Wayne Brady Exposes Wild Side of Early “Let’s Make a Deal,” Says “Drunk or High” Contestants Were the Norm

Wayne Brady says the early contestants on “Let’s Make a Deal” were usually very lit.

In an exclusive chat with People at CBS Fest 2025, Brady dropped a surprising gem, sharing that some audience members would roll into tapings under the influence.

“In the early days of the show, for some reason, we had a lot of that,” Brady shared. “But not a lot recently.”

Brady, who’s been hosting since 2009, says today’s crowd is much more alert and in tune with the high-energy, improvisational vibe.

“They know that it’s like an improvisational show. They know the women might ask them to get up and sing… So I think people come lucid because they don’t want to look silly,” he explained.

His top contestant tip? Bring energy and pay close attention.

“Listen to me,” he emphasized. “It’s a lot…So I say, ‘Listen.’” And if you’re unsure? “Follow your gut…If you’re going to get zonked, you should get zonked on your own terms.”

Getting buzzed ahead of a game show appearance is seemingly a common occurrence. Last year, Drew Carey also shared that drunk guests on the “Price Is Right” were “not unusual.”