Everyone’s favorite game show host of semi-ambiguous sexuality* sat down with Newsweek about the coming return of Deal or No Deal, Mandel’s hit NBC game show. Among the topics were the show’s greed (”I think individual contestants celebrate greed. Actually, if you get greedy the game doesn’t go well for you”), how he got the job (”When they first called me, I said absolutely not. Then they said there were 26 bikini models– that helped”), and his obsessive compulsive disorder (”[C]ertain hotels… remove the comforters with salad tongs. I order two dozen towels on entry, and I make paths with them so I won’t step on the carpet”), among other things.

The interview appears in the February 27th, 2006 issue of Newsweek in the Newsmakers section. Deal or No Deal debuts on February 28th on NBC at 8 PM EST.

*according to the interviewer: “You have a shaved head and a bunch of earrings. That’s sort of a gay look.”