Network: Global Television Network
Broadcast Run: 2009
Broadcast Medium: Television
Howie Do It was co-commissioned by Global and NBC in April 2008. Starring Howie Mandel, who was at the time the host of a major US series success Deal Or No Deal, the new one-hour prime time reality program used the hidden camera technique pioneered by Candid Camera to delude unsuspecting guests into thinking that they were auditioning for a major Hollywood movie or a television series. Others were convinced that they were to star in a new game or reality show.
Because of his well-known television persona, and to make the stunts more convincing, Mandel had to wear disguises for some programs.
Howie Do It was a Canwest Original series, produced in association with Alevy Productions and 3 Arts. Mandel, Scott Hallock (“Scare Tactics”), Kevin Healey (“Spy TV”), Morgan Elliot and Michael Rotenberg served as the executive producers.
The new series premiered on Friday January 9th 2009 at 8pm on both Global and NBC. So successful was it for NBC that four weeks later they ordered an additional twelve episodes.
However, the rating didn’t sustain, and when NBC cancelled after 19 episodes, Global did not elect to continue production into the 2009-2010 season.
Written by Pip Wedge – December, 2010