Card Sharks: Norma Brown Shoots the Max

This is the only time in the Money Cards that someone went all the way.

[@bradgandy02]

"Lower! *Yes!* She broke the bank! Everything!" Jim Perry was the best Card Sharks host, and his excitement was contagious!

[@quizmaster85]

R.I.P. Jim Perry - he knew how to add to the excitement of the shows he hosted.

[@JoeyLamontagne]

Brendan Richards that's why he hosted $ale of the Century

[@RayJacksonbighmw]

RIP Jim Perry 1933-2015 Yes, fellow game show fans, we lost yet another game show legend, after a 5-year battle with that dreaded cancer, at the age of 82, I found that out this morning while watching a classic episode of Card Sharks on GSN, we will miss you!!!

[@timmohr4072]

This host is awesome building it up... "NOTHING or $28,000!!"

[@johnnguyen270]

+Tim Mohr May Jim Perry RIP!!! THIS WAS AWESOME!!!

[@calhoun24]

Jim Perry always tried to frame the stakes whenever possible. He did it here and on $ale fantastically well.

[@chrissims518]

Jim Perry has the best game show voice all time

[@JoeyLamontagne]

Chris Sims he made the contestant feel like a star

[@meghantrainorfan18kellycla11]

Chris Sims did she break the bank on card sharks???

[@StukInBuf]

I love her spirit: "I came here with nothing; I'll leave with nothing. Shoot it all." For being born with nothing, and leaving the world with nothing, she surely made out like a bandit!

[@lidsman2221]

Jim was such a good host he was always really pulling for the people to win.

[@newstarcadefan]

That definitely is true. He also genuinely felt bad when people busted out on the money cards. Well...those really were heartbreaking moments.

[@MikelineTV]

UPDATE: 40 years ago: Card Sharks Pilots 1 & 2 March 17 1978 uploaded last week...In the second pilot Johnny was the first to win all $28,800 in the money cards

[@markjones1184]

I never get tired of watching this

[@melaniedaniels7298]

Jim was so much better than Bob Eubanks. I liked bob but in my opinion Jim was the best. The show lost a lot when they replaced him

[@PREGO1966]

Jim wanted to do the remake, but was busy with Sale of The Century

[@JoeyLamontagne]

I wonder about your opinion about Bruce Forsyth as the host of Card Sharks, because he was considered as a host

[@markjones1184]

PREGO1966 interesting that hec did want to do...but sale was running on nbc...too bad no offense to raffert on syndicated..but too bad couldn't of done that one...wow 30 yrs ago for raffertys syndi card sharks

[@shoredude2]

$29,000 in 1978 with inflation has the same purchasing power as over $103,000 today.

[@Psychopulse75]

A legendary win. =)

[@markjones1184]

I love watching this..RIP Jim..I wish this show was back

[@jeprice08]

I miss this man. I really do.

[@woffandaniel]

Shoot the max all the way! How absolutely brave of her to do such a thing! :-)

[@JoeyLamontagne]

Especially on a Queen

[@HHSGDFootballJPD]

@gamshwfan I love the look the host gave her when she doubled the jack. That shows this truly is the greatest moment of card sharks.

[@Fang67RAM]

Generally, this is what we want ALL game show contestants to do: go for it all. Luck and nerve with a nice payoff in the end! Thanks for posting!

[@schmolik1]

Cards Norma played: A-4-K-3-J-2-Q. Who bets it all on a Jack? Especially when doubles lose. You miss on the 2nd level or the big bet and you're done. Once you get up in the 2nd level, you might as well save some money each time in case you miss.

[@TheStuport]

My Favorite TV Game Show with my Favorite TV Game Show Host......Great Memories watching these Classics! Cheers Everyone

[@WILLIAMCHANEL]

I LOVE this lady. She is my new favorite person of all-time. I feel like she might have gone straight to the Razz game at the Stardust or the Stud-8 game at the Dunes after this appearance on Card Sharks, and she perhaps lost it all that very same night... Or maybe she DOUBLED IT?!! But only the most degen gamblers say shit like, "I came with nothin', I'll leave with nothin'..." I love it. You GEAUX Norma Brown!

[@WILLIAMCHANEL]

And I just love the turn of phrase, "Shoot it all!!" I've never heard that at a casino or in a card game, but clearly it's something she's used to saying... JUST LOVE HER.

[@cicholdebannan]

VERY gutsy move on the Jack - usually people are very skittish on a Jack and there were only 2 bad cards exposed at that point.

[@ericandy88]

The people at SESAME STREET would not have gotten the idea for the Guy Smiley character from anybody else than Jim.

[@jeopardy60611]

With numbers like 14,400 and 28,800 Norma went on to work for a dialup modem manufacturer and came out with those 14.4K & 28.8K modems in the 90s.

[@AarHan3]

That took a _lot_ of guts and good card$! :^D

[@hiimemily]

Just to put it in perspective, in 2010 you'll get about $29000 for two years of work at minimum wage in most states - 40 hour work weeks, 50 weeks a year. Then you have to factor in inflation and taxes. That's a lot of money to risk on the flip of a card.

