Mandel official for Tribute to the Troops

WWE issued a press release Tuesday officially announcing TV personality/comedian Howie Mandel as guest star for this year’s “Tribute to the Troops” special.

Mandel is tied to WWE’s TV partner, NBC Universal, through the popular “Deal or No Deal” game show and more recently as host of “America’s Got Talent.”

WWE is taping the annual military special Tuesday night in Jacksonville, Florida for military personnel and their families stationed at the Jacksonville Naval Air Station, Naval Station Mayport, and Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base.

WWE introduced Mandel as this year’s guest star in a promo that aired Monday night during Raw. The band “Train” is also scheduled to perform at the taping.

The special is scheduled to air Wednesday, December 23 at 8:00 p.m. EST on USA Network, capping off “WWE Week.”