Columbia teacher wins $92,000 on "Deal or No Deal"

(Columbia) February 27, 2007 - Ishmael "Tater" Brown made a good deal Monday night on the hit NBC game show, "Deal or No Deal."  He turned down a $261,000 offer, but in the end, the case he chose as his own contained only $5.  He made the deal with just three cases left in play and $400,000 still on the board. The Banker offered $92,000, and Brown took the deal.  Brown is the fourth South Carolina contestant to appear on the show this season.

The math teacher from Alcorn Middle School in Columbia stood in line at Dutch Square Center for the WIS "Deal or No Deal' casting call last July, and the four local contestants picked so far have won a total of $499,000 on the show!

Last Wednesday, Brown's first appearance on the game show did not start well.  He eliminated six of the top nine prize amounts in the first two rounds, including the $1,000,000 top prize.  But his luck took a turn for the better as the game progressed.

At the end of Wednesday's show, Brown turned down a $33,000 offer from the Banker.  He resumed his game Monday with $400,000, $500,000, and $750,000 still on the board.  He eliminated several smaller amounts and turned down offers of $55,000, $103,000, $188,000 and $157,000 before turning down a $261,000 deal with two of the three big amounts left.  But then Brown picked the $750,000 case, and the offer dropped to $92,000.

Ishmael Brown's wife and mother accompanied him on the show, and a large group of family, friends, and supporters celebrated his final appearance on the show at a viewing party in Columbia Monday night.  He plans to use his winnings to pay off credit cards and school loans and put some money in savings as well.

updated 12:10pm by Chantelle Janelle