Card Sharks (Host: Pat Bullard)
Who doesn't love screaming "higher" or "lower" at the TV screen and watching contestants win thousands of dollars in cash on the turn of a single card? Card Sharks is one of the most exciting game shows to ever hit the television screen because you truly never know what is going to happen. When an eight turns up, the tension builds as contestants have to make a quick decision on whether to call the next card or freeze, but when an ace comes up, pure joy from the contestant and a buzz from the audience is released. Let's not forget the "Money Cards" where a lot could be won or a lot could be lost.
There is nothing more thrilling to watch then a deuce coming up when a player has a few thousand dollars to bet, and there is nothing more gut-wrenching if a contestant bets all of it lower than a king and an ace shows it's face. However, while the 1978 to 1981 Jim Perry version, the 1986 to 1989 Bob Eubanks version and the 1986 to 1987 Bill Rafferty syndicated version were all stellar, the 2001 to 2002 Card Sharks reboot with host Pat Bullard was just atrocious.
The 21st century's first, and so far only, incarnation of Card Sharks definitely belongs on a list of the worst game show revivals of all-time. The new format created for the show had absolutely no connection with the previous versions besides the fact that the name of the show was the same. The producers probably just named it Card Sharks so fans of the 70s and 80s versions would feel nostalgic and compelled to watch. However, this was not Card Sharks by any means and should have been titled differently so the Card Sharks name would not have a cloud hanging over its head forever.
The game featured four total contestants, two of which played in the first heat and two played in the second heat. The goal was to win two games. Seven cards were in play during each game and the player in control tried to predict whether the next card was higher of lower. If incorrect, control passes to their opponent. When the sixth card is reached, if the contestant correctly predicts the seventh card, they win the game, but an incorrect prediction gives their opponent the game. The winners of both heats play one final seven card hand for the chance to go on to the "Money Cards" where a win of over $50,000 is possible.
The new format makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Technically, to win a game, all you have to do is call one card correctly or hope your opponent predicts wrong. The first five cards in the hand are completely pointless. Whoever thought this was going to be a great format was terribly mistaken. Oh, and let's not forget the ridiculous "Clip Chips." If a contestant wants to change a card, they can use one of their two "Clip Chips." The contestant is shown a video clip with a dilemma. If they can correctly predict the outcome of the dilemma, they can change the card. The video clips are supposed to take the place of the survey questions that the original version featured, but they were boring to watch and wasted way too much time just for a card change.
Pat Bullard was okay for what he had to work with but cannot even be compared with game show hosting legends like Jim Perry and Bob Eubanks. If any game show revival should be wiped from everyone's memory, it should be the 2001 version of Card Sharks. However, the funny thing is, most people probably don't even have a memory of this version anyway, so that's a plus.
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