New game show will air in pre-Christmas strip

LOS ANGELES -- NBC got an early Christmas present last year when "Deal or No Deal" became an instant success in mid-December. The network is hoping history will repeat itself this year.

On Monday, Dec. 18, NBC will unveil a new game show called "Identity," in which players can win cash based on how well they're able to read people. Like the launch of "Deal or No Deal," the new show will run for five consecutive nights at 8 p.m. ET.

The idea is simple enough: Host Penn Jillette will introduced players to 12 people and given a list of 12 pieces of identifying information. The players then has to match each trait -- which could range from profession to shoe size, NBC says -- to the person they think has that trait. Getting all 12 matches right brings a prize of half a million dollars.

"The deceptively creative concept of this show is both intriguing and addictive. It entertainingly demonstrates that our minds can often play tricks on us -- and the stakes are raised when there's a fortune to be won," says Craig Plestis, who oversees alternative programming for NBC. "In addition, this is the same week-long strategy of introducing a new game show that worked so well for us with 'Deal or No Deal.'"

"Identity" comes not from overseas, as "Deal" and NBC's other game show, "1 vs. 100" have, but from Reveille, the production company behind "The Office," "The Biggest Loser" and "Ugly Betty." Game-show veterans Andrew J. Golder ("Win Ben Stein's Money," "The Chair") and Tim Puntillo ("Friend or Foe") will executive produce the show with Reveille's Ben Silverman and H.T. Owens.