Howie Do It – Howie Mandel Punks People… But Probably Can’t Say So

Written on January 30, 2009 by Marc Eastman in Television

You may have missed Howie Mandel‘s new show Howie Do It so far, but now that NBC has given the go ahead to several more episodes, you might as well check it out. Howie Do It is neck-and-neck with Game Show In Your Head in terms of entertainment value (and not in a really good way), but at least Howie Do It has Howie.

Both shows are a little bland, and somehow don’t seem to quite rise to the production, or entertainment value of prime time television. Still, they’re both not bad choices for a bit of a laugh. The problem thus far with Howie’s show is that it is very hit or miss, and many of the gags go on far too long. It’s somehow surreally un-Howie.

Howie Do It is a hidden camera show that plays practical jokes on unsuspecting people, mostly out of work actors so far, and the bonus gag is that Howie is probably pulling the stunt himself while wearing some manner of disguise. A few of the jokes are rather funny, and it’s always worth something to see how far people will take things, but many of the efforts don’t quite get anywhere.

You can certainly see the theoretical appeal of the show. How can you not take to lovable Howie Mandel? A prank show by the popular and zany star of Deal or No Deal sounds like a no-brainer. You’d greenlight that, right?

So far it isn’t actually zany… well, not exactly.

The format is interesting at least, with a studio audience watching along with Howie. Now that we have more of it coming, I think Howie is going to need to turn things up a few notches. The first few bits that aired were a bit on the crazy side, but things have pulled back since then. Clips from tonight’s episodes don’t seem to have changed the tame shift. Interviewing people and getting them to give you high-fives while talking about bad news is worth a laugh, but it’s the sort of thing that has to end quick. And, that sort of sums up the problem with the show. When go into a show like this starring Howie Mandel, I expect quick and really whacky, and then bang, bang, bang. I don’t expect semi-zaniness that drags on and on.

If Howie’s not going wild, what’s the point of having Howie? Put this together with some strange disguises, and things look a little fishy. I mean, no one knows Superman is Clark Kent just because he slaps those glasses on?

It’s worth giving a shot though, especially if you aren’t particularly moved by anything else, but that’s about all the recommendation I can give it.