Marble Falls High School choir director wins $69,000 on 'Deal or No Deal'

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Marble Falls High School choir director Bryce Gage came home from his appearance on CNBC's “Deal or No Deal” with an additional $69,000 and a new 55-inch flat-screen TV he won on the hit game show — a nice haul for his time with host Howie Mandel. He also can say he tied an NBA basketball player in a shooting contest.

The biggest prizes, however, are what Gage will receive from his adopted hometown of the past 13 years. In honor of his appearance on TV and being an ambassador of goodwill for the community, the city of Marble Falls will put up a sign recognizing Gage as “Mr. Marble Falls.”

Bill's Burgers will name a well-done cheeseburger with grilled onions after him. And Gage will have his own one-man show at the Uptown Art House called “An Evening With Bryce Gage.”

Plus, a visibly blown away Gage got a few peeks at his choir students and colleagues cheering him on as they watched his every move via satellite feed from Max Copeland Gymnasium at Marble Falls High School.

He and his family were also part of a commercial for Universal Studios Orlando which showed them drinking butterbeer at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

As Gage told Mandel at one point during the episode, after seeing what all he has gained from “the greatest town in the world,” it really didn't matter to him what happened with the “banker,” the show's shadowy villain who tries to offer contestants a deal based on a percentage of money left in play after certain denominations have been eliminated.

“Whatever offer she makes, I've won,” Gage said.

His wife of 10 years and fellow teacher, Shannon, told Mandel, “No matter what happens here tonight, he is still my million dolar man.”

Early in the game, the banker tried to entice Gage by offering to pay for 25 of his choir students to travel to London for an all-expenses paid trip and a private performance before the Queen. It turned out the offer was to perform at a Dairy Queen in London, Arkansas, after a ten-hour bus ride from Marble Falls.

Later, she offered him a chance to win a 55-inch color TV by taking on Jonathan Isaac of the Orlando Magic in a basketball shooting contest, which Gage eagerly accepted. Both Gage and the 6-10 Isaac — who averages 7.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game — managed to hit a single basket in 30 seconds, thus creating a tie, which led Howie to announce both men would get new TVs.

Gage financially made a “bad deal” at the end of the game as he had the chance to win $500,000 — the amount that ended up being in his Case 2, which he chose for the number of daughters he has. Had he not accepted the banker's offer, the next cases he eliminated would have driven the offer up to $125,000, then $200,000 and then $349,000 with two cases left. However, Gage seemed content with his winnings, which he said could pay off a third of his mortgage, allowing him to think about an earlier retirement down the road.

Gage's eagerly anticipated episode premiered at 8 p.m. Wednesday on CNBC. Ironically, Gage could not watch it the same time it aired as he and his students were in a final dress rehearsal for the musical, “Newsies,” which opened Thursday night and continues through Sunday at Marble Falls High School.