Jillette conjures NBC game show

NBC, which found a hit by premiering “Deal or No Deal” last December when there was relatively little original programming opposing it, is hoping a game show hosted by comedian-magician Penn Jillette can do the same for it this December.

In “Identity,” a contestant can win up to $500,000 by correctly determining the identities of 12 strangers. The program will air at 8 p.m. Dec. 18-22, following the same weeklong introductory strategy that worked for “Deal or No Deal.”