What to do with Deal or No Deal?
Deal or No Deal is tired and under-performing, amid rumours Andrew O'Keefe may not return.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
For year after repetitive year, Deal or No Deal was a license to print money.
It had a killer format with an enthusiastic host that was driving glorious numbers from 5:30pm into Seven News.
No matter what Nine threw at it: Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune, Family Feud and Antiques Roadshow, none could topple the briefcase bonanza. Until, that is, Eddie McGuire reinvented Millionaire as a fast-paced quiz show.
For some time audiences have been more attracted to the diversity of quiz questions than the opening of yet another briefcase.
Last week Hot Seat averaged 558,000 while Deal was 457,000 (for the record, TEN News won the slot with 634,000 and it usually does). How Andrew O’Keefe manages to maintain enthusiasm in the face of another briefcase is the equivalent of defying gravity.
A year ago he said, “It is fair to say that Deal, for the first time in its eight-year history, is facing its stiffest competition ever, and showing signs that it needs rejuvenation.
“I am tilling, I think, the same soil nowadays to try to produce prize-winning fruit, which is hard work. It is tiring and taxing and lonely.”
This week it is attempting rejuvenation with 5 giveaway trips to China, a stunt that newspapers often employ with Bingo scratchies.
Deal‘s real problem is that it is no longer delivering the numbers into Seven News. In Melbourne the bulletin has had some of its lowest numbers in five years, where it hasn’t won a week all year.
Deal wrapped production some weeks ago but wasn’t listed on Seven’s 2013 highlights, but Seven confirmed it would go back before the cameras (just as they also confirmed Australia’s Got Talent was returning?).
However there are still modifications that could signal change.
One option would be to move the show to 5pm and introduce a new show to 5:30pm. Forget about The Price is Right. The audience was pumped for a revival with the lovable Larry Emdur, but Seven took the cheap option as branded entertainment and betrayed loyal viewers.
There are also rumours that Andrew O’Keefe may not return to host Deal.
As one who is on the record as enduring “tiring and taxing and lonely” work, the gifted O’Keefe undoubtedly gets a more creative kick from Weekend Sunrise than a game show nudging 2000 episodes.
Either way, Seven cannot afford to hit the replay button in 2013 if it wants to rescue dwindling early-evening numbers. It’s one thing to talk about a bricks and mortar network, but this brick hasn’t been working for some time.
Seven did not return calls.
49 Responses
Bring back category killer Perfect Match
A dating show is also a good call.
Why can’t they make Price is Right better?
I agree.. I would love to see Temptation back.
I used to love Jeopardy!
Would love to see that back.
I can’t understand why Temptation was axed, when it was rating 1m plus. Hope Seven will revive the show again as ‘Sale of the century’ at 5.30.
I can’t stand Deal, but freely admit O’Keefe is damn good at what he does. This 5:30 time slot has to be one of the most difficult to program and one of the most important to get right. Little wonder Ten wins the slot.
Oh, and hands off Letters and Numbers… it sits very well on SBS tyvm.
Axe deal and bring back press your luck or sale of the century but not with Andrew okeef as host like Eddie I can’t stand him as for blankety blanks sorry. David and others but I would not like to see it brought back because sadly Graham Kennedy is no longer with us
tired of games show-rest time.
Well if Big W pays for TPIR, i’m sure Woolies will pay for Supermarket Sweep! In all honestly though i’d actually like Catch Phrase back.
David, I will give one vote for Blankety Blanks to return at anytime of the day.
You all have no clue. I’ll tell you what game show need to come back: Amazing. Who remembers that? Sure, it was a kids show, but it was so fun to watch.
I cannot stand this show, and if it were to be axed, it would make evening visits to my parents’ house considerably more pleasant.
LOL. The Man O Man pool is also free.
Bring back Press Your Luck.
move deal back to sundays with the 2 million dollar briefcase. that will get people watching again.
I could never understand the fascination with this show other than the very charismatic host which is the only thing that probably made it even slightly watchable. There’s nothing exciting about opening up a bunch of briefcases and unlike Hotseat you can’t play along at home. I think it’s lucky that it has lasted as long as it has.
I love the concept of Press Your Luck which had a run on Seven during the 80’s and wish it would make a return. Sale Of The Century, Jeopardy and Blankety Blanks are other favourites.
I was never a fan of The Rich List as it focussed on the prizemoney rather than the actual gameplay to keep audiences entertained. I don’t mind if they keep the prizes low just make the game interesting.
Add another vote for the Rich List (with AO’K on board)
Such an easy format to fit to 30 minutes. The original show actually felt like 2 x 30 minute shows put together.
Or they could go left field and nab Letters & Numbers off SBS…
i also think that Deal is getting tired. It just doesn’t thrill me anymore. Hence, why i have switched over to Hot Seat.
I would also like to see The Rich List return (i loved the show), but i can see this show fail to think of suitable topics by the end of the year. A Sale of the Century type show could be more suitable in that slot
The problem is that 7 needs to not just respond to Eddie. They need to respond to the problem that is also giving Hot Seat a commanding lead in SEQ, that is, Nine’s GC news service. It’s starved for competition.
Seven need to pay special attention to QLD and Melbourne while sorting everyone else out.
Another vote for The Rich List.
Not a criticism, but The Rich List is really just Family Feud with bells and whistles. Any votes for Blankety Blanks? Been a while since that was revived!
Ahh well I used to like it, and watched every night. I can not watch Eddie ( because I do not like him) so I have found Ten news, brilliant stuff.
Axe this rubbish and the annoying Andrew O’Keefe!!!
I would like to see The Rich List make a comeback.
Terrific article David.That 5:30 time slot is like winning the heights on a battlefield…take it and it gives you a big leg up for later in the day.Nine has in fact made inroads into Seven’s rating leadership..thanks in part to Eddie’s winning that battle at 5:30.How Seven decides to answer could,I think,prove crucial to it’s future rating dominance.As an aside..I know that leadins ought not to be so important..a simple click of the remote and all that..but they are.I feel that Seven and Nine’s command of 6:00 for news is why they are perennially 1,2 in ratings.It’s certainly not cause of the quality of their later shows.
I think adding variety to the formula helps, e.g. the added six-figure cases and the one where your friend goes backstage to play an unfilmed version backstage. At least Andrew is being realistic about it.
I say bring back Sale of the Century!