My Day As A “Let’s Make a Deal” Contestant – Part 19 (Post-Game Analysis)

March 10, 2015

Aurora laughing with her head down on Let's Make a Deal
Credit: CBS/Freemantle

(Missed any part? Here’s the whole series.)

Picking up from last time

So my dad and I analyzed and analyzed in the car.

It didn’t matter how many millions of times we went over it. I played the game to the best of my ability!

I will admit I should’ve known “on the rocks” almost certainly meant diamonds, as that is often the diamonds clue. When you think about it that way, you can say I should’ve gotten away from the mini-curtain sooner.

But there was still a chance the box was a zonk…

Whether it was diamonds or not, when Wayne said that once you picked something you were done, all I thought was, “stay ’til the end of the deal.” And the only way I could do that was to keep the curtain.

With so little to go on, I feel like I made strategically the best choice (though you are of course welcome to voice your comments if you disagree).

Obviously once I knew the trip was gone, I made the right choice (for me) between diamonds and a zonk. So, that one I can be really happy and content about.

No matter how many times we went over it (and I’ve even been over it now a few times within this very story I’m telling you!), I couldn’t see an inherent flaw in logic or game play. I can’t really say it would’ve technically been smart to do anything differently.

That sort of helped make it better, ’cause I like knowing I did everything I could. That also sort of made it worse, because you do everything you can to the best of your ability, and still you lose? That’s a bit suck-y, right?

Aurora with nervous face waiting to hear about her fate on Let's Make a Deal
Credit: CBS/Freemantle

One thing that was a bit funny to me – if you think I’m an over-analyzer, we saw where I got it from during that car ride!

During the game, I’d looked back at my dad for his advice. And in the car, he was all, “I should’ve told you to go for the box! I was thinking the box! You even asked for my advice. I should’ve said something!”

So, he analyzed his part plenty too (even though he knows his daughter was probably gonna go with her own choices no matter what).

He did try to make losing feel better. (After all, he is my dad.) He tried to appeal to the logical part of my brain. “Sweetheart, you live in California. If you want to go to Mexico, get in a car and drive there.”

Also, he was correct when he told me I could go to Cabo for the same amount of money I would’ve paid in taxes on that trip.

But he knows me so well, ’cause he said, “I know that logic isn’t really going to help because whether it’s a trip to Mexico, a million dollars, or a penny, it’s all the same to you. The point is you want to win. So, I’m sorry.”

(At the time, I hadn’t totally thought about it exactly like that. But who could argue that he was completely right?)

It’s nice having a dad who can try to help you see the logic in why it’s technically okay to have lost, but totally joins in on your pity party as he knows logic doesn’t help losing. Wah wah.

And this is where I’ll pick up tomorrow.

I'd love to hear from you! So whaddya say?