had something like a $113,000 offer at one point and left with $100). And that’s far from the worst it’s been…check out one of the YouTube videos of the gentleman on the British show who turned down 9,900 pounds…_twice_…and got exactly what many thought he deserved. So she makes a very sensible call, and because a case that was at that point in the game several light years away and surrounded by a force field happened to be one of the lucky 8, it’s a horrible disaster that nearly wrecks her relationship with her sister. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: Why the hell couldn’t Weakest Link have lasted? At least it was _fun_ to see contestants beat each other up there. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rrrrg-no-shut-up-its-irrelevant-deal-or-no-deal-pet-peeve/422662/58 "2007-10-27T18:53:59Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] This is the key. As my wife put it, “It’s money you didn’t have yesterday.” The first serious money offered, I’m gonna take. [/QUOTE] That’s what I did with the online game. I was offered $18K, and I took it. My box had the million dollars. So I won $18K. I would make a lousy game show contestant. Disclaimer: I have never seen the show. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2007, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rrrrg-no-shut-up-its-irrelevant-deal-or-no-deal-pet-peeve/422662/59 "2007-10-28T02:46:11Z")
I played the online game. One case was left. One million and 500k were on the board. My offer was $712k and change. A fair offer would have been $750k even, so at least the game tries to lowball you on the offer. I said “no deal” and had the million in my case!!! Now, if that were only real money… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rrrrg-no-shut-up-its-irrelevant-deal-or-no-deal-pet-peeve/422662.md?page=2)