Heartbreaker on "Deal or No Deal"
Thursday October 11, 2007
Part of the fun in watching game shows is seeing people win lots of money. But when people have a big, supportive family in the audience end up getting next-to-nothing, it becomes almost difficult to watch.Carmen Gantt was the latest contestant to take on Deal or No Deal's "Million Dollar Mission," so-named because each game features an extra million dollar case in play. Carmen had seven chances at a million, and it seemed that her game was going well. She got up to an offer of $133,000 from the banker, but decided to take a risk and keep on playing.
Things went downhill from there. Eventually there were only two cases in play - one held by a model, and the other in front of Carmen. One contained $50, and the other $200. The banker offered $100, and Carmen finally took the deal. To rub salt in the wound, her case held the $200.
Looking extremely disappointed, Carmen thanked Howie while her family rushed up to hug her. Sure it's only a game show, but I can't help but feel badly for her and her family. I'm sure there were many light-hearted conversations about trips they might be able to take, or things they could buy, or money they could put away.
What do you think? Do you empathize with game show contestants, or is it purely entertainment value no matter what happens?
Photo courtesy NBC
Comments
Greedy, greedy, greedy. Avarice! I must have seen a dozen contestants lose a very tidy sum of money….such as Carmen’s $133,000….because they wanted more and hoped it would come their way. Ignoring the odds, and common sense, they choose not to deal and end up with “nothing,” compared to the hoped-for million. It great entertainment. It’s a show of how humans think with their hearts instead of with their heads. All the shrieking and dramatic case openings heighten the drama. It’s great entertainment, but I have never seen anyone win a million dollars!