Card Sharks

Episode Guide: 1981

1978 1979 1980 1981

In June 1980, Card Sharks survived NBC's daytime game show purge...but barely. It was pushed to 12 noon, where network shows usually go to die because most stations prefer to air local news. That fall, knowing that they need to keep giving away money to keep the viewers in place, the show introduced new rules. Any time a player hits the exact number on a hi-lo toss-up question, he/she wins a $500 bonus, and in the Money Cards, a double no longer loses money; the bet now carries over. In the summer of 1981, to possibly speed up the game, a $500 bonus was offered for any player who runs the board in one try in game 1 or 2.
Show # Air Red
(champion)
Blue
(challenger)
Results, Money Cards, and Notes
794 ?/?/81 Shirley Shari Show starts with G1 Q2
Shirley runs the board in game 2 for $500
Shirley d. Shari 2-0; wins $300
G1 Q3: 99 out of 100 doctors believe a person can
become physically ill just by the strain of a divorce
The chase lights on the set begin flashing again
795 ?/?/81 Shirley Robert Shari leads 1-0; show starts with G2 Q2
796 ?/?/81 Robert Lauren Starts with sudden death in game 1
Robert nails G3 Q1 on the head for $500
G3 Q2: 43 out of 100 people recognized George Bush
Lauren d. Robert ($8,300); wins $700
Lauren runs the board in game 1 for $500
Lauren d. Bill 2-0; wins $1,800
797 ?/?/81 Lauren David New match begins
David nails G2 Q4 on the nose for $500
Lauren d. David 2-0; wins $2,600
798 ?/?/81 Lauren Denyse Gene Wood returns
Lauren leads 1-0; show starts with G2 Q1
Lauren d. Denyse 2-1; wins $1,850
Dani runs the board in game 2 for $500
Dani d. Lauren ($8,350) 2-0; busts at Big Bust (3-2)
799 ?/?/81 Dani Kris New match begins
Dani d. Kris 2-0 on 2 questions--Kris wins both
questions, but busts and Dani runs the board both times
Dani changes a four to a king at Big Bet and wins $4,000
Patti d. Dani ($5,900) 2-0; wins $1,800
800 ?/?/81 Patti Ray New match begins
During the contestant plug, Gene Wood knocks Jim's
socks; Jim makes him show his (one white, one green)
Patti d. Ray 2-1; wins $900
Cal runs the board in game 1 to end the show
801 ?/?/81 Patti Cal Cal leads 1-0; show starts with G2 Q1
Cal a. Patti ($3100) 2-0; wins $4,425
802 ?/?/81 Cal Laura Laura leads 1-0; show starts with G2 Q3
Laura d. Cal ($5,225) 2-1
Lots of cards are turned over in the next match--and
Jim turns over a card before Laura can call it!
803 ?/?/81 Laura Asif Jay Stewart subs for Gene Wood, Chris subs for Lois
Laura leads 1-0; show starts with G2 Q2
Laura d. Asif 2-0; wins $100
Laura d. Jim 2-1
804 ?/?/81 Laura - Show starts at Money Cards; Laura wins $4,000
Lynda d. Laura ($5,100); wins $7,000
805 ?/?/81 Lynda Lisa New match begins
Lisa's freeze bar runs over a card
Lynda runs the board in game 1; Lisa runs in game 2
Lynda d. Lisa 2-1; wins $650
Frank runs the board in game 1 for $500
806 ?/?/81 Lynda Frank Frank leads 1-0; show starts with G2 Q2
Frank d. Lynda ($8,550) 2-0; wins $2,200
Vickie d. Frank ($2,900) 2-0, wins $4,400
807 ?/?/81 Vickie Carol New match begins
Carol runs the board in game 1 for $500
Vickie d. Carol 2-1; wins $800
Vickie runs the board in game 1 for $500
808 ?/?/81 Vickie Frank Match tied 1-1; show starts with G3 Q1
Vickie d. Frank 2-0; wins $500
Vickie d. Frank 2-1; wins $1,000
