TCA press tour: Wayne Brady ready to ‘deal’

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‘Let’s Make A Deal’ is coming back to TV on Oct. 5, and Wayne Brady came to press tour today with executive producer Mike Richards and the legendary Monty Hall, who will serve as a consultant.

Brady drew big laughs from the TV critics with his reaction to a question that could have used different wording.

Q: We were scratching our heads and trying to think who was the first African-American to do a network game show? We came up with Bill Cosby and maybe Whoopi Goldberg, but you would probably know that better than anybody.

A: Yes, because of the meetings where the African-Americans ... what the hell? Why would I know that better?

The room erupted with laughter. Then there was a bit of an awkward pause. Then Brady continued.

‘I consider myself very fortunate since I started doing [‘Whose Line Is It Anyway’] in 1999. I’ve been part of a few firsts. And I don’t know if I’m the first because you’re right. The great thing about Fremantle and CBS reaching out to me, I think, speaks volumes to what I’ve been saying my entire career. Yes, I think it’s great to be one of the only African Americans, I think, a network would consider bankable and can reach out and do this. But it’s not about color or anything.

‘I think that I’m one of the only guys on TV that can pull off this particular show because of the skill set. The fact that I happen to be a 21-year-old black man makes it even better in the sense that other kids sitting at home can see me doing that job and go, ‘I can either be president or I can be the host of a game show.’ God bless America.’

That was a joke. Brady is actually 37. But you get the point.

-- Maria Elena Fernandez