[@benadams4807]

Throwback Thursday Norma Brown shooting the max on Card Sharks

[@Kepley100]

Now that's an epic win!

[@FrekyD]

With current inflation rates, she bet $56,781 dollars on one card on the Big Bet. Man, this woman is insane.

[@misstee101]

I remember Norma won that max prize!

[@phenomonal1studios]

R.I.P Jim Perry

[@Amisbro]

Before there was Michael Larson from Press your Luck there was Norma Jean on Card Sharks...take a bow Norma! WOW!!!!

[@Arcader-cs9bs]

1:28-2:01 - *Norma Brown:* Shall we go for all of it? Yes! All of it, higher! *Jim Perry:* $7,200, higher, *_YES!_* With a Queen! Norma, you are on the brink, I don't know. Your decision: Do you want that Queen? *Norma Brown:* Yes! *Jim Perry:* $7,200, you must bet. You have $14,400. *Norma Brown:* Shoot the max, the whole works. *Jim Perry:* _Nothing_ or $28,800! *Norma Brown:* Lower! *Jim Perry:* Lower! _[turns card over, and it's a 10.]_ *_YES!_* She broke the bank: Everything! - _Wow,_ that took a _lot_ of guts to bet everything in Money Cards, and win $28,800, plus the $200 she kept no matter what, for a grand total of $29,000.

[@StukInBuf]

For not even 30 minutes worth of "work," that was SUPER D**N GOOD money!

[@lb5977]

Love this clip

[@wschmrdr]

Well, figure out the odds of predicting 7 cards correctly, and then just bet it all each time.

[@carchavtube]

Ironically, she played the Money Cards one more time. She won $3,200 more.

[@billa107]

She's not the only one who went all the way. But still pretty amazing stuff.

[@atworkstation]

RIP Jim Perry (1933-2015).

[@PREGO1966]

I think Guy Smiley existed before Jim Perry made it big

[@kevingreen2400]

Thats how you go for broke...what a run!

[@PatrioticPirate]

Wonderful!!!

[@VinylmationDude]

WIN! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@erikdraven1731]

@carchavtube In that money card win, she actually busted on the first line and went double-double all the way through the second and third rows. One or two better cards at the beginning and she might've done it twice in a row. (I wonder how standards would've felt about that???)

[@blackonyx2002]

Game Show Network aired this episode yesterday.

[@BlackwoodCompany]

I thought it was five games, but you are right. It was seven games as the limit.

[@jhillst]

She was lucky to get a lot of "end" cards. The worst card she had to deal with was the Jack.

[@bmasters1981]

I know that Drew Carey wasn't the host back then, but I just wondered-- how would Drew have reacted to this big win of Norma's?

[@jeprice08]

I wouldn't be surprised if there was a standing ovation from the audience when she hit the top! If there was, the camera should've shown it. It would've made for great television.

[@erikdraven1731]

@bambam2124 I just saw the clip of the $29000 win on Eubanks' version and the big bet card was also the Q HEARTS.

[@blozier2006]

My god, what are the odds of this? Excellent!

[@blackroses84]

This chick seems so cool. I have to admit I felt a little sympathetic for Diana (her competitor). She didn't win anything on the bonus round and she looked like she wanted to cry when she lost to Norma

[@quizmaster85]

And that surprised look Jim gave at 0:43 - could've been a real bad outcome if she went ahead with that!

[@Bluetailvappy]

$28,800 is alot of money even today, at least to me. But in 1978 this was about the equivalent of winning $100,000 in today's dollars.

[@parlet]

@BlackwoodCompany There were some episodes on at the end of last week and earlier this week where a guy named Jeff (his last name was something like "Wine") won $39,000 total.

[@benadams4807]

1:41 Do you want that queen? Yes! That's what I figured. But you have to bet half though. What do you say?

[@disneydanny2]

did anyone else notice she alternated between Lower & Higher and was right EVERY time? talk about LUCKY

[@TheClawNinja]

This lady is a boos. Even though she had good cards, still takes some nuts to do that.

[@mrbow50001]

Didn't know you liked game shows, great videos btw I watched your destroying the arcade videos mostly lol

[@JoeyLamontagne]

She was definitely gutsy with that 4 and Jack

[@namk19]

And the extra boost for her, there was no double push rule by this time

[@BlackwoodCompany]

@billa107 That is for sure. It was only in one pilot. But you will have to find which one yourself.

[@RCBIFE]

RIP Jim Perry

[@benadams4807]

0:40 Shoot it all higher. I'm sorry lower sorry I got mixed up. Jim Perry : It's okay we get mixed up too.

[@Scottwilkie18]

Imagine if she won 32000 or 50000

[@FrekyD]

That takes some guts.

