User:Daniel Benfield/Gambit Video Archive

Gambit was a fun game of quiz-and-Blackjack that's had its ups and downs over the years. The most recent revamp, Catch 21, got Merrill Heatter back on television but overall feels like a downgrade.

(Still not as bad as Dice Fever, though, which was Heatter's attempt to revamp High Rollers into a big-money game with no Q&A elements.)

CBS (1972-76)
CBS Daytime: September 4, 1972 - December 10, 1976 (taped August 1972 - December 1976)

The original, with a peppy theme and filled with prizes. Episodes from 1975-76 were put into a syndication package for the 1976-77 season.


 * August 9?, 1974 (Mike & Angela Ferraro {$1,535} vs. Karon & Bill Livingston, continued from last time {13-8 in the champs' favor} with Nancy & Jim Brown playing later {Gambit Jackpot: $1,500} and an amazing bonus game)
 * [One question is about "the current film Conrack" (released 3/27/74). At the end, Wink says "tomorrow" and Kenny Williams says "Stay tuned for Now You See It."]


 * August-December 1976 (Friday: Ivan & Elaine Williams {$2,897} vs. Paul & Laurel DeVore, continued from yesterday {champs have a 4 and half a $2,500 check} with Marilyn & Pat Nollan playing later {Gambit Jackpot: $1,000})
 * [One question is about the next Summer Olympics, in 1980; the '76 games ended August 1.]

...Skeeball? (1979)
Taped October 19, 1979 (at least two pilots)

Has the music and intro of the eventual revival, and the set isn't bad, but the format...the front game now has Hangman elements, while the bonus game utilizes a giant skeeball board. The cards seem to have been given a backseat to the new (and, unsurprisingly, not retained) elements that would've been fine were they not attached to Gambit.


 * Taped 10/19/79 (Pilot #2: ? & ? Van Sandt vs. ? & ?; opening only)

NBC (1980-81)
NBC Daytime: October 27, 1980 - November 27, 1981

Las Vegas Gambit, taped at the Tropicana in...well, guess. The revamp certainly felt more natural than when The Hollywood Squares moved to Vegas for the 1980-81 season, at least...

By December 18, 1980, getting a 21 at the Gambit Board was worth an extra $5,000. In March or so, the bonus game was changed from the Gambit Board to the Big Numbers from High Rollers.


 * October 24, 1980 (From the finale of The David Letterman Show, Harve Mann sings a song decimating this upcoming series; sure, the mentions of a "Living Deck" only actually applied to the pilot, but then Dave and friends wouldn't have near as much to mock :P)


 * 198? (? & ? Grippo vs. ? & ?; clip of the Grippos winning Game 1 with a 21...and the wife jumping in a way that her chair breaks!)

Gambit Board bonus round
 * December 18, 1980 (? & ? Roetemeyer {Champs} at Gambit Board, then vs. Frank & Pam Previte {Gambit Jackpot: $1,500} with Gary & Karen Bernstein playing later. Set decorated for Christmas, and "Stop or Go" is played! Original commercials and a Ticket/Contestant Plug, begins during first bonus round. [YouTube]
 * December 24, 1980 (Some fee plugs and full credits)


 * January 2, 1981 (William & Brenda Young vs. Ed & Blanche Haack {Gambit Jackpot: $2,000}, with Sam & Lire? Penn playing later {alternate copy})
 * [Ends with a promo for Oh God!, which aired 1/5/81.]


 * March 1981 (Jack & Janice Shira {Champs} at Gambit Board, then vs. Dick & Susan O'Neill {Gambit Jackpot: $2,500} with Mike & Mitzi Hinton playing later; begins at Wink's intro, ends during credits)
 * [One question notes that "a couple of weeks ago", Billy Carter sent off a check for $1,000 to the Libyan government. Another is about Ronald & Nancy Reagan being married for 29 years "this month" (they got married on 3/4/52).]
 * March 1981 (Dick & Susan O'Neill {$21,114!} at Gambit Board, then vs. Wayne & Teddy Pederson {Gambit Jackpot: $500}; has some bits of commercials, bad video during contestant interviews but great quality otherwise {alternate copy})
 * [Beverly Malden is still the dealer.]

Gambit Galaxy bonus game; Lee Menning likely becomes hostess at the same time, as well as the set redecorations (including the Gambit Jackpot display changing from brown to black)
 * November 27, 1981 (Finale/Singles Week II, Finale: Nessa & Leon {$3,500} vs. Ray & Janice, continued from yesterday at 1-0 in favor of the challengers {Gambit Jackpot: $500}, with a rematch done due to a mistake {alternate copies: #1; #2a, #2b, and #2c})

ABC (1990/2008)
Taped October 20, 1990

Not the first post-1981 revival attempt (Tom Campbell hosted a pilot in '85), but this one seems to have paved the way for the eventual Casino revival attempt which itself contributed to the eventual Catch 21.

This attempt had Bob Eubanks hosting, "single" players competing, drawn cards shown on screens behind the players, and a "Beat the Dealer" bonus round. Despite these changes, it's a shame this attempt didn't sell since it would've been a good companion to Match Game.


 * 1990? ("Runthrough" opening animation)
 * Taped 10/20/90 (Karla {$5,200} vs. Tony, with Jim playing later {although time runs out after Game 1}; has slate, but no credits)

ABC Daytime: 2004 (one-off special)

Okay, this is a bit of a stretch, but regardless...Gambit was revived as part of a special Game Show Reunion Week on Good Morning America, with Wink returning as host. No bonus game or Gambit Jackpot here, sadly.


 * August 20, 2008 (Jen & Steve Meglio vs. Onarag? & Marva? Shrivastava)

ITV (1975-85)
ITV (Anglia): July 3, 1975 - May 1985 (only partly networked until 1978)

Hosted by Fred Dinenage through 1983, with Tom O'Connor taking over from 1984-85.


 * 1975? (Opening)
 * Taped 9/15/81 (Season Premiere: Dennis & Sally Gallagher vs. Tony & Maureen Cox, with Dennis & Sue Hurley playing later and some pretty amazing events; includes slate)
 * [After the show is the first 3:09 of a timecoded Play Your Cards Right (Anne vs. Ian).]

Anglia (1995)
Anglia: 1995 (13 episodes)

Hosted by Gary Thompson, with Joanna Park as dealer.


 * 1995 (#8: David {Week 2} vs. Helen; unedited master footage, ends after Game 2)