809 ?/?/81 Vickie Steve New match begins
Steve d. Vickie ($8,100); wins $450
810 ?/?/81 Steve Sherry Show starts with G1 Q2
Sherry runs the board in game 2 for $500
Steve d. Sherry 2-1; wins $100
Suzy runs the board in game 2 for $500
Suzy d. Steve ($950) 2-0
Kids' week repeats for the next week
811 7/14/81 Suzy - Show starts at Money Cards
812 7/15/81 Ben Cathy Ben leads 1-0; show starts with G2 Q2
Cathy d. Ben ($5,650) 2-1; wins $600
Phil hits G1 Q2 on the nose and runs the board for $1,000
813 7/16/81 Cathy Phil Match tied 1-1; show starts with G3 Q1
Phil d. Cathy ($900) 2-1; wins $600
Phil d. Michele, both on $500 runs, 2-0; wins $11,200
814 7/17/81 Phil Lynn Show starts with G1 Q3
Phil runs the board in game 1 for $500
Lynn d. Phil ($14,800) 2-1; wins $6,800
G2 Q1: 77 out of 100 people say television
commericals are an insult to their intelligence
Ironically, stage manager Cory Carson calls
for a commercial break after that question
Kids' week repeats for the next week
815 7/27/81 Lynn Russell Lynn leads 1-0; show starts with G2 Q2
Lynn runs the board in game 2 for $500
Lynn d. Russell 2-0; wins $5,300
Steve runs the board in game 1 for $500
Steve d. Lynn ($13,000) 2-0; busts at Big Bet
(6-2) where the highest card was a seven
816 7/28/81 Steve Anita Anita leads 1-0; show starts with G2 Q1
Steve d. Anita 2-1; wins $500
817 7/29/81 Steve Holly Show starts with sudden death in G1
Holly d. Steve ($1,500) 2-1; wins $500; wins $1,700
Holly runs the board in game 2 for $500
Holly d. Norma 2-0
818 7/30/81 Holly - Show starts at Money Cards; Holly wins $3,700
Michelle runs the board in game 1 for $500
Michelle d. Holly ($6,300) 2-0; wins $2,500
G1 Q1: 78 out of 100 people recognized Johnny Carson
Ed runs the board in game 1 for $500
819 7/31/81 Michelle Ed Ed leads 1-0; shows starts with G2 Q3
Michelle d. Ed 2-1; wins $1,750
Tom runs the board in game 1 for $500
Tom d. Michelle ($5,150); wins $4,000
Game show host tournament repeats for the next three weeks
820 8/24/81 Tom Helen New match begins
Helen runs the board in game 1 for $500
Helen d. Tom ($4,700) 2-0; wins $2,000
821 8/25/81 Helen Aram Show starts with G1 Q3
Helen d. Aram 2-1; wins $3,000
For the second time, Helen pushes on the Big Bet
Helen runs the board in game 1 for $500
Helen d. Tony 2-1 to end the show
822 8/26/81 Helen - Gene Wood returns
Show starts at Money Cards; Helen wins $5,200
New player Rick sings a couple lines of "Looking for Love"
Rick d. Helen ($11,900) 2-1
823 8/27/81 Rick - Opening poem could have passed for an 8-line poem
Show starts at Money Cards; Rick wins $7,200
Rick runs the board in game 2 for $500
Rick d. Rita 2-0; wins $2,300 despite 3 sevens in a row
824 8/28/81 Rick Barbara Barbara leads 1-0; shows starts with G2 Q1
Barbara d. Rick ($10,400) 2-0; wins $1,250
Joel runs the board in game 2 for $500
Barbara d. Joel 2-1 to end of the show
825 8/31/81 Barbara - Show starts at Money Cards
If you can fill in this gap, e-mail me
826 9/1/81 Steven Penny New match begins
Steven d. Penny 2-0, both on $500 runs, and wins $2,600
827 9/2/81 Steven Tammy Jim announces that CS has passed $3,000,000 in winnings
Tammy leads 1-0; show starts with G2 Q3
Tammy d. Steven ($4,750) 2-0; wins $2,700
Kenny runs the cards in G1; Tammy wins G2 by run
Kenny d. Tammy ($3,500) 2-1; wins $7,800
