No episode aired on January 1 due to coverage of the Cotton Bowl Parade.
Charlie O'Donnell is at the mic for the first three weeks of 1988. He will have served five weeks of episodes filling in for Gene Wood. It could be implied that Gene may have been in a hospital during these tapings.
The educated guess reveals are seen without a pastel green border and are still in a bold Helvetica font. This would only be for one more week, and further proves that these next three weeks of episodes were taped before the two Christmas-themed Young People's Weeks.
Audience Polling Group January 4-8: 10 Men who Placed Personal Ads in a Newspaper
Featured car: Dodge Shadow ($8,901)
Ep. #
CBS Airdate
Red Player (Champ)
Blue Player (Challenger)
Notes
498
1/4/1988
Ernie
LaRue
First show of 1988, with no mention on air.
Match between Ernie vs. LaRue continues.
Ernie defeats LaRue, plays the Money Cards again, and wins $##,###.
Gloria is now Ernie's new challenger. Match continues on Tuesday.
Gloria Tinsley of Fayetteville GA's first show. She won $14k on Wheel of Fortune on March 17, 1986, a jukebox on The Price is Right on January 30, 1995 and wrote a book entitled Life's a Game Show in 1996 chronicling her family's game show experiences including Card Sharks.
499
1/5/1988
Ernie
Gloria
At the start of the show, Gloria leads the match 1-0.
Heading into the first commercial break, Gloria defeats Ernie, who leaves with $16,100.
Gloria wins $5,000 on her first trip to the Money Cards, but loses the car thanks to an extreme number setup.
In a new match, Gloria's new challenger is Deborah.
Gloria defeats Deborah at the end of the show, and will start Wednesday's show at the Money Cards.
500
1/6/1988
Gloria
Bob
Taped on November 23, 1987.
Show starts with Gloria playing her second Money Cards, where she wins $9,600 with a lot of deuces revealed, plus a car (total: $24,101)
Gloria's new challenger is Bob Dillon. Bob Eubanks never made a reference to singer Bob Dylan.
Gloria defeats Bob, wins another $1,800 on the Money Cards, but does not win another new car (total: $26,101)
501
1/7/1988
Gloria
Michael
Bob plugs next week's audience polling group consisting of 10 female deputies from the San Bernadino County Sheriff's Department.
Show starts with a brand new match with Gloria vs. new challenger Michael.
Michael defeats Gloria, wins $3,800 on the Money Cards, and wins a new car which he had a hard time trying to fit into! (total: $13,001)
502
1/8/1988
Michael
Julie
Michael starts a new match with new opponent, Julie, at the start of the show.
Julie defeats Michael, and busts on the Money Cards for the first time in quite a while, and does not win the car either despite possessing two jokers (total: $200)
Julie faces new challenger Katy.
Match between Julie and Katy continues on the next program.
Audience Polling Group January 11-15: 10 Female Deputies from the San Bernadino County Sheriff's Department
Featured car: Jeep Wrangler ($x,xxx)
Ep. #
CBS Airdate
Red Player (Champ)
Blue Player (Challenger)
Notes
503
1/11/1988
Julie
Katy
Match between Julie vs. Katy continues.
Educated guess answer reveal now has a border outline. Font is still Helvetica.
Katy defeats Julie, wins $2,400 on the Money Cards, and does not win the car.
Bob mentions his grandchild, Tyler Ann, being born the night before this episode aired. This might not have been true, since this episode was most likely taped by December 1987, and it is very common that a baby is not born on their due date.
504
1/12/1988
Katy
Tim
New match between Katy vs. Tim starts off the show.
As of this episode, educated guess answers appear in a Clarendon-style font.
Katy defeats Tim, wins $2,700 on the Money Cards, takes two Jokers to the car game and loses the car anyway. (total: $5,500)
505
1/13/1988
Katy
Mo
Show starts at the beginning of a new match between Katy vs. Mo.
Mo defeats Katy and will meet a new challenger on the next program.
506
1/14/1988
Mo
Joe
Bob plugs next week's audience polling group consisting of 10 engaged men.
Joe defeats Mo.
Joe meet his brand-new opponent Tamara.
