Deal or No Deal (USA)/Episode 235A/235B

Episode 235A/235B is the thirty-first episode of the second season of Deal or No Deal, and the seventieth episode overall.

Guest Stars: Caroll Spinney (as Big Bird)

Gameplay

Opening contestant Skip Allen eliminated all but the $400,000 case by the time he had eight cases remaining, and to that point never had deals worth more than $20,000. He bravely played on, eliminating five small and medium amounts (and subsequently seeing his offers increase) before narrowing the field to three cases: $5, $300 and $400,000. He opted to deal at $136,000. In the playout, he would have eliminated $300 (and his offer would have been $201,000), but he made a good deal nonetheless: His case held $5.
As with Allen, Lamar Wilson's game took a full hour. He lost his last mega amount — $500,000 — with six cases to go, leaving $50,000 as his top amount. Resolved, he played on and eventually took a $24,000 deal (with $5,000 and $10,000 also in the gallery). Despite having $50,000 in his case, Wilson ("if you believe") and his entourage left satisfied.

The models each wore skimpy Santa's helpers outfits. Each of the cases were decorated with patterns similar to gift wrapping.
Wilson's game could have been reminiscent of a children's show. The heavy-set Wilson wore a large, red sweater (and white shirt beneath it), perhaps recalling Fat Albert. Big Bird (of Sesame Street) also made an appearance to briefly meet with Wilson.
The members of the studio audience won small gift certificates and other prizes for each deal the contestant refused.