Rumor Control: “Catch 21″ Renewed
I knew it was popular, but this came quickly. However, according to an interview with Catch 21’s dealer Mikki Padilla in Santa Fe, the popular GSN card game show has been renewed for a second season. She said she’s prepping for the second season. Of course we have to clear it with GSN first. We’re clearing the information as soon as we can, though, so stay tuned.
I’ll be pretty happy if the show’s coming back. I thought Catch 21 was great. It had a few kinks to work out, but overall it’s one of the more solid shows they’ve put out in ages. Hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Mikki Padilla were great; it was nice that they actually like Mikki, the dealer, have a personality. The game was fun, energetic, and an exciting end game with a nice prize. That’s really all I ask for. Honestly, my only complaints are production wise. There was a lot of rough editing that I saw.
But more than anything, the completely bizarre total set change for the end game. Just keep the set the way it is and have the end game backdrop be the audience. Not that hard, really. There were a few scoring issues in the main game but nothing that brought the show down or made it less interesting. Hopefully we get to see new episodes.
Good news!
BTW, what do you guys think of this tweak for season 2: Have the endgame be a progressive jackpot (ala Lingo) starting at $25,000 and going up by $1,000 each day not won, potential for some exciting moments there.
I wish the contestant age to get on the show was 21 not 23 because I’ll love to tryout for this show but can’t because of my age.
I heard that Alfonso Ribeiro did better toward the end of the season which is great and I hope he keeps it up. This is his first show so give him time to get used to something he hasn’t done before in his career..
I don’t like that they are using points in the main game and they
could use the bonus round on the main set…
Alfonso badly, badly, needs to stop being so loud all the time.
According to the YouTube video he posted, Tim Connelly (aka Loogaroo) said that the bonus round set was set up to the right of the main game set.
The bonus game set wasn’t half bad, but I would have been amazed if they could morph the main game set into the bonus game set, right before the final commercial break. The players’ podiums could rotate away, revealing a green felt Blackjack table where the winner stands behind–facing Mikki, the cards, and the video screen.
Maybe he’s taking lessons from Todd Newton?
I, for one, like this show. It’s actually a solid show. While the drastic set change in the bonus round, and the use of points in the first two rounds that then get erased in the third round makes no sense, the rest of the show is great.
BTW- Is there any feasible chance that points and the cards do not give the same person a win? If so, then the points mean something. If not, then why have the points in the first place?
the way I think the main game should be played is round 1 3 players, winner goes to round 3, round 2: 2 lsoers from round 2 winner goes to round 3, round 3: 2 remaining players.
Lately I seem like a “yes man”, and this time is no exception. I agree with Julia. Instead of points, make it dollars and the contestant that loses after Round 2 is eliminated and all of his (or her) money is split between the remaining 2 contestants (similar to Russian Roulette). The endgame is ok. One thing I like to see in Season 2 (and it seems like a theme here): Returning Champions.
Wow, I have to disagree about Alfonso being a good host. He’s too loud, and not very good at interacting with the contestants. I also don’t like how the contestants taunt each other, which seems totally forced. And I agree that having a separate set for the bonus round is stupid.
But presentation issues aside, it’s a solid game, and I figured a renewal was coming since it’s been able to hold onto two pretty good timeslots in reruns for quite some time.
As someone with over 25 years in radio, IMO, it’s time to get away from actors, comedians, former reality-show participants, etc., and start looking into getting emcees with true radio and/or TV backgrounds. Generally speaking, broadcasters are every bit as good as most actors when it comes to taking direction. They also have an advantage that more actors than not don’t seem to have: the ability to interact with “the average person.”
Alfonso Ribiero is a multitalented performer. But, not since the deaths of Larry Blyden, Burt Convy, and Bobby Van; or Peter Marshall (who claimed that he learned about hosting game shows from studying what Bill Cullen did, and how he did it, thus complementing what he already knew about playing “straight man”) has there been an actor (by trade) who is THAT skilled at emceeing a game show. I know, I know, I know, what about John O’Hurley, and Richard Karn? Karn’s better than Ribiero, for sure; to be fair, he did FF for how many years? …Compared to how long Alfonso’s been doing “Catch 21?” As for O’Hurley? He reminds me a little of the late Bert Parks (for those too young to remember, Mr. Parks hosted seemingly every other game show back in the days of radio, and in the early days of TV. He was best known, however, for hosting the Miss America pageant for eons. In addition, he acted in road company productions, as well as a few Broadway plays, most notably, “The Music Man.”) Point being, like Bert Parks, John O’Hurley always seems to come across (to me, anyway) as if he’s always “on,” and his ego’s showing.
As always, it your prerogative to disagree. And, no; I’m not lobbyng for an emceeing gig. But, having been in broadcasting for all these years, plus having been a game show fan for life, I do think I can, to a degree, see things from a perspective that others can’t, or don’t.
I’d like to see the decision to pass or keep the cards before the card is shown. That would make the game more intersting