Match between Joe and Tamara continues on the next program.
507
1/15/1988
Joe
Tamara
Joe defeats Tamara.
Joe meet his new opponent Jillian.
Jillian defeats Joe and will play the Money Cards on the next program.
Audience Polling Group January 18-22: 10 Engaged Men
Featured car: Subaru DL ($9,126)
Ep. #
CBS Airdate
Red Player (Champ)
Blue Player (Challenger)
Notes
508
1/18/1988
Jillian
Scotty
Jillian wins $4,400 on the Money Cards at the start of the show, but does not win the car.
New challenger Scotty is from Glasgow, Scotland.
Scotty defeats Jillian at the end of the show and will play the Money Cards at the top of the next show.
509
1/19/1988
Scotty
Lisa
Supposedly aired on GSN in early 2007 during a Saturday night mini-marathon.
Show starts with Scotty playing the Money Cards.
Scotty meets new challenger Lisa.
Lisa defeats Scotty.
In the Money Cards, Lisa goes double all the way until the Big Bet row, and ends up winning $24,000. The same feat occurred to a female contestant in January 1986. The card Lisa chose not to change was an ace, and had she chosen the ace, she could have won the maximum $32,000. Unfortunately, she'll play for the car on the next show..
510
1/20/1988
Lisa
Fran
Lisa plays for the car at the start of the show, and loses.
In the same first segment, a new match with Lisa vs. Fran begins.
Fran defeats Lisa, busts on the Money Cards and loses the car.
Fran's new challenger is Tim.
Match between Fran and Tim continues on the next program.
511
1/21/1988
Fran
Tim
Bob plugs next week's audience polling group consisting of 10 women who divorced their husbands and later remarried them.
The episode begins midway through the first round.
Fran defeats Tim, wins $12,150 on the Money Cards but does not win the car.
Fran meets new challenger Jeff.
Fran foolishly chooses "zero" as her answer to the question "how many engaged men would marry their fiancée if they discovered they didn't want children?"
Jeff defeats Fran and will play the Money Cards on the next program.
512
1/22/1988
Jeff
Geri
Show starts with Jeff playing the Money Cards, where he wins $600 thanks to rotten luck, and he does not win the car. (total: $800)
Jeff's new challenger is Geri.
Jeff defeats Geri, wins another $5,200 on the Money Cards, and after the commercial break, Jeff wins a car! (total: $15,326)
Jeff's new challenger is now Linda. Two questions are asked before the show ended.
NOTE: It was likely after the January 25, 1988 episode is taped that the two Young People's Weeks aired from December 21 to 31, 1987 were taped. The episode numbering should be back on track as of January 25, 1988.
Gene Wood is likely back at the mic by this point.
Audience Polling Group January 25-29: 10 Women Who Divorced Their Husbands and Later Re-married Them
Featured car: Volkswagen Cabriolet ($16,500)
Ep. #
CBS Airdate
Red Player (Champ)
Blue Player (Challenger)
Notes
521
1/25/1988
Jeff
Linda
Linda defeats Jeff and will meet a new challenger on the next program.
522
1/26/1988
Linda
Lance
Lance defeats Linda and will meet a new challenger on the next program.
523
1/27/1988
Lance
Veronica
Veronica defeats Lance and will play the Money Cards on the next program.
524
1/28/1988
Veronica
Tom
Bob plugs next week's audience polling group consisting of 10 Los Angeles County firefighters.
Show starts with Veronica playing the Money Cards.
Veronica's new challenger is Tom.
Veronica defeats Tom and will meet a new challenger on the next program.
Bob plugs next week's audience polling group consisting of 10 teenage boys going steady.
Karen defeats Marv and will meet a new challenger on the next program.
545
2/26/1988
Karen
Tom
Tom defeats Karen and meets new challenger Florence.
Florence defeats Tom and will meet a new challenger on the next program.
Charlie O'Donnell fills in for Gene Wood from February 29 to March 11.
Audience Polling Group February 29-March 4: 10 Teenage Boys Going Steady
Ep. #
CBS Airdate
Red Player (Champ)
Blue Player (Challenger)
Notes
546
2/29/1988
Florence
Debbie
New sudden death tiebreaker game debuts.
