MANILA, Philippines - Did you know that Howie Mandel, who just quit as host of Deal Or No Deal (DOND) US edition for a new Wow, Mali type of show called Howie Do It, suffers from mysophobia (fear of germs) and OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)? That’s why he refrains from shaking the hands of contestants unless he’s wearing latex gloves and simply taps their shoulders or gives them an occasional hug. Also, he shaved his head because he said the lack of hair makes him feel cleaner.
Born and raised in Toronto, Mandel, 53 (Nov. 29, 1955), was expelled from high school for impersonating a member of the school board. He sold carpets before he became a stand-up comedian in 1978. One of his popular acts was placing a latex glove over his head and inflating it by blowing through his nose, with the fingers of the glove extending above his head like a cockscomb.
On a trip to L.A., Mandel performed at The Comedy Set which led to his stint in the comedic game show Make Me Laugh. He also appeared in the TV series St. Elsewhere, as Dr. Wayne Fiscus, and in movies including Gremlins (1984) and its sequel Gremlins 2: The New Batch, the short film The Iceman Hummeth (1985, directed by Michael J. Fox), It’s a Fine Mess (1986, with Ted Danson) and Little Monsters (1989).
Then, in 2005, he began hosting the US version of Deal Or No Deal on NBC and at the same time Deal Or No Deal Canada.
Mandel was here last year as guest of DOND Philippine version as part of the show’s “global” edition that also included episodes shot in other parts of the world.
He married his high school sweetheart Terry with whom he has three children: Jackie, 25; Alex, 19; and Riley, 17.
Conversations joined a group telephone interview with Mandel together with five other Asian journalists.
Excerpts:
Can you describe your show Howie Do It (airing on Star World in May)?
“Howie Do It is a hidden-camera prank show where we have real people in unreal situation. The concept is not new and it’s something that has been going around the world for a long time. I became aware of the concept when I was five years old, sitting at home in Toronto, watching a show called Candid Camera. I thought it was the funniest show I’d ever seen. It wasn’t like any other comedy show and the situation was real. It wasn’t a scripted show and there were real people. Everybody knew what the joke was except for the persons who walked into the set. It really intrigued me to want to see whether they were going to go along with it and how they would react. I am always fascinated by the reactions. I did it all my life. I got thrown out of school and I got into troubles. Everything that I’ve been hit for and punished for is what this show is.”
Are there also ‘open’ cameras?
“Sometimes there are open cameras and the ‘victims’ think they’re going to be part of a TV show. They are on the TV show, all right, but they just don’t know what the show is. So they may think they’re doing a show about a new product like a shampoo. All of a sudden, we trick them into thinking that all their hair is falling out. We watch them get angry, get scared and scream at us. And then we tell them it’s just a show.”
Has there been a time when the prank got out of control and got someone hurt?
“No. I think at best they get really scared. We wouldn’t do anything that would really harm anybody. At worst, we got somebody really embarrassed but not really sick. I have been doing this all my life and I haven’t heard of anyone getting a heart attack or getting sick. So they were really embarrassed, mad or sad. But when they find out that they were mad at something that’s not even real, they end up laughing.”
You were in the Philippines last year to shoot an episode for Deal Or No Deal. How was that visit?
“Of course, it was one of my highlights there. It was a beautiful town and everyone was incredibly hospitable to me. I’d have another reason to come back.”
Do you think you will shoot some scenes in the Philippines also for Howie Do It?
“We shot a little bit in L.A., but mostly in Canada. I’m Canadian and the show airs both in Canada and the US. I am not sure if we could afford to fly all the way there. But I’d love to.
Were you happy with the way DOND was done in the Philippines? What can you say about Kris Aquino, the DOND Philippine edition host?
“We loved it. It was a party-atmosphere. They had all the music and we got the greatest hostess you could ever imagine and a very talented young lady. The people couldn’t do enough for us and they were so hospitable and professional. It was a great experience. We went all around the world and did whatever we could. We played it everywhere and the Philippines was one of the places that really stood out.”
You’ve got a theme spoofed from a song by Montel Jordan. Is Montel cool with that?
“Yes, Montel is so cool and he called and said he wanted to do something on the show. He loved it and I love the song. It fits perfectly.”
Why is your character on the show always named Larry?
