NBC SAYS DEAL! TO HOWIE MANDEL FOR NEW UNSCRIPTED COMEDY SERIES 'HOWIE DO IT' FROM MANDEL'S ALEVY PRODUCTION COMPANY
BURBANK - April 18, 2008 - NBC has made a deal with Howie Mandel (host of NBC's hit game show "Deal or No Deal") for a new unscripted comedy series "Howie Do It" (working title) in which he will star and produce. The announcement was made today by Craig Plestis, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, Development and Specials, NBC Entertainment.
"America loves Howie and we're so lucky to have another great show that will showcase his unique signature humor," said Plestis.
"I can't tell you how excited I am to be in business with NBC once again," said Mandel. "Working with them on 'Deal or No Deal' continues to be a phenomenal experience."
The series is from Mandel's production company Alevy Production in association with 3 Arts. Mandel, Scott Hallock ("Scare Tactics"), Kevin Healey ("Spy TV"), Morgan Elliot and Michael Rotenberg are the executive producers.
Mandel's versatile career has encompassed virtually all aspects of the entertainment spectrum, ranging from television to film and stage. From his work on the Emmy Award-winning "St. Elsewhere" to the international (and also Emmy-nominated) "Bobby's World," Mandel has become a mainstay of the American comedy scene.
Mandel started his career on a dare during a trip to Los Angeles in 1979. He was at the legendary Comedy Store on amateur night and was coaxed by his friends to get up and try his luck. As fate would have it, there was a producer in the crowd who immediately hired him to appear on the comedy game-show "Make Me Laugh." His appearance on the show led to talk-show appearances, a stint as Diana Ross' opening act and, eventually, to the television series "St. Elsewhere," where he spent six seasons as Dr. Wayne Fiscus on the NBC drama.
Mandel's Emmy-nominated animated children series "Bobby's World" ran eight seasons on Fox and now appears in syndication six days a week in 65 countries. As the series' creator and executive producer, Mandel was closely involved in its writing, as well as providing the voice of Bobby, Bobby's dad and other characters. Mandel attributes the show's success to drawing the storylines from real life.
Mandel has done countless comedy specials both on cable and network television. He has also hosted his own syndicated talk show "The Howie Mandel Show," and continues to be a mainstay on the talk-show circuit. In addition to his starring role on NBC's hit game show "Deal or No Deal" and the upcoming syndicated version of the show, Mandel frequently appears on NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." He also is one of the first people that Regis Philbin calls to fill in for him when he takes a vacation from "Live with Regis and Kelly." Mandel also continues to perform as many as 200 concerts a year throughout the United States and Canada.
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