Debbie defeats Florence and will meet a new challenger on the next program.
March[]
Audience Polling Group February 29-March 4: 10 Teenage Boys Going Steady
Ep. #
CBS Airdate
Red Player (Champ)
Blue Player (Challenger)
Notes
547
3/1/1988
Debbie
Jim
No Money Cards and car game this episode due to a lengthy match.
As time runs out, Debbie remains the champion and will play the Money Cards on the next program.
548
3/2/1988
Debbie
Steve
Show kicks off with Debbie playing the Money Cards, where she wins $14,800, but she does not win the car (total: $15,000)
During a new match against opponent Steve, Debbie wins a $500 exact guess bonus.
Match between Debbie and Steve continues on the next program.
549
3/3/1988
Debbie
Steve
Bob plugs next week's audience polling group consisting of 10 flight attendants.
Debbie defeats Steve, wins $2,400 on the Money Cards but doesn't win a car (total: $17,600)
New challenger Kriss is Debbie's new opponent.
Kriss wins a $100 exact guess bonus on an audience poll question.
Debbie defeats Kriss as time runs out and will play the Money Cards on the next program.
550
3/4/1988
Debbie
Gary
Debbie wins $6,000 on the Money Cards and wins a car (total: $##,###).
New match with Debbie facing Gary begins.
Debbie defeats Gary and becomes a five-time champion.
Debbie wins another $4,600 on her final Money Cards and will play for the car one last time on Monday.
Audience Polling Group March 7-11: 10 Flight Attendants
Ep. #
CBS Airdate
Red Player (Champ)
Blue Player (Challenger)
Notes
551
3/7/1988
Beth
Gladys
Debbie does not win the car on her final attempt and retires with $41,709.
New match with two new challengers - Beth and Gladys - begins.
Beth defeats Gladys (who won $100), wins $7,000 on the Money Cards and wins a car (total: $16,715); she will meet a new challenger on the next program.
552
3/8/1988
Beth
Jim
New match between Beth and opponent Jim begins.
Beth defeats Jim, wins $1,100 on the Money Cards but doesn't win a car (total: $18,015); she will meet a new challenger on the next program.
553
3/9/1988
Beth
Jim
Jim is a different contestant than on yesterday's show.
Beth defeats Jim and will meet a challenger on the next program.
554
3/10/1988
Beth
Toni
Bob plugs next week's audience polling group consisting of 10 men married less than one year.
Beth defeats Toni and will meet a new challenger on the next program.
555
3/11/1988
Beth
Gwendolyn
Audience Polling Group March 14-18: 10 Men Married Less Than One Year
Ep. #
CBS Airdate
Red Player (Champ)
Blue Player (Challenger)
Notes
556
3/14/1988
557
3/15/1988
558
3/16/1988
559
3/17/1988
Bob plugs next week's audience polling group consisting of 10 self-made millionaires.
560
3/18/1988
Audience Polling Group March 21-25: 10 Self-Made Millionaires
Ep. #
CBS Airdate
Red Player (Champ)
Blue Player (Challenger)
Notes
561
3/21/1988
Teri
Audu
Show starts in the middle of Game 2.
Teri defeats Audu.
Teri wins $4,700 on the Money Cards, but doesn't win the car. (Total: $8,200)
Charles is Teri's new challenger.
562
3/22/1988
Teri
Charles
Show starts in the middle of Game 2.
Charles defeats Teri, who leaves with $8,400.
Charles only wins $300 on the Money Cards, and doesn't win the car.(Total: $500)
Isabel is Charles' new challenger.
563
3/23/1988
Charles
Isabel
Show starts at the beginning of Game 2.
Isabel defeats Charles, who leaves with $600.
Isabel wins $2,100 on the Money Cards, and wins a car. (Total: $14,091)
Carolyn is Isabel's new challenger.
564
3/24/1988
Isabel
Carolyn
Show starts at the beginning of Game 2.
Bob plugs next week's audience polling group consisting of 10 men married at least 50 years.
Carolyn defeats Isabel, who leaves with $14,091.
