Author Topic: Card Sharks - the big card game! (Read 5243 times)

Gameshowcrackers · « **on:** October 09, 2009, 07:26:57 AM »

There have been in all 5 incarnations of the big card game. The orginal ran on NBC in daytime from 1978 - 1981 for 850+ episodes and was hosted by Jim Perry with Gene Wood as his announcer (Charlie O', Johnny O and Jay Stewart all substituted for Wood on occasion). This is widely regarded as the most successful version of the series. However, a revival, equal in success to the original ran on CBS from 1986 - 1989 with Bob Eubanks as the emcee; Gene Wood was once again the announcer (with Bob Hilton, Charlie O and Johnny Gilbert all filling in on occasion). In the fall of 1986 a syndicated version which ran for one season was also added to the schedules and was fronted by Bill Rafferty who had hosted Every Second Counts and would go on to front the second version of Blockbusters. Wood and Hilton also did the announcing on this version. An unsuccessful shortlived version also ran in syndication in 2001 fronted by Pat Bullard with future Newleywed emcee, Gary Kroeger providing the voice behind the mic. Then as part of the CBS Gameshow Marathon series, a special one off episode based on the orignial NBC version was aired with former chat show queeen, Ricki Lake doing the hosting duties and The Price is Right's Rich Fields serving as announcer.

What was your favorite version of this classic game show. Who were the best hosts and announcers?

Here's how I'd rate the 5 different versions in order of greatness

1. Jim Perry (NBC) version - this was the original and the BEST
2. Bill Rafferty (synd)
3. Bob Eubanks CBS daytime
4. Game Show Marathon version
5. Pat Bullard version.

The best host IMO was JIM PERRY followed by BILL RAFFERTY, BOB EUBANKS, then PAT BULLARD and finally RICKI LAKE.

The best announcer was GENE WOOD followed by JOHNNY GILBERT, then CHARLIE O'DONNELL, then BOB HILTON, then RICH FIELDS and finally JOHNNY OLSON.

Have your say.......................

dale_grass · « **Reply #1 on:** October 09, 2009, 09:47:32 AM »

[quote name=\'Gameshowcrackers\' post=\'228115\' date=\'Oct 9 2009, 06:26 AM\']1. Jim Perry (NBC) version - this was the original and the BEST
2. Bill Rafferty (synd)
3. Bob Eubanks CBS daytime
4. Game Show Marathon version
5. Pat Bullard version.

The best host IMO was JIM PERRY followed by BILL RAFFERTY, BOB EUBANKS, then PAT BULLARD and finally RICKI LAKE.

The best announcer was GENE WOOD followed by JOHNNY GILBERT, then CHARLIE O'DONNELL, then BOB HILTON, then RICH FIELDS and finally JOHNNY OLSON.[/quote]
Agree with all (I'd rather watch Rafferty than Ewww-banks any day) except announcers. There's something about Bob Hilton that makes me want to punch him. I'd go Wood-Olson-Gilbert-O'Donnell-Hilton-Fields.

BrandonFG · « **Reply #2 on:** October 09, 2009, 09:57:50 AM »

I'm forever partial to the 80s version, as that's one of my earliest television memories. Even though it seems a bit out of place for a game show, the 80s theme song also holds a higher spot on my list.

1. Eubanks/Rafferty
2. Perry
3. GSM
4. ~~CaSiNO~~ Bullard

SteveR · « **Reply #3 on:** October 09, 2009, 07:35:55 PM »

The original Jim Perry version is for me, by far, the best. His hosting has a lot to do with that.

One place where the Eubanks/Rafferty version is slightly better is the Money Cards. They got it to its best version with the ability to change one card at any place on each line, the $400 bump for the second line (making a perfect game worth $32,000) and the push rule. (Well, jokers that deal with the car game, not so much)

Jeremy Nelson · « **Reply #4 on:** October 09, 2009, 07:51:09 PM »

[quote name=\'SteveR\' post=\'228143\' date=\'Oct 9 2009, 06:35 PM\']The original Jim Perry version is for me, by far, the best. His hosting has a lot to do with that.

One place where the Eubanks/Rafferty version is slightly better is the Money Cards.[/quote]
I agree that Jim Perry's had a lot to do with hosting. Look at the same game 25 years later with Ricki Lake, and it just seemed...wrong. Honestly, I was scratching my head as to why Ricki hosted, and Todd Newton, who actually had game show hosting experience, was relegated to the prize van.

I was a fan of the prize cards from the Rafferty version. As a matter of fact, I put Rafferty's version above Eubanks because of that and the fact that Rafferty was a better host overall.

Chief-O · « **Reply #5 on:** October 09, 2009, 09:13:44 PM »

[quote name=\'rollercoaster87\' post=\'228145\' date=\'Oct 9 2009, 06:51 PM\']As a matter of fact, I put Rafferty's version above Eubanks because of that and the fact that Rafferty was a better host overall.[/quote]

QFT. I loved watching his buildups just before a car win. [see here]

Darion Blackwood Daniel · « **Reply #6 on:** October 09, 2009, 10:43:19 PM »

This is my ranking.

1. Jim Perry (NBC) version - this was the original and the BEST
2. Bob Eubanks CBS daytime
3. Bill Rafferty (synd)
4. Pat Bullard version.
5. Game Show Marathon version

Since there was only one announcer I heard, it had to be Gene that was the best.

comicus · « **Reply #7 on:** October 10, 2009, 12:39:07 AM »

[quote name=\'Chief-O\' post=\'228150\' date=\'Oct 9 2009, 09:13 PM\'][quote name=\'rollercoaster87\' post=\'228145\' date=\'Oct 9 2009, 06:51 PM\']As a matter of fact, I put Rafferty's version above Eubanks because of that and the fact that Rafferty was a better host overall.[/quote]

QFT. I loved watching his buildups just before a car win. [see here]
[/quote]

Rafferty's looking good in his new gig...