[@quizmaster85]

With all cards, it's in the order of two through to ten, followed by the Jack, Queen, King and Ace (Jack being higher than Ten, Queen being higher than Jack, etc.)

[@JosephPratt1986]

WOW!!!!!!

[@markjones1184]

Anyone notice when he says about flying first class with the winnings..she mentions "JAL (Japan Airlines)" then kind of goes like oops....direct advertising a no no..but no one editing

[@erikdraven1731]

I just saw the clip of the $29000 win on the Eubanks' version of CS, and the big bet card was also the Q HEARTS... now, that's coincidence for you!

[@1401princeton]

WHAT WOULD JIM PERRY SAY NOW

[@bobbiesutticeking2333]

A queen king jack

[@StukInBuf]

They'd be crying poor; she'd be making off like a bandit!

[@NDW85]

You know, I don't think I would have had the guts to do what Norma did in the Money cards, since this was, I think, a couple of years or so before the push rule was added.

[@KevinTheSkullAnderson]

They should bring Card Sharks back on the air and have Steve Harvey host it. And every time a contestant goes to the money cards they could win up to $160,000 if they play their cards right. And there should be a bonus game where the contestant gets the option of playing a round of Blackjack in the hopes of winning an extra $10,000 or a new car or a trip if their hand is better than the dealer's or if they get a 21 or Blackjack. Not bad for an idea, right? :)

[@donp55]

You're not the only one who thinks that. $1000 for the base, bet as you will, $2000 at level two. Minimum bet $100 in $100 increments. Big bet as it has always been. It does ad up to a max of $160K. The blackjack idea is a good one, but after $160K, and extra car or trip or even $10K would be anti-climatic. But how about this: Keep what you got, or risk it on blackjack, You win, its double, if not you lose every thing (but not the cash you would win in the game...which would be $1000 at least [$500 each game, plus $1000 extra if you went non-stop on your cards, plus $500 everytime your were on the nose with a poll question]). Comments"?

[@KevinTheSkullAnderson]

Don Paschal Now that I think about it, that is a better idea. Sounds really risky, though.

[@benadams4807]

0:41 Shoot it all higher. I mean lower, sorry. Sorry I got mixed up

[@antwan4000]

NOTHING or $28,800!

[@wschmrdr]

Those were actors, they were only paid for their appearance, but no winnings, unless the show airs. In the pilot, it wasn't his money. This WAS Norma's money.

[@quizmaster85]

1978

[@jcwla]

Notice the card she played for the Big Bet -- and what is the card behind her? Can we say, destiny!

[@001GenLee]

She definitely gambled and it paid off. Sometimes it does pay off, sometimes no.. That's why i don't go playing those $10 or $20 scratch-off games here in North Carolina. If you lose, you're out 10 or 20 bucks for crying out loud!! But, if you win, just look at how much is at stake! :-O But yeah, if you lose, that could've been 10 or 20 to put fuel in your tank, or new shoes.

[@markjones1184]

001GenLee yah there's ppl that could try it and double bust line 2 and 2 or 3....if double push rule in play I'd risk all ..I wish they'd bring back..abd todd newton host and allow Canadians like price unlike wheel jeopardy. ..😀

[@carchavtube]

@gamshwfan Especially on the second row. You lose there, that's the game!

[@ethanfranklin_official]

Someone Broke The Bank and won $28,800 in pilot #2 as well

[@bradgandy02]

That win was planned, however, to show the TV executives two possible outcomes on the money cards. In the first pilot, the contestant racked up money, only to lose it all in the end. Norma's win is the only one that happened purely on brave luck.

[@BlackwoodCompany]

@carchavtube So that means she won over $32,000. Has anyone in the NBC version other than Norma won at least $30,000?

[@BlackwoodCompany]

@blackonyx2002 Has been the full episode posted?

[@tombeeman9996]

You said this was the only time, but if you listen to Jim Perry he said this was the third time it's happened.

[@wschmrdr]

He said first time. If you want to count pilots, which have actors that are paid appearance fees and do not win any actual prizes, it did happen in one pilot. However, this is the only time it happened and the contestant was able to keep the prize.

[@mrbow50001]

+FlagDUDE08 do you know if they still do the same thing for current game show pilots now?

[@zachhoran]

THere was a woman in 1981 who won $36K. Jeff remained the biggest winner on Card Sharks throught the NBC run. CBS's record was in the low 60s set in 1988(including a car or two). $63105 is the record for the syndicated run set by Brian Hunt in November 1986(including two cars and some maingame prizes)

[@AustinLaPlante]

Jim, don't you mean 2nd time?

[@cecilrichardson2494]

No. Not including the pilot episodes, that was the first (and only) "official" time it happened. By official, I mean where the contestant was able to keep what they won on the show.

[@Matty1103]

she says shoot the match NOT shoot the max

[@LVSignChick]

Matty1103 I heard her say "shoot the match", too, but "shoot the max is a perfect descriptive for what happened....

[@davidfritz1331]

Not sure I wanna know how you know she shot the max.