Catch 21
Encyclopedia
Catch 21 is an American game show
centered around blackjack
, created by Merrill Heatter
(who also produced the show's predecessor Gambit
) and taped at the Hollywood Center Studios
. The series is hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro
, with actress Mikki Padilla
as the card dealer.
The show's fourth season debuted on August 16, 2010.
The process is repeated with additional questions and cards until two contestants have frozen or bust. Any contestant whose score reaches 21 exactly instantly wins the round (plus a bonus prize beginning in Season 2 for the first 21, which is given to the contestant even if he or she loses the game). If two contestants bust, the remaining contestant automatically wins the round. If only one contestant has not yet frozen or busted, no additional questions are asked; the remaining contestant simply continues drawing cards until either beating the highest frozen hand or busting.
The winner of the round receives 500 points and a Power Chip to use in the bonus round, should he or she make it that far. After two rounds, the contestant with the lowest score is eliminated.
In the event of a tie for second place at the end of the second round, the tied contestants compete in a tiebreaker. Each contestant chooses either the first or second card from a pair of cards; the one with the higher card (aces are always high) advances to the final round. If both contestants have the same point value, another tiebreaker is played.
Getting 21 in one hand wins $1,000; in two hands wins $5,000; and if 21 is scored on all three hands, the contestant wins the grand prize of $25,000. If the contestant busts on any hand, they will lose all money earned in the bonus round, but retain the $1,000 (and bonus prize, if applicable) from the main game won earlier.
On some episodes in Season 2, the top prize was increased to $50,000 with the other payouts remaining the same.
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
centered around blackjack
Blackjack
Blackjack, also known as Twenty-one or Vingt-et-un , is the most widely played casino banking game in the world...
, created by Merrill Heatter
Heatter-Quigley Productions
Heatter-Quigley Productions was an American television production company that was launched in 1960 by two former television writers, Merrill Heatter and Bob Quigley....
(who also produced the show's predecessor Gambit
Gambit (game show)
Gambit is a television game show, created by Wayne Cruseturner and produced by Heatter-Quigley Productions, that originally ran on CBS from September 4, 1972 to December 10, 1976. A slightly retooled version, Las Vegas Gambit, aired on NBC from October 27, 1980 to November 27, 1981, originating...
) and taped at the Hollywood Center Studios
Hollywood Center Studios
Hollywood Center Studios is a company based in Los Angeles, California that provides stage facilities to television and movie production companies. Its sound stages, located at 1040 N. Las Palmas Avenue in Hollywood, California, are steeped in Hollywood history...
. The series is hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro
Alfonso Ribeiro
Alfonso Lincoln Ribeiro is an American actor, director, dancer, game show host, and comedian. While he received attention for his performance in the title role of the Broadway musical The Tap Dance Kid and his appearance as a dancer in a Pepsi commercial featuring Michael Jackson, Ribeiro is best...
, with actress Mikki Padilla
Mikki Padilla
Mikki Padilla is a Spanish American actress, model and writer. She is best known for being the co-host/card dealer on GSN's Catch 21....
as the card dealer.
The show's fourth season debuted on August 16, 2010.
Rounds 1 and 2
Three contestants are each given a card to start a blackjack hand from an oversized, but otherwise standard, 52-card deck that was shuffled prior to taping. Ribeiro reads a multiple-choice question and the first contestant to answer correctly earns 100 points. The contestant who answered correctly can freeze their hand, preventing them from receiving additional cards, or reveal the next card from the top of the deck. After revealing the card, the contestant can accept it for themselves or pass it to one of their opponents who has not yet frozen. If the contestant in control keeps a card, he/she is given another chance to freeze. However, once a contestant has frozen, their opponents must freeze at a score higher than that contestant; ties are not permitted. A contestant is eliminated from the round if their hand exceeds 21.The process is repeated with additional questions and cards until two contestants have frozen or bust. Any contestant whose score reaches 21 exactly instantly wins the round (plus a bonus prize beginning in Season 2 for the first 21, which is given to the contestant even if he or she loses the game). If two contestants bust, the remaining contestant automatically wins the round. If only one contestant has not yet frozen or busted, no additional questions are asked; the remaining contestant simply continues drawing cards until either beating the highest frozen hand or busting.
The winner of the round receives 500 points and a Power Chip to use in the bonus round, should he or she make it that far. After two rounds, the contestant with the lowest score is eliminated.
In the event of a tie for second place at the end of the second round, the tied contestants compete in a tiebreaker. Each contestant chooses either the first or second card from a pair of cards; the one with the higher card (aces are always high) advances to the final round. If both contestants have the same point value, another tiebreaker is played.
Round 3
The two remaining contestants play one more round involving the same toss-up question format, but point scores are not kept. The contestant who wins the round receives $1,000 and two additional Power Chips (originally one), then moves on to the bonus round.Bonus round
The winner now controls three separate hands, each staked with one card. A new deck of 52-cards that has been shuffled and cut is used. Cards are drawn for the contestant, one at a time, and the contestant then chooses a hand in which to place each card. The contestant can use a Power Chip to dispose of an unwanted card. The contestant can end the round at any time if they fear the next card will cause them to bust on any of the three hands. However, using a Power Chip forces the contestant to place the next card in a hand, or use another chip if one is available; the contestant can only end the round after placing a card.Getting 21 in one hand wins $1,000; in two hands wins $5,000; and if 21 is scored on all three hands, the contestant wins the grand prize of $25,000. If the contestant busts on any hand, they will lose all money earned in the bonus round, but retain the $1,000 (and bonus prize, if applicable) from the main game won earlier.
On some episodes in Season 2, the top prize was increased to $50,000 with the other payouts remaining the same.