“That’s my little inside joke. The hosts on the hidden-camera shows would wear very elaborate costume. And you didn’t need to do that. You just need to come up and surprise people just by being out of context. They would have no idea that it’s you. So I wear a wig and glasses and I always call myself Larry. I don’t have a different character. For the most part, people don’t recognize me and they just go along with it. That kind of makes it fun because in North America, I am fairly well-known. So the fact that I always wear the same wig and same glasses with the same name, people never knew it’s me and that makes it kind of funny.”
Tell us about the most outrageous prank you have ever attempted.
“We are doing it on the show now. We said that we were doing this auction to help people with spinal injury. And then we have a guy come on and speak about how this charity helped him. And then on the show he takes his first two steps. We are going to raise money and have somebody come in. They think they are going to help raise money for the charity. What he does is auctioned off a hybrid car and sold for $40,000 and slap the ‘sold’ sign onto the back of the car. When he does that, the car starts rolling down through the wall and runs over the guy who takes his first three steps. The person who puts on the ‘sold’ sign is so horrified. He’s a man and he screams like a young girl. It’s funny, it’s outrageous and it’s going to be on your television.”
What does your son think about your job?
“He did grow up with it so it’s not special to him. One of the highlights of the show for me is a lot of the pranks are done by my son Alex. He does pranks. So ultimately we have a family business and my son is in a lot of episodes.”
What’s Howie Mandel like when he’s not telling jokes?
“I’ve been married for almost 30 years. I have three children, mostly all grown. I can be very serious. I love jokes when I’m not working. I’m just an average guy. I don’t know how to describe myself. You’ll have to ask somebody because I don’t spend a lot of time with me.”
Tell us about your OCD?
“Yes, I do have OCD, which is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I don’t shake hands.”
Is it true that a bikini wax is named after you?
“Maybe because Deal Or No Deal became so big and on Howie Do It, I sometimes grow goatee or beard. And I have it just under my lips. DOND became so popular that when women went in to get bikini wax, on the menu you could get the Howie Mandel. In that particular area, they will get that shape! I don’t know if it’s an honor.”
Do you get recognized when you go out?
“The most recognizable thing about me is my bold head. All I need in the show is a baseball cap and a pair of glasses and nobody would know who I am.”
How do you get all these prank ideas?
“I sit around and we have a group of great writers and producers. I can’t believe this is my job. We laugh so hard about things that we wonder if they may happen to us.”
Are any of your children following in your footsteps?
“My son Alex, who is 19, did a lot of episodes. He writes some of them himself and does his own pieces. And then I have two daughters that have no interests in this business. One of them is a teacher and the other hasn’t decided what to do with her future.”
You have done so many things on TV. Do you have a favorite role?
“I like doing many different things. I have been a host and I have been an actor. I do voices for animations. I was Gizmo in Gremlins. I do stand-up comedy. I like to know that I have never spent four days a week doing the same thing. Today, I worked on Howie Do It. In a couple of days, I’m off to Las Vegas to do concert. Now I am writing a book. Each of those things are fun and fresh for me.”
Is there anything left that you’d like to try?
“I’d imagine there is but I don’t know what it is yet. I have done everything from movies to comedy to live theater. I don’t know what’s left but if somebody comes up with an idea and hopefully they’ll present it, then I’ll do it.”
Is there any prank that you won’t do?
(Laughs) “No. If it’s not dangerous or somebody is going to get hurt, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do. I think as long as it’s funny and safe, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do.”
Is Deal Or No Deal still on?
“Yes.”
How do you deal with your low moments?
“Like every other person in the world, I have low moments. I’m lucky that even if I have low moments, I have been so busy that when I have a job and I get up in front of people and they start to laugh, that makes me feel better. So work is the best remedy for my low moments.”
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
“My underpants! I think it’s important to change those each and every day!”
Do you have any favorite?
“A thong!”
Any parting shot?
“I’m excited about the show and the things that I love doing...I could do them for free. It’s such a pleasure to even get a chance to do the show and it’s going to be seen in your countries. It’s such an honor and it’s a pleasure. I hope that people enjoy it and laugh. There’s no better feeling when you do something here at home and it gets seen so far away by people who grew up in a very different culture. It’s amazing to me that they love it. I hope it’s a success.”
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph or at entphilstar@yahoo.com)