WASHINGTON – President Bush made a surprise appearance on the popular prime-time game show “Deal or No Deal” last night to wish a deserving contestant luck – and it worked.
“Laura and I are rootin’ for you tonight, and good luck,” Bush said in a pretaped message shown on the air to a surprised Army Capt. Joseph Kobes.
Kobes, who was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star in the course of his three tours of duty in Iraq, went on to win $78,000 on the NBC show.
An NBC representative said Kobes, of Sumner, Wash., plans to use his winnings to help his parents pay off their house.
Media watchers couldn’t immediately recall another sitting president’s appearing on a game show, though Richard Nixon was on the “Laugh-In” variety show.
White House spokesman Tony Fratto said Bush agreed to make the taped appearance after an NBC producer informed his staff that Kobes had listed the president as one of his heroes.
“Capt. Kobes, thank you for your courageous service in Iraq. You and your fellow men and women in uniform are heroes to all Americans whose freedoms you protect,” Bush said in the video.
Kobes, 29, smiled, laughed and shook his head in disbelief as Bush cracked jokes about his own challenges back in DC.
“I’m thrilled to be on ‘Deal or No Deal’ with you tonight. Come to think of it, I am thrilled to be anywhere with high ratings these days,” Bush said.
“I don’t know if you are free to come to Washington anytime soon, but I have to reach an agreement with Congress over the federal budget. I feel like the host of a $3 trillion ‘Deal or No Deal.’ ”
On the show, hosted by comedian Howie Mandel, contestants choose between 26 identical suitcases displayed by scantily clad models. Each case contains varying amounts of cash, up to $1 million.
Bush is not the first member of his administration to appear on a game show.
Education Secretary Margaret Spellings actually competed, and lost, on “Jeopardy!” in 2006.