Don鈥檛 look for 鈥淒eal or No Deal Island鈥 host Joe Mangianello to be a contestant anytime soon.
Joe Manganiello hosts "Deal or No Deal Island."
鈥淚鈥檇 probably have a target on my back,鈥 the 鈥淭rue Blood鈥 star says. While he thinks the athletic competitions and the strategy sessions would be in his wheelhouse, he鈥檇 probably need to play down his skill or his game plan.
David Genat, one the contestants on this year鈥檚 edition, did just that 鈥渁nd I wondered if I could pull that off to the extent that he did,鈥 Mangianello says.
All the skill in the world, however, can鈥檛 beat a real intangible 鈥 luck.
鈥淏oston Rob, especially, has it. Everybody their superpowers.鈥
While producers size up the field when the season begins, 鈥渨e all try to pick somebody other than the obvious,鈥 Mangianello says. 鈥淚鈥檓 rooting for someone to win as much money as possible and I鈥檓 rooting for a great show which often involves chaos.鈥
People are also reading…
Contestants compete for the chance to move on in "Deal or No Deal Island." From left, Joe Manganiello, Maria-Grace Cook, "Dr.Will" Kirby, Alexis Lete, Seychelle Cordero, La Shell Wooten, Phillip Solomon, Parvati Shallow, David Genat, Courtney "CK" Kim, Dickson Wong, Storm Wilson.聽
That means contestants who are good in the confessional and are outspoken on the field of play earn his respect. 鈥淓veryone has that luckiest friend. I鈥檓 that friend to my friends...so I鈥檓 very curious to see how it goes down.鈥
Gamers vs. non-gamers
Joe Manganiello leads contestants through their paces on "Deal or No Deal Island."
Rob Mariano, a veteran reality show contestant, finished fourth on 鈥淒eal or No Deal Island鈥 last season. Like other familiar names from 鈥淪urvivor,鈥 鈥淎mazing Race,鈥 and 鈥淭he Traitors,鈥 he鈥檚 a gamer, Mangianello says. 鈥淏oston Rob has a great strategic mind and is very charismatic. Even when his back is to the wall, he just comes out a winner. It鈥檚 been great to be able to watch them play the game because they are the best of the best.鈥
鈥淣on-gamers,鈥 another category in Mangianello鈥檚 book are folks like the 鈥淩eal Housewives.鈥 鈥淭hat鈥檚 more of a social show, where something like 鈥楽urvivor鈥 is strategic. (鈥楧eal or No Deal Island鈥) attracts gamers. When you鈥檝e won a 鈥楽urvivor鈥 or a 鈥楤ig Brother,鈥 you鈥檝e got superpowers.鈥
Parvati Shallow, one of this year鈥檚 competitors, fits the profile. 鈥淧arvati is so charming. Her social game is great. She is forwardly manipulative, whether it鈥檚 welcomed or not. Some want to team up with her, some do not.鈥
To make sure there鈥檚 no 鈥渕iddle of the road鈥 winner 鈥 like last year鈥檚 Jordan Fowler 鈥 producers have adjusted the game so there鈥檚 no middle to ride. 鈥淭here hasn鈥檛 been a banker鈥檚 offer yet to allow someone to leave the game,鈥 Mangianello says. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 want somebody to leave the game. We want them stuck in the game and forced to fight and make uncomfortable decisions.鈥
"Deal or No Deal Island" host Joe Manganiello tells Bruce Miller about who knows what amount is in which box.
Observational perks
Because he doesn鈥檛 know which suitcases contain which amounts (doing so would be a violation of the Game Show Act 鈥渁nd we could all go to federal prison鈥), the host doesn鈥檛 even like to speculate during the numbers game.
He has determined, however, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to pull cases of people鈥檚 birthdays because they, without a doubt, always hold the high numbers. It鈥檚 one of those funny superstitious things.鈥
Guessing the banker is another inside game that attracts viewers. Howie Mandel, the original host of 鈥淒eal or No Deal,鈥 was revealed as the banker in the first season. This year, the money-holder has been referred to with feminine pronouns.
As a producer, Mangianello had a hand in picking the banker. A clue to the identity: 鈥淭he banker is someone connected to the 鈥楧eal or No Deal鈥 extended universe,鈥 he says.
While Mangianello was pursued to host other shows, he held off, largely because actors had to make a choice between film and television when he was first starting out. 鈥淕eorge Clooney was the only one who was doing both. A lot of people tried to follow him through that door and fell on their face. But with the advent of subscription cable, it just wasn鈥檛 that way. Things started shifting a little bit and, by the mid 2000s, some of the best projects you could possibly act in were on pay cable and I was part of that revolution.鈥
鈥淭rue Blood鈥 helped Mangianello become a household name and led to a resume-filling list of other projects.
Host Joe Manganiello, left, leads David Genat through the suitcase round.
Timing is everything
Joe Manganiello.聽
When 鈥淒eal or No Deal Island鈥 came his way, he was ready. 鈥淚 was in chess tournaments when I was 6, I was playing cards with adults from the time I was little, little, little. I have a strategic gamer mind.
鈥淎s a documentary filmmaker, I realized it was all live theater up there when the cameras are rolling. It feels like Phil Jackson, the coach of the Bulls during the 鈥90s. He was an NBA player but then he went on to have even greater success as a coach. And that鈥檚 how I feel on this show. My job is to set up the guests and let the contestants have their moments. I really do enjoy that a lot.鈥
A hint to this season鈥檚 finale: 鈥淵ou can look at the all-time cumulative 鈥楯eopardy鈥 number from Ken Jennings and this year鈥檚 winner (gets) more than that,鈥 Mangianello says. 鈥淭his is the all-time (record) as far as television goes.鈥
鈥淒eal or No Deal Island鈥 airs on NBC.
