After more than four years on the air, NBC's hit prime-time game show "Deal or No Deal" has a million-dollar winner!

No one is happier for that as yet unidentified person -- except their family -- than the series' host Howie Mandel, who says, "It legitimizes the game for a lot of viewers [who now realize]: You can walk out with the top prize."

Howie says that when people win big money -- not just the $1 million prize: "You can hear our crew screaming in the background. We are rooting for everyone who gets on that show. And there's nothing more thrilling than to see someone walk away with a life-changing amount of money."

On Monday, September 8, "Deal or No Deal" launches in national syndication with just a few changes to the show. Howie, of course, will still host, but the show will be a half-hour instead of an hour and there will be 22 contestants holding suitcases at the beginning instead of the gorgeous gals. Then, a number will be selected from 1 to 22 and that contestant will get to play the game -- and the suitcase models will return..

Then, on September 21, Howie will be one of the hosts of the "60th Primetime Emmys," as well as a nominee in the new category: Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality -- Competition Program.

He jokes, "I was telling somebody yesterday, I feel like a rap artist in this reality competition. When I used to watch the Grammy's and the Billboard Awards, and they started providing categories for the rap artists they said, 'We're finally getting recognized.' We're finally getting recognized. So we are the rap artists of television in this category and that's why I'd like to be referred to from this point on as MC Howie."