Card Sharks CBS/Syndie ‘86 set

[Card Shark]

In comparing the sets of NBC CS vs. 1986, had an odd questions about the respective sets. Why, when it was revived in ‘86, wasn’t the set similar? The set on the perry version was glitzy, and the deck of cards walls gave a casino-themed feel. How did they go from that to red aces right and left when the show was revived? I know everyone has their opinions and this is just that. But it seemed boring. Is there anyone on here who was connected/worked for Goodson-Todman, etc., that can provide insight? Was it a drastic change because of a difference in the style of the decade? A budgetary reason? A combo?

[Jeremy Nelson]

In comparing the sets of NBC CS vs. 1986, had an odd questions about the respective sets. Why, when it was revived in ‘86, wasn’t the set similar? The set on the perry version was glitzy, and the deck of cards walls gave a casino-themed feel.

I think it can be simply summed up by this: it was a different time.

Sets, like fashion, change with the times. Think about how different Wheel of Fortune's look and feel is in 1980 vs 1988. Using the '78 Card Sharks set in '86 sutomatically makes the show feel somewhat dated.

[tyshaun1]

I think it can be simply summed up by this: it was a different time.

Sets, like fashion, change with the times. Think about how different Wheel of Fortune's look and feel is in 1980 vs 1988. Using the '78 Card Sharks set in '86 sutomatically makes the show feel somewhat dated.

And two different set designers too. Goodson's team seemed to be going minimalist by this point, with the Body Language set being even more stark.

[PYLdude]

I think it can be simply summed up by this: it was a different time.

Sets, like fashion, change with the times. Think about how different Wheel of Fortune's look and feel is in 1980 vs 1988. Using the '78 Card Sharks set in '86 sutomatically makes the show feel somewhat dated.

And two different set designers too. Goodson's team seemed to be going minimalist by this point, with the Body Language set being even more stark.

Or, if you want to make a comparison of twin shows, look at the Passwords of the era. Password Plus? Giant sign, bands of color everywhere, actual displays for Alphabetics, and unintentional swastikas everywhere (don't look at me, that's how they were once described). Super Password? Very little signage, lots of white angled pieces, a TV screen for The Endgame.

[whewfan]

Not only different designers, but different networks... perhaps CBS didn't have the technology to have the more elaborate mechanical set of the original Card Sharks. If anything, Goodson had enough confidence in his games that the game was the star of the show, not its set with several moving parts and lights.

[chrisholland03]

I would say studio and storage space are more likely reasons than technical capabilities. 

[Jeremy Nelson]

Not only different designers, but different networks... perhaps CBS didn't have the technology to have the more elaborate mechanical set of the original Card Sharks.

I'd argue against this, only because that's like speculating that Samsung, in 2020, is having trouble finding a way to fit the technology of an iPhone 5 into one of their flagship phones. The Card Sharks '78 set was a lot of chase lights and mechanical pieces on tracks, neither of which represents a huge techological leap of that time, at least to my knowledge.

[urbanpreppie05]

TBH, I always liked the CBS set better, but the NBC set has the better logo.

The ABC set is amazing...i wish we could see it more in action.

[Neumms]

I agree that the CBS Card Sharks set was dull. I wonder if budget was an issue. If Goodson got CBS to buy Card Sharks to make up for increased expenses on TPIR, it'd follow they'd cut a few corners. The red aces were a bad stylistic decision besides.

Password Plus had a lame set. Match Game's '78 set was designed around the same time and had way more style. Password All-Stars looked much hipper despite it being older.

[Mr. Armadillo]

Not only different designers, but different networks... perhaps CBS didn't have the technology to have the more elaborate mechanical set of the original Card Sharks.

I'd argue against this, only because that's like speculating that Samsung, in 2020, is having trouble finding a way to fit the technology of an iPhone 5 into one of their flagship phones.

Didn't the iPhone 5 have a headphone jack?

[Jeremy Nelson]

I agree that the CBS Card Sharks set was dull. I wonder if budget was an issue. If Goodson got CBS to buy Card Sharks to make up for increased expenses on TPIR, it'd follow they'd cut a few corners. The red aces were a bad stylistic decision besides.

IMO, Card Sharks has never had an outstanding set, because every set has had wasted empty space. That being said, I thought the '86 version had the most well designed set pieces of any version.

Password Plus had a lame set. Match Game's '78 set was designed around the same time and had way more style.

I thought MG'78 had the worst set of any version. I understand wanting to update their set because it surely was dated. But the orange shag clashed with the redesigned set pieces and made everything look worse.

[BrandonFG]

I think it can be simply summed up by this: it was a different time.

Sets, like fashion, change with the times. Think about how different Wheel of Fortune's look and feel is in 1980 vs 1988. Using the '78 Card Sharks set in '86 sutomatically makes the show feel somewhat dated.

And two different set designers too. Goodson's team seemed to be going minimalist by this point, with the Body Language set being even more stark.

I'd go with this. But by 1986, it seems a lot of sets got away from the glitziness from the 70s.

Although I do agree there was a lot of dead space on the Eubanks set, I actually liked the Aces, esp. when they tilted for the Money Cards. They definitely needed something for the empty space that eventually housed the car.

[mystery7]

I thought MG'78 had the worst set of any version. I understand wanting to update their set because it surely was dated. But the orange shag clashed with the redesigned set pieces and made everything look worse.

I remember Brett Somers making a crack about the updated set looking like a Confederate flag. It's almost like James Agazzi intended to do a full redesign but something came up along the way - perhaps the Card Sharks set?

[tvwxman]

See now i'm kinda surprised by this - I always thought the NBC Card Sharks set was well valued as one of the best sets....ever. To me, it still is.

CBS was lacking - just plain. By then, was the GT motif less on turntables and more on swinging pieces into view (MG/HS, Blockbusters 87, Classic C)....

[Stackertosh]

I always like the CBS set it was bright and simple.

The ABC version set is just too large it has a Deal or no Deal feeling to it.