Gambit (USA game show)/YMMV

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.



  • Adaptation Displacement: Given that the Wink Martindale era hasn't been reran in many years, it's very unlikely that most people realize Catch 21 is a revival.
  • Funny Moments: A couple on Las Vegas Gambit fell out of their chairs after winning a 21.
  • Moment of Awesome:
    • The circulating episode of the 1970s version has a couple playing the Bonus Round that gets three Aces with their first three cards, then a few other low numbers. With said low numbers giving them zero chance of losing, they press on — then manage to score 21, winning $500 and the car.
    • Any big winner on Catch 21, given that it doesn't happen often.
  • They Changed It, Now It Sucks:
    • At some point in 1981, the Bonus Round was changed from the Gambit Board to "Gambit Galaxy", which was the bonus game from High Rollers. You know, with dice.
    • Some of the changes on Catch 21 were treated this way as well.
  • What an Idiot!: The numerous occasions on Catch 21 where a player just can't add properly.
    • May 12, 2009 (starts at 3:05): Angeli "very confidently" passed an 8 to Jennifer...who already had 13, which gave her 21.
    • May 18, 2009: Just a few shows later, Angie did the exact same thing to Doug while the third contestant (Renee) chanted "Bust him, bust him!"
    • July 1, 2009: Even a former Game Show host can't add, said emcee being Larry Toffler of the syndicated Finders Keepers.[1] While holding a 13, with his opponent holding a 10, Larry kept the next card (a 10) and busted himself.
    • September 27, 2010: Kimberly passed a 5 to Shawn, who already had a "soft" 16. This, after saying she wouldn't pass to Beau so he wouldn't get 11. So stupid, it was uploaded by GSN itself.
  1. (Toffler has probably had the worst post-series life of any game show emcee not named Ray Combs, if his subsequent appearances are anything to go by — on this and his previous three shows {Debt, Greed, and Russian Roulette}, he played the game for himself and not for charity like practically every other former emcee has done.)