HAT SQUAD TVXOHOF - MONTY HALL

Monty Hall, the original host and co-creator of “Let's Make a Deal,” the long-running game show that debuted in 1963, making kooky audience costumes and carnival-style bartering an institution on daytime television, has died, according to Associated Press. He was 96.

Hall, who was also a dedicated philanthropist, died of heart failure Saturday morning at his home in Los Angeles, according to his daughter Sharon Hall.

“We knew this was going to happen — he was 96 — but you’re never prepared,” she said.

One of the most popular TV game shows of the 1960s and early 1970s, “Let's Make a Deal” featured Hall as a fast-talking auctioneer-trader who randomly pulled people from the audience to trade for prizes that could be valuable – or relatively worthless “zonks,” gag gifts such as a barnyard animal or a giant jar of peanut butter.

[By Valerie J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times]

One day I'm going to start inducting TV shows into the Television Crossover Hall of Fame.  There were at least a year's worth of programs which also existed in Toobworld and were so ingrained into the zeitgeist that several shows made reference to them.  And 'Let's Make A Deal' is one of them.  It also gave Toobworld Central the term "Zonk" which we use to describe the discrepancies like the recasting of Darrin Stephens.

But just about every time 'Let's Make A Deal' appeared in a fictional sense in other shows, there was Monty Hall along for the ride, willing to pay for that paper clip in your purse.

So today we're celebrating his most famous contribution to the television universe by inducting Monty Hall into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame as a member of the League of Themselves.

The most famous appearance of the fictional 'Let's Make A Deal' televersion was probably its first, in an episode of 'The Odd Couple'.

'The Odd Couple' 
"Let's Make a Deal" (1973)
Felix and Oscar appear on Let's Make a Deal to get a new bed for Felix after Oscar set his on fire.

 

Mr. Hall came back again for another episode:

'The Odd Couple' 
- A Different Drummer (1974)
Felix wants to get his band on Monty Hall's new show.

'Jennifer Slept Here'

- Calendar Girl (1983) 

While going through some items left in the house, George finds an nude picture of Jennifer, taken back before she was an star.

Delighted with his find, George intends to put it up for auction, and invites Monty Hall to be the auctioneer.  Jennifer is shaken by the discovery, and pleads with Joey to stop the auction, and keep the picture away from the public eye.

'The Wonder Years'
- The Test (1992)
While Kevin struggles to study for his upcoming SAT tests, Jack ponders quiting NORCOM to go into the furniture-making business.  Kevin watches 'Let's Make A Deal' on TV and it shows up in his dream.

'Love & War'
- But Not for Me (1993)
After Kip is nominated for a daytime television award, he invites the gang to the ceremonies and asks Dana to be his date. Monty Hall makes a guest appearance as himself.

O'BSERVATION: The sweet thing about seeing this episode (available on Amazon) is that he shared his scene with his real-life daughter, Joanna Gleason, who was a regular on that series.

'Sabrina, the Teenage Witch'
- The Long and Winding Short Cut (1999)
Hoping to get a quick answer to a family riddle, Sabrina took a short cut by conjuring Monty Hall to host a supernatural game show.

'The Nanny'
- The Taxman Cometh (1996)
Sylvia has an old videotape with her and Morty on 'Let's Make a Deal'.

I wonder how many generations ago this dupe was made?

'That '70s Show' 
- The Promise Ring (2001)
Donna has a dream in which the door she chooses on the show holds her boyfriend Eric and his promise ring.  Door #1 offered her the chance to be a writer and Door #2 could have been her path to the Presidency.  But no, she chose Eric.  On a donkey.

'Providence'
- Parenthood (2001) 

Robbie's date with Tina falls through when Pete's dad Peter cancels last minute to chaperon his scouts event. Robbie is happy to be invited by the kid to his birthday party, but Peter demands he steps out of the divorced family's only annual event. Syd's clinic is selected as contender for a grant from the prestigious Medfund. The Barkery hires pastry chef Elliot Anderman, who finds cooking for animals beneath him, let alone cleaning, but lost his Chicago standing after malicious food poisoning. He proves sympathetic to Joanie's miscarriage-trauma and reorganizes efficiently and ergonomically.

I don't know how Mr. Hall ties into that.

In March of 2010, Monty Hall returned to the show he helped create to celebrate its 50th anniversary with the current host Wayne Brady.

And he exists in the Tooniverse as well:

'Wait Till Your Father Gets Home'

"Mama Loves Monty"

Irma Boyle appeared on 'Let's Make a Deal' and ended up almost getting married to Monty Hall in Vegas.

Jack Burns, Tom Bosley, Joan Gerber & Monty Hall

Good night and may God bless, Monty Hall........