Craig Karlberg · « **Reply #8 on:** October 10, 2009, 03:45:50 AM »

Here's my rankings:

1. NBC original version(Jim Perry makes it happen always)
2. Rafferty version(synd) because I like the idea of mixing in prize cards in the deck.
3. Eubanks(CBS)
4. GSM
5. CS'01-the less said, the better.

As for host & announcer, gotta go with Perry & Wood respectively from the original.

Jimmy Owen · « **Reply #9 on:** October 10, 2009, 07:41:37 AM »

At the risk of being declared all-time champ on "Masters of the Obvious," when a show is revived under the same name, it means the original was great. NBC Card Sharks was the best.

Game Show Man · « **Reply #10 on:** October 10, 2009, 10:53:24 PM »

My rankings pretty much mirror everyone else, although:

-Perry's hosting used to scare the crap out of me when I was a kid, especially during Money Cards. When he yelled after a big win, it sent me under the nearest table. Thank God for Sale of the Century (in more ways than one). Any future hosts of CS would do well to watch Big Jim get down and at least in part try to pattern their running of the cards after him.
-I actually think CS was Bob Eubanks' absolute best work. He was (and still is) the only thing that ever made NG watchable, and with him, watching the CBS show was like going to a fun party everyday. I also really liked the alternate question types and the revised Money Cards.
-Rafferty goes not get enough credit for any of his work methinks.
-I attended the taping of the GSM show (they even cut to a shot of me after...what the hell was that dumb blonde's name, anyhow...made a dumb play. "I told you to FREEZE, BEEOTCH!) and thought Ricki actually did a fair job. I still would rather have had Todd-o, myself.

TLEberle · « **Reply #11 on:** October 10, 2009, 11:11:09 PM »

[quote name=\'Game Show Man\' post=\'228240\' date=\'Oct 10 2009, 07:53 PM\']-I actually think CS was Bob Eubanks' absolute best work. He was (and still is) the only thing that ever made NG watchable, and with him, watching the CBS show was like going to a fun party everyday. I also really liked the alternate question types and the revised Money Cards.[/quote] Really? I just don't see it. What I saw was Bob trying to get himself over at every opportunity rather than allowing the contestants to shine.

Quote

-Rafferty goes not get enough credit for any of his work methinks.

Of all the hosts of the 1980s, I don't think you could have a truer statement by replacing the name "Bill Rafferty" with anyone else.

Ian Wallis · « **Reply #12 on:** October 12, 2009, 12:42:53 PM »

My rankings:

1. CBS Eubanks version
2. NBC Perry version
3. Syndicated Rafferty version
4. '01 version

I haven't included the Game Show Marathon because that was a one-time only airing.

JMFabiano · « **Reply #13 on:** October 12, 2009, 01:11:56 PM »

The syndicated version in 1982 that introduced the survey questions to the show! And was distributed by Firestone Television! Oops, sorry...visiting Hal Erickson's reality.

I like all the "traditional" versions (any from 1978-1989), but I have to give the edge to the Perry version. Jim's sense of drama with card turns put it over for me...he wasn't shabby either in the wit department when it came to reading and commenting on the survey questions.

Rafferty WAS underrated. Eubanks was no slouch though (he just breezed through the card turning however: "Is it...yeah! (rinse and repeat)")

The less said about Bullard the better. Why won't I say more? CAUSE I'M A NICE GUY!

GSM, well, they brought back the classic format(s)...so as an apology for 2001, I appreciate that.

Where would Brucie and Play Your Cards Right fit in the rankings, if we can count that?

TimK2003 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 12, 2009, 04:19:28 PM »

[quote name=\'JMFabiano\' post=\'228361\' date=\'Oct 12 2009, 01:11 PM\']The syndicated version in 1982 that introduced the survey questions to the show! And was distributed by Firestone Television! Oops, sorry...visiting Hal Erickson's reality.

I like all the "traditional" versions (any from 1978-1989), but I have to give the edge to the Perry version. Jim's sense of drama with card turns put it over for me...he wasn't shabby either in the wit department when it came to reading and commenting on the survey questions.

Rafferty WAS underrated. Eubanks was no slouch though (he just breezed through the card turning however: "Is it...yeah! (rinse and repeat)")

The less said about Bullard the better. Why won't I say more? CAUSE I'M A NICE GUY!

GSM, well, they brought back the classic format(s)...so as an apology for 2001, I appreciate that.

Where would Brucie and Play Your Cards Right fit in the rankings, if we can count that?[/quote]

The NBC version was the best by far...The CBS version never sat with me too well, especially within the run when they added:

1) The Car Game (If you ran the Money Cards for $32K, winning a $10K car is a little lackluster).
2) The Audience Survey (I think having a "live" survey group of 10 slowed things down, even if you can see who was asked the question).
3) The Educated Guesses (The survey questions polling 100 people was fine -- no need to guess mileage, or money in the thousands or millions).
4) The Push Rule. (Yeah, I'd probably want it in place if I had played, but w/out the push rule, it means that there is NO guarantee of a win in the Money Cards Big Bet line, for example, and that the element of risk is always in place).