828 9/3/81 Kenny Lynn New match begins
Lynn d. Kenny ($8,500) 2-0; wins $7,000
829 9/4/81 Lynn Andy Andy leads 1-0; show starts with G2 Q1
Lynn d. Andy 2-1; wins $1,400
830 9/7/81 Lynn Charlotte Lynn leads 1-0; show starts with G2 Q3
Lynn d. Charlotte 2-0; wins $2,250
Hawaii runs the board in game 1 for $500
Lynn d. Hawaii 2-1; wins $500
Lynn nails G1 Q1 on the head for $500
831 9/8/81 Lynn Charlotte Lynn leads 1-0; show starts with G2 Q3
Lynn d. Charlotte 2-0; wins $2,250
Hawaii runs the board in game 1 for $500
Lynn d. Hawaii 2-1; wins $500
Lynn nails G1 Q1 on the head for $500
832 9/9/81 Lynn Diane Show starts with G1 Q2
Diane d. Lynn ($12,450) 2-0; wins $4,000
833 9/10/81 Diane Gylian Gylian leads 1-0; show starts with G2 Q1
Gylian d. Diane ($4,300) 2-1; wins $4,300
Gylian runs in G1; Bob matches in G2
Gylian d. Bob 2-1
834 9/11/81 Gylian - Starts at Money Cards; Gylian wins $600 despite 2 doubles
835 9/14/81 Gylian Vicki Match tied 1-1; show starts G3 Q2
Vicki d. Gylian ($5,900) 2-1; busts at Big Bet (6-3)
836 9/15/81 Vicki Rekha Match tied 1-1; show starts G3 Q1
Rekha d. Vicki ($300) 2-1; wins $750
Rekha d. Laura 2-0; wins $2,400
837 9/16/81 Rekha Steve Show starts G1 Q2
Rekha runs the board in game 2 for $500
Rekha d. Steve 2-0; wins $400
838 9/17/81 Rekha Clay Chris subs for Lois
Match tied 1-1; show starts G3 Q1
Rekha d. Clay 2-1; wins $800
Microphone problems during Money Cards
Joseph runs the board in game 2 for $500
Joseph d. Rekha ($5,750) 2-1; wins $2,100
839 9/18/81 Joseph Lydia Show starts with G1 Q3
Joseph runs the board in game 2 for $500
Joseph d. Lydia 2-0; wins $5,000
Pepper runs the board in game 1 for $500
840 9/21/81 Joseph Pepper Match tied 1-1; show starts with G3 Q1
Pepper d. Joseph ($8,600) 2-1; wins $3,150
Pepper runs the board in game 2 for $500
Pepper d. Howard 2-1; wins $1,350
Producer Dennis Gagnon appears at the end of the show
841 9/22/81 Pepper ? New match begins
If you can fill in this gap, e-mail me
842 9/23/81 Pepper Stephanie Pepper leads 1-0; show starts with G2 Q2
Stephanie runs the board in game 2 for $500
Stephanie d. Pepper ($9,700) 2-1; wins $2,800
Sherry runs in G1; Stephanie answers with a run in G2
843 9/24/81 Stephanie Sherry Janice wears her scarf around her head; Jim
calls her "Pocahontas" more than once
Match tied 1-1; show starts with G3 Q2
Sherry d. Stephanie ($4,100) 2-1; wins $800
Mike d. Sherry ($1,500) 2-0; busts at Big Bet (5-2)
Patte runs the board in game 1 for $500
844 9/25/81 Mike Patte Patte leads 1-0; show starts with G2 Q2
Patte d. Mike ($200) 2-0; wins $250
Patte d. Dean 2-1; wins $2,550
845 9/28/81 Patte Bob Show starts with G1 Q3
Bob runs the board in game 2 for $500
Patte d. Bob 2-1; wins $1,900
Patte d. Bob 2-0
846 9/29/81 Patte - Show starts at Money Cards; Patte wins $5,200
Joisanne runs the board in game 2 for $500
Joisanne d. Patte ($11,300) 2-1; wins $350
847 9/30/81 Joisanne Michelle Show starts with G1 Q3
Michelle d. Joisanne ($1,150) 2-1; wins $1,000
848 10/1/81 Michelle Sam Lois returns
Sam leads 1-0; shows starts with G2 Q1
Sam runs the board in game 2 for $500
Sam d. Michelle ($1,200) 2-0; wins $200
Bonnie runs the board in game 2 for $500
Sam d. Bonnie 2-1; wins $11,600
849 10/2/81 Sam Jane New match begins
Sam runs the board in G1; Jane answers with a run in G2
