HISTORY WAS MADE LAST NIGHT ON NBC'S HIT GAME SHOW, 'DEAL OR NO DEAL' WHEN 7-MONTHS PREGNANT CONTESTANT JESSICA ROBINSON FROM SANDY, UTAH BECAME THE VERY FIRST ONE-MILLION DOLLAR WINNER AS PART OF THE MILLION DOLLAR MISSION
Passing Up Offer After Offer From the Stealth Banker, Robinson Took it All the Way in an Astounding Comeback and is the First Person to Take Home the Top Cash Prize
BURBANK, Calif. - September 2, 2008 - On Monday, September 1st, in an unprecedented episode full of surprises, mom-to-be Jessica Robinson from Sandy, Utah achieved what no other contestant in the history of "Deal or No Deal" has done-she took home $1 million dollars.
"This is truly a dream come true for my husband and me," said Holmes. "I have been a fan of the show and have watched every season, playing at home from my living room. I still can't believe I won $1 million dollars, but I feel like my lucky green shirt had something to do with it. It was the same shirt I wore to fill out the application, and to my audition." Holmes continues, "I can't wait to move to Texas to buy our first home and be closer to my family and friends."
The Banker said, "It took them almost 250 games. I'm still dominating and good luck to them trying to do it again."
In over three years and 246 games in the history of "Deal or No Deal" on NBC, no one had won the million dollar top prize. Despite 15 people having the million dollars in their case prior to Jessica, no one had the guts to go all the way-until now!
Robinson stepped onto the "Deal Or No Deal" stage ready to create some surprises of her own but little did she know, Howie had a big surprise for her. The game began with a special show opening with a model wheeling a baby carriage on stage holding the number five. Then, Howie announced Robinson was playing in the Million Dollar Mission, with five, one million dollar cases--upping her chances of becoming Deal's first million-dollar winner.
Ecstatic about the opportunity that lie ahead of her, Robinson announced her own surprise--being seven months pregnant, she was the only person to know the gender of her baby and chose to reveal it to her husband and family on national television. The gender had randomly been placed in a case prior to the show. As the game began, Robinson chose the #4 case to keep at the podium saying four was her lucky number because she would soon be a family of four with the birth of her child. As Robinson began to pick cases, she came upon case #13 revealing, "It's a boy!"
During the next three rounds, Robinson had eliminated four, one million dollar cases from the board and passed on offers of $78,000, $78,000 and $56,000. Surrounded by her family of supporters including her husband, daughter, mother and father, the competitive Robinson was un-nerved. She then made the biggest "Deal or No Deal" comeback ever by avoiding opening the remaining million-dollar case and the $200,000 case in the following rounds, watching her offers from the banker increase significantly.
In the final round, only two prizes were for the taking--$200,000 and $1,000,000. The banker begrudgingly offers Robinson her highest dollar amount yet-- $561,000. With over half a million dollar offer in play, the tenacious Robinson declared, "I have Texas guts y'all!" slams down the button exclaiming "No deal!" and opens the briefcase she chose at the top of the show, revealing $1 million dollars.
If you think the new season fun has just begun, think again. Another lucky contestant this season will win the million dollar top prize this fall.
"Deal or No Deal" is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA. The series is executive-produced by Scott St. John.
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