Howie Mandel Praises 'Amazing' Joe Manganiello on “Deal or No Deal Island”: 'He's Almost as Handsome as Me' (Exclusive)

Mandel, who hosted the original series and now serves as an executive producer on the game show, says the new iteration is "dangerous," "exciting," and "bigger than anything, even from the original"

Howie Mandel has handed over the Deal or No Deal reins to Joe Manganiello and he thinks he's crushing it!

In September 2023, NBC announced that Manganiello would make his game show debut as host of its new Deal or No Deal Island spinoff with a trailer that featured Mandel literally handing passing the torch to Manganiello.

When asked about how the True Blood alum, 46, was faring as the next Deal or No Deal master of show, Mandel, 68, exclusively told PEOPLE why he felt the actor was the perfect man for the job.

"Epic! He's amazing," he gushed at the America's Got Talent season 19 red carpet in March. "He loves adventure. He loves gamesmanship, and I think he's handling the position wonderfully and I am so excited about being a small part of that show."

Related: Joe Manganiello to Host Deal or No Deal Island Spinoff — and It Has a Connection to His Ex Sofía Vergara

Mandel, who hosted the original series and now serves as an executive producer on the game show, says that the new iteration is "dangerous," "exciting," and "bigger than anything, even from the original."

"There's $200 million at stake. People can be bitten by snakes. They can drown in the mud, they're in the jungle. It's epic. It checks every box of everything that people want to see," the America's Got Talent judge said before joking, "And he's — I would say — almost as handsome as me."

Related: Joe Manganiello Wants the 'Tea' When Deal or No Deal Island's Boston Rob and Claudia Confront Kim (Exclusive)

According to a press release from NBC, Deal or No Deal Island is “a spin on the classic game where 13 players are transported to the elusive Banker’s private island to compete for cash in a season-long, fully immersive competition.”

Though contestants no longer compete on a soundstage, they still have to endure “thrilling challenges” and “mind-bending dilemmas” in their endeavors “to beat the banker” for what is potentially the biggest cash prize in the show’s history, per the release.

As host, Manganiello guides contestants by “leading the game play, relaying the banker’s tempting offers and helping them through the toughest decisions of their lives."

Related: Deal or No Deal Island's Joe Manganiello Almost Went on the 'Baby Version' of Naked and Afraid (Exclusive)

“I was waiting for the right opportunity to happen and this was it,” Manganiello told PEOPLE in February. “I was asked to be on Survivor at one point. I was offered Fear Factor — not the original, but after [Joe] Rogan stepped aside, I was offered the next incarnation. So they pitched me the show, [Deal or No Deal Island]. I was like, you have no idea who you're talking to. I'm a big fan of game shows. One of the huge draws is to see how people interact with each other.”

The actor also revealed that he drew inspiration from four legendary television hosts that included Mandel and Survivor host Jeff Probst while hosting Deal or No Deal Island.

“I also thought about Joe Rogan a lot, when you look back to Fear Factor and watching people in uncomfortable situations,” the Magic Mike star continued. “Also, Dan Cortes, MTV Sports. He was the OG. I'm from Pittsburgh and he comes over and watches the Steeler games at my house. I always tell him, ‘You're a big inspiration for me.’ That's probably an amalgamation of Frankenstein's monster of all four of them.”

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Deal or No Deal Island airs Mondays at 10 p.m. ET on NBC.

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