EP 341: Howie Mandel's Audience Is His Muse

Howie Mandel talks about making his first comedy special in 20 years, his childhood growing up in Toronto, and how the show CANDID CAMERA inspired him to pull an elaborate prank that got him expelled from high school. He shares how "winging it" the first time he went on stage turned into his signature improvisational style, and how he still finds much of his comedic inspiration for interacting with his audience. He recalls opening for Diana Ross in Vegas, his very first TONIGHT SHOW appearance, how the HBO YOUNG COMEDIANS SPECIAL changed his life, and the time when a sitcom audition led to his getting cast in the serious TV medical drama SAINT ELSEWHERE. Howie reveals why he originally turned down the offer to host DEAL OR NO DEAL and the anxiety that he gets whenever he sees contestants making bad decisions on the show. He opens up about his struggle with obsessive compulsive disorder, and how he went from fearing that it might be a career killer to using his fame to raise awareness of mental health issues. Plus Howie Mandel gives the secret to winning the golden buzzer on AMERICA'S GOT TALENT.

Howie's new comedy special HOWIE MANDEL PRESENTS HOWIE MANDEL AT THE HOWIE MANDEL COMEDY CLUB this Friday Jan 18th at 10 Eastern and Paficic on Showtime. DEAL OR NO DEAL airs Wednesdays at 9AM on CNBC and AGT: CHAMPIONS airs Mondays on NBC at 8/7 Central. Follow Howie on Twitter at @HowieMandel. Today's episode is sponsored by Flatiron School and Hackable podcast.