Howie Mandel talks about his new show, "Howie Do It"/Photo: NBC

By Jeremy D. Bonfiglio
MyTVHatesMe.com

Howie Mandel has gotten a better deal.

The popular host of NBC’s primetime game show “Deal or No Deal” is revisiting his comedic roots for his own take on the classic TV prank show.

“Howie Do It,” which premieres at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9 on the peacock network, features Mandel and his crew, including son Alex, as they film unsuspecting marks in a series of embarrassing scenarios.

We caught up with Howie to talk about the prank that got him kicked out of school, the valuable lesson he learned during his stint on “St. Elsewhere” and how the famous germaphobe turned his own worst nightmare into a winning bit.

Question: OK, Howie, is “Howie Do It” more along the lines of “Candid Camera” or “Jackass”?

Howie Mandel: “Candid Camera.” “Candid Camera” was my inspiration. That was the first time where something was really funny because it was real - like I was in on this joke and I was watching real people in these awkward situations. That sparked me so much and I never had any inkling or thought of even getting into show business but even as a kid everything I was ever expelled for, hit for, punished for is what this show is about.

Q: Expelled? OK, there’s a story there so let’s hear it.

HM: I got thrown out of school for hiring a contractor to put an addition onto the library and obviously I didn’t have the authority but for me the humor was getting caught for it and having people very seriously trying to explain to me that I didn’t have the authority to do so.

… People were measuring and they had the survey thing. And the principal went out and asked what they were doing. And they said they’re measuring and going to give a bid on the addition. And he said, “Who authorized this?” And I had given my name. Howard Mandel. I could see from my math window, I could see people out there doing it and I was giggling to myself. I had no other friends in on it. I didn’t have an audience. I’m always my own best audience. And then lo and behold, “Would Howard Mandel please come down to the office.” And I came down and very seriously and sternly he said, “Did you authorize - were you getting bids?” And I go, “Yes.” He goes, “What do you think you’re doing?” I said. “Well I thought I was being responsible. I wasn’t going to just take the first bid. I’ll look and see who comes in.” And he goes, “Just wait here, just wait here,” holding everything in. And then he brought my parents down to the school. And my parents had to sit there and hear him say, you know, “Your son, without any authorization is getting bids on an addition to the learning resource center.”

Just to watch my mom and my dad bite their lip. I don’t know what he expected them to say. “We told you to never put an addition onto a library without authorization” or “we told you to get six bids.” But that was the straw that broke the camel’s back, you know, that was the end of that school.

Q: In your lifetime of playing pranks what’s been your finest moment, your legendary biggest get?

HM: You know the truth is that I don’t have one big get. It started in school from having people out there to give bids on an addition to the learning resources center to throwing a chocolate bar in the pool pre-Caddy Shack. I think the things we’re doing on this show are bigger and better than anything I’ve ever done.

Q: In one bit you are a waiter who seems to have his fingers in everyone’s food. How do you come up with these ideas? Is this from a personal experience?

HM: We have a phenomenal group of producers and writers but when we come up with ideas — especially an idea that I’m involved with — it comes from my biggest fears and what would affect me. This is a reality show. So in my reality shaking hands is equivalent to jamming your finger in my soft drink or my cake. So just because that was my horror I thought it would be interesting to see how people react if I was a waiter who had their finger in more than they should.

Q: What kind of reactions have you gotten from people? Did you get anyone that was really upset because of the joke or does every mark have a good sense of humor.

HM: Ultimately everybody — no matter how awkward it was — were always pleasantly surprised and thrilled to be part of it. If anybody felt uncomfortable about anything they did or how they were portrayed I would not put them on television. Obviously they sign releases but even if they signed a release and they didn’t want to be seen in that light I wouldn’t put them on television. That never happens. Nobody ever said they didn’t want to be part of it. So it’s really good-natured fun.

Q: When you’re setting up the marks and going through the whole thing do you find it hard not to just starting laughing yourself or have you done it for so long that you can control that?

HM: No, I think that’s an issue, laughing. But, you know, I approach it as an actor. We will get there and with all the actors and all of us we set it up, we set the cameras and we run through it like you’re going to rehearse a movie scene. And then we’re four minutes away from mark arriving, three minutes away from the mark arriving, one minute away from the mark arriving.

As soon as that clicks in, like I did on “St. Elsewhere,” you’re acting. This is going to sound very Hollywood actor-ish — but when I was pretending to be Fiscus in those moments I truly believed that I had a patient and I played it that way and I felt the urgency of getting whatever I needed to get out, whatever information I needed to do a task.

When we’re in the midst of these bits, the way to keep from laughing is not to go outside the bit and see how funny it is; what is your goal right then?

Q: Your son Alex plays a significant role on the show as well. What has it been like having him involved in this project?

HM: Just standing on the set watching the next generation, my baby boy, prank somebody else that is my shining moment. I don’t know if any other father would feel the pride that I felt that he was able to prank a perfect stranger, but it was just a wonderfully, emotionally, funny great moment.