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TCA press tour: Wayne Brady ready to ‘deal’

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‘Let’s Make A Deal’ is coming back to TV on Oct. 5, and Wayne Brady came to press tour today with executive producer Mike Richards and the legendary Monty Hall, who will serve as a consultant.

Brady drew big laughs from the TV critics with his reaction to a question that could have used different wording.

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Q: We were scratching our heads and trying to think who was the first African-American to do a network game show? We came up with Bill Cosby and maybe Whoopi Goldberg, but you would probably know that better than anybody.

A:
Yes, because of the meetings where the African-Americans ... what the hell? Why would I know that better?

The room erupted with laughter. Then there was a bit of an awkward pause. Then Brady continued.

‘I consider myself very fortunate since I started doing [‘Whose Line Is It Anyway’] in 1999. I’ve been part of a few firsts. And I don’t know if I’m the first because you’re right. The great thing about Fremantle and CBS reaching out to me, I think, speaks volumes to what I’ve been saying my entire career. Yes, I think it’s great to be one of the only African Americans, I think, a network would consider bankable and can reach out and do this. But it’s not about color or anything.

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‘I think that I’m one of the only guys on TV that can pull off this particular show because of the skill set. The fact that I happen to be a 21-year-old black man makes it even better in the sense that other kids sitting at home can see me doing that job and go, ‘I can either be president or I can be the host of a game show.’ God bless America.’

That was a joke. Brady is actually 37. But you get the point.

-- Maria Elena Fernandez

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