Hosted by a real Monty Hall: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Hall
It even had the gag prizes like goats (or, as in the photo from the wiki page, a llama)
Dear Steve:
Thank you for sending me the problem from "The American Statistician."
Although I am not a student of a statistics problems, I do know that these figures can always be used to one's advantage, if I wished to manipulate same. The big hole in your argument of problems is that once the first box is seen to be empty, the contestant cannot exchange his box. So the problems still remain the same, don't they. . . one out of three. Oh, and incidentally, after one is seen to be empty, his chances are no longer 50/50 but remain what they were in the first place, one out of three. It just seems to the contestant that one box having been eliminated, he stands a better chance. Not so. It was always two to one against him. And if you ever get on my show, the rules hold fast for you -- no trading boxes after the selection.
Next time let's play on my home grounds. I graduated in chemistry and zoology. You want to know your chances of surviving with our polluted air and water?
Sincerely,
Monty
https://web.archive.org/web/20100408200824/http://www.letsma...
Hall understood the problem, giving the reporter a demonstration with car keys and explaining how actual game play on Let's Make a Deal differed from the rules of the puzzle.
When I first heard about the puzzle, I struggled with the solution precisely because I kept making assumptions about the puzzle based on my knowledge of the show. It wasn't until I thoroughly read the question, setting aside those assumptions, that I realized it is materially different from the show and I was able to really understand the solution.
The “monty hall problem” (in the form stated in the article) is really a trick question, since it hinges on some assumptions which is never stated.
Even when stated correctly, the problem is a fun and counter-intuitive problem. But when leaving out critical information, you create a very differet problem of guessing what the unstated assumptions are.
Also, Let's Make a Deal has been revived and canceled many times, and has been on the air since 2009.