Carolyn wins $4,750 on the Money Cards, but doesn't win the car. (Total: $4,950)
Clutch is Carolyn's new challenger.
565
3/25/1988
Carolyn
Clutch
Show starts at Game 1's Sudden Death question.
Carolyn defeats Clutch.
Carolyn wins $5,400 on the Money Cards, but doesn't win the car. (Total: $10,550)
Michael is Carolyn's new challenger. Their match would continue on the Monday following Young People's Week.
Young People's Week XII runs from March 28 to April 1.
NOTE: Although Nicholas Mooneyhan does not show any information on his episode guide (which was virtually inactive since around July 2002) regarding the latter episodes of the upcoming Young People's Week, YouTube user thewhammy83 did upload the latter three episodes from that week in 2011, which allowed an opportunity to fill in the information that Mr. Mooneyhan was unable to fill in his episode guide.
Audience Polling Group March 28-April 1: 10 Men Married At Least 50 Years
Ep. #
CBS Airdate
Red Player (Champ)
Blue Player (Challenger)
Notes
566
3/28/1988
Valerie
Sean
Sean defeats Valerie and will play the Money Cards at the start of the next program.
Audience Polling Group May 9-13: 10 Male Playgirl Centerfolds
Ep. #
CBS Airdate
Red Player (Champ)
Blue Player (Challenger)
Notes
596
5/9/1988
597
5/10/1988
598
5/11/1988
599
5/12/1988
Bob plugs next week's audience polling group consisting of 10 men married to mail-order brides
600
5/13/1988
Audience Polling Group May 16-20: 10 Men Married to Mail-Order Brides
Ep. #
CBS Airdate
Red Player (Champ)
Blue Player (Challenger)
Notes
601
5/16/1988
602
5/17/1988
603
5/18/1988
604
5/19/1988
Bob plugs next week's audience polling group.
605
5/20/1988
Audience Polling Group May 23-27: TBA
Ep. #
CBS Airdate
Red Player (Champ)
Blue Player (Challenger)
Notes
606
5/23/1988
607
5/24/1988
608
5/25/1988
609
5/26/1988
Bob plugs next week's audience polling group.
610
5/27/1988
Audience Polling Group May 30-June 3: 10 Marriage Counselors
Ep. #
CBS Airdate
Red Player (Champ)
Blue Player (Challenger)
Notes
611
5/30/1988
Gigi
Michael
Starts at Gigi at Money Cards (wins $1,000), but no car. Total after this: $9,050.
612
5/31/1988
Gigi
Jeri
Starts at Gigi at Money Cards (wins $2,200), but no car. Total after this: $11,450.
June[]
Audience Polling Group May 30-June 3: 10 Marriage Counselors
Ep. #
CBS Airdate
Red Player (Champ)
Blue Player (Challenger)
Notes
613
6/1/1988
Jeri
Jimmy
Starts at a new match between Jeri & Jimmy.
Jeri wins $11,000 at Money Cards, but no car. Total after this: $16,700.
614
6/2/1988
Jeri
Jono
Starts at a new match between Jeri & Jono (Jonathan).
Jeri wins $1,200, but no car. Total after this: $18,100.
Bob plugs next week's audience polling group consisting of 10 bodyguards of celebrities.
615
6/3/1988
Jeri
Darci
Starts at 3rd question in Round 1 between Jeri & Darci.
Jeri wins $8,100, but no car. Total after this: $26,500.
NOTE: During the following week, Ray Combs would make a series of appearances to plug the new revival of Family Feud which he would be hosting and would premiere on CBS a month later. The obvious reason for the plugs was to allow enough time to get families on the show as the daytime series was about to start taping by this point in the run.
Audience Polling Group June 6-10: 10 Bodyguards of Celebrities
Jeri plays the car game to start off the show but doesn't win the car; she retires with $32,075.
Suzanna gives the contestant plug after the first commercial break but Combs interrupts her and plugs Family Feud by saying "Why would anybody want to be on Card Sharks when you can be on Family Feud?"
Two new challengers, Jan and Bernie, start a new match.
Jan defeats Bernie and wins just $700 on the Money Cards (total: $900)