Catch 21

I do like game shows to a certain extent when it involves trivia. Swearing a bunch in Jeopardy, guessing on Millionaire, but I don't like game shows that involve luck and risk. At that point it isn't about how smart you are anymore, but how much you're willing to gamble.

This show seemed entertaining at first, although after watching did seem pretty slow watching a chick flip cards and figuring out what 17+5 equals... This was a VERY original concept from word associations and hardcore trivia, but the idea dies out after a while.

Now for the reason most of us are here.......... I had just started to watch The Fresh Prince starting from ep 1 tonight, already on ep 8. It's good to see the little dark guy got some screen time in something I've watched after Prince. Funny and somewhat queer, Carlton grew on me. Didn't exactly bring all the humor over from the 90's but gave the show some time to last a week

I enjoy the show but find it annoying to some degree. Nikki was far better than Whitney because she showed more personality and came across as having much more fun. Whitney is dull and somewhat full of herself in my opinion. If Whitney stays, please stop the very annoying dancing at the beginning. No one cares that Whitney and Alfonso were on a dance show together. It's a game show. Bring back Mikki and in the final round keep the first 21 at 2500 dollars. Finally, at the end of the show, please have Alfonso stop the relentless, repetitive, never ending rambling about "what would have happened "

I have a few issues with the NEW season of Catch 21.

1. There is WAY too much purple on the set. 2. The hearts and diamonds on the cards are purple instead of red. 3. During the final portion of the game, the number of power chips the player possesses is not displayed. Also, the numbers and symbols on the cards are too small, making it difficult to see which cards have been dealt.

Finally, Whitney is nice and very pretty, but I miss Mikki Padilla.

GSN has provided us with many classic game shows, while occasionally have original game shows of their own. Some succeeded and are fondly remembered while others failed and are short-lived. One of the most remembered GSN originals is Catch 21.

While the gameplay itself is pretty basic and nothing to write home about, it was executed pretty well. The object of the game is to get 21 without going over by answering multiple choice questions and decide on taking the card or passing it to their opponents in order to bust them out and prevent them for winning the round. Whoever wins the game gets a chance to win $25,000!

The host of that show was Alfonso Ribeiro, who most of you know for as Carlton Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. IMO, Ribeiro was the perfect host for this show, with great energy and keeping the game moving when necessary.

Co-hosting alongside him is Mikki Padilla, who does genuinely care for the contestants while looking stunning at the same time!

It did get revived in 2019, with Ribeiro returning as host, but with Witney Carson as the new co-host/dealer, but it wasn't the same and it wasn't as good as the original. Regardless of which era you liked the most, Catch 21 was one of the better GSN originals of that era.

You might think this is a simple show, since it is a variation on the game Blackjack, but it is more complex than that.

Three contestants face off, trying to get card hands that total as close to 21 as possible, without going over. But first they get a trivia question (multiple choice) to determine who gets control over the next card. Whoever has control can direct that card to his own hand or to a competitor's hand. The strategy is about maximizing your chances while trying to reduce your opponent's. And you can choose to freeze your hand, forcing your opponent(s) to score a better hand, or lose.

When only one contestant is left, he gets to play against the deck, trying to achieve a score of 21 in three separate hands. The top prize is $25,000, which is notable.

The level of the trivia questions is perfect: not too hard or too easy. The strategy in playing the cards is difficult enough that you will see mistakes in almost every episode.

Host Alfonso Ribeira and dealer Mikki Padilla have a positive vibe and vocally root for the contestants, making this a fun show that involves both knowledge and strategic choices.