Janice prematurely sets up for tiebreaker in game 2
Jane d. Sam ($13,300) 2-1; wins $1,200
G1 Q1: 0 out of 100 French women would let their
husband bring his mistress to a dinner party
850 10/5/81 Jane Frank Jane leads 1-0; show starts with G2 Q1
Jane d. Frank 2-0; wins $1,300
Larry d. Jane ($3,500) 2-1
851 10/6/81 Larry - Show starts at Money Cards; Larry wins $2,000
Larry runs the board in game 2 for $500
G3 Q1: 66 out of 100 people say it is unfair for a
network to cancel a new show after only a few weeks
on the air (Jim is reluctant to say "cancel")
Jennifer d. Larry ($2,800) 2-1; wins $1,550
852 10/7/81 Jennifer John Show starts with G1 Q3
John runs the board in game 1 for $500
John d. Jennifer ($1,850) 2-1; wins $450
Debbie runs the board in game 2 for $500
Debbie d. John ($1,150) 2-0
853 10/8/81 Debbie - Show starts at Money Cards; Debbie wins $2,600
Bill runs the board in game 1 for $500
Debbie d. Bill 2-1; wins $1,350
854 10/9/81 Debbie John Show starts with G1 Q3
John d. Debbie ($4,950) 2-1; wins $1,000
On the Big Bet, John changes a four, goes
lower on a six and loses $1,000 (6-J)
Eileen runs the board in game 1 for $500
855 10/12/81 John Eileen Eileen leads 1-0; show starts with G2 Q2
Eileen d. John ($1,300) 2-1; wins $6,900
Mimi d. Eileen ($7,600) 2-0
856 10/13/81 Mimi - Show starts at Money Cards; Mimi wins $2,850
Axel d. Mimi ($3,150) 2-1; wins $1,700
Axel runs the board in game 1 for $500 to end the show
857 10/14/81 Axel Kathy Axel leads 1-0; show starts with G2 Q1
Axel runs the board in game 2; d. Kathy 2-0; wins $2,150
Axel runs the board in game 1 for the 3rd straight time
Axel d. Jeri 2-0; wins $6,400
858 10/15/81 Axel Libby Show starts with G1 Q3
Libby nails G1 Q4 on the head for $500
Libby runs the board in game 2 for $500
Libby d. Axel ($12,450) 2-1; wins $800
Mike runs the board in game 1 for $500
Mike d. Libby ($2,000) 2-0; wins $4,400
859 10/16/81 Mark Mary New match begins
Mary runs the board in game 1 for $500;
Mark answers with a $500 run in game 2
Mary d. Mark ($5,700) 2-1; wins $300
860 10/19/81 Mary Kamal Kamal leads 1-0; show starts with G2 Q2
Kamal d. Mary ($1,100) 2-1; wins $6,750
Jim announces that this is the final week
Kamal d. Laurie 2-0 (running the board in both games
for $1,000); wins $5,600 in Money Cards
861 10/20/81 Kamal Leslie New match begins
Kamal runs the board in game 1 for $500
G2 Q1: 7 out of 100 $1M+ lottery winners would
bet all their winnings on the turn of one card
Leslie d. Kamal ($14,350) 2-1; wins $450
862 10/21/81 Leslie Carl Show starts with G1 Q4 (sudden death)
Jim exposes a hole in Janice's pump
Carl d. Leslie ($750) 2-1; wins $6,700
863 10/22/81 Carl Tammy Show starts with G1 Q4 (sudden death)
Tammy d. Carl ($7,000) 2-1; wins $3,000
Michelle runs the board in game 1 for $500
Michelle d. Tammy ($3,200) 2-0; wins $2,850
864 10/23/81 Michelle Denise Show starts with G1 Q2
Jim brings wife June onstage to throw to 1st commercial
Denise d. Michelle ($3,650) 2-1; wins $1,000
Victoria ($5,200) d. Denise ($1,200) 2-0 in a speed-up
match to win $5,000 as the show's last champion

1978 1979 1980 1981

Card Sharks is a trademark of FremantleMedia, Inc. No challenge of ownership to either Fremantle or NBC is implied. Logo courtesy of Jay Lewis.

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