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Jennifer Larson
Times Staff Writer
Katie Henslin of Forest Lake enjoys watching the popular NBC game show Deal or No Deal but had never imagined that she would be a contestant vying for $1 million.
A youth pastor at Willowbrook Community Church for eight years, Henslin’s taped segment will air at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13. To find out if she takes home the top prize, watch the conclusion at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 18. The show Henslin will appear on is part of the Million Dollar Mission with $13 million at stake.
It all started when Henslin’s aunt, Deb, auditioned to be a contestant on Dec. 8, 2007 at Denny Hecker’s Hyundai of Inver Grove Heights. After standing in line for seven hours, Deb got a call back.
She rounded up 10 “supporters” – family and friends who cheer the contestant on during the game. One of them was Henslin. At the time, a show producer approached her about auditioning to be a contestant too.
“I was totally shocked,” Henslin said, of the chance. “I watch it but I’m not obsessive. I don’t plan everything around it.”
Her audition tape filmed in a meeting room at the downtown Radisson Hotel in Minneapolis was sent to the shows executive producers. She was told that it could be as early as one month before they call or even as much as a year and a half later.
In Deal or No Deal, contestants are shown 26 briefcases, each with a hidden value ranging from 1 cent to $1 million. One is chosen by the player, who then starts selecting others to be opened. As the values in each case are shown, the chances of winning the top prize depend on what the remaining unopened briefcases hold.
For example, pick one of the $1 million cases and that amount is no longer winnable. The banker offers players buyouts tied to the value of the remaining unopened cases. If a player rejects the offers and continues without being eliminated, eventually it comes down to two briefcases – the one set aside at the start and the last of the remaining 25. If a player refuses the buyout, the player’s briefcase is opened and they pocket what’s inside.
“I like it more since I’ve been there,” Henslin said.
Surprise, surprise
Little did Henslin know that her late night call at 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 5 was just what she had been hoping for. A co-executive producer was on the other end, telling Henslin she needed to be on a plane with her supporters bound for Los Angeles within the next 24 hours.
“I had been praying that day,” Henslin said, “‘Let something happen with this Deal or No Deal. It would be a great opportunity for my family.”’
Shortly after, Nina, another producer of the show, reached Henslin to get a crash course in Katie 101. Even though she had answered questions on the application, it didn’t provide enough insight into Henslin’s fun-loving personality.
“She was one of the best contestants,” said Nina, during Henslin’s interview with the Times.
Not sleeping a wink, she awoke on Feb. 6 with minutes to spare before catching a flight to California. Henslin was in the hairstylists chair at Roxy’s Total Image when Nina called to inform her that the plane was departing from Minnesota at 11:30 a.m.
Realizing there was no time to style or have her hair colored, Henslin booked it home to pack clothes for herself, husband Peter and their 18 month old daughter, Maja.
However, they missed the flight and were booked on a 2 p.m. flight. Henslin was accompanied by her parents and brother, Peter, Maja, aunt Deb, her cousin Anna from Ohio as well as Willowbrook Community Church Lead Pastor Brad Reis.
On set
Exhausted from all the excitement of the past few days, the group hung out at the hotel in LA that night. The following morning on Feb. 7, they were whisked away to the studio where Henslin and all her supporters received full wardrobe, hair and make-up.
Afterwards, they held a mock game so Henslin and team would know what to expect. There was also a meeting with the show’s lawyers to review and sign the confidentiality contract.
She said they shot five hours of footage in front of a live audience for just an hour episode. Henslin didn’t see Deal or No Deal host Howie Mandel until she was on stage with him during the game.
Going into it, Henslin said she had no plan of action. It just came to her as she went.
“My only strategy was to win,” Henslin said, noting she is super competitive. For her, it wasn’t the chance of winning $1 million that made it worthwhile.
“It was about the experience,” she said, “It was my family’s funniest day ever.”
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