New Zealand Play Your Cards Right

Very rare episode of the New Zealand version of Card Sharks!
Go behind the scenes with TV and radio legend Wink Martindale!
Facebook: / winkmartindalegames (Play free games! Win real prizes!)
Twitter: / winkmartindale
SUBSCRIBE: bit.ly/1galy1L

[@port566]

Well, that was a lovely show on a lovely set with lovely music, lovely dealers, and lovely contestants. The country is lovely, the people are lovely, and everything about this lovely show is just... lovely.

[@thepocketducks3148]

Oh, how cute! The eggheaded kid from the Foghorn Leghorn cartoons grew up to host a game show!

[@chinnyvision]

This is astonishing. Never thought I'd see a full show. Good work!

[@jasejj]

Just started watching this again thanks to your recent video Chinny 😁

[@opimus]

I could see Mike Myers doing a parody of this guy quite easily.

[@KiddBloo86]

Perhaps he used this bloke as inspiration?

[@johnnyballenatl]

opimus Was _this_ the basis for Tommy Maitland?

[@JFD62780]

Or Dana Carvey cause of the hair! 8D

[@Drchainsaw77]

Why? He's already doing a parody of himself.

[@TonyKanameKuran]

Now *THAT* would be a jolly good show. Make it happen, Jennifer Mullin!!!!

[@jeffandbike4503]

So great to see this show Wink Martindale. So great to see game shows from other countries.

[@MattTheSpratt]

that set is fantastic

[@DRAINPIPE57]

He got glasses like Fishbowls

[@jasejj]

Oh dear. I'm willing to look past the UK-version-pastiche theme tune and the rather cheap production values -- NZ is a small country after all. But that host. The one positive thing I can say is that he shows the world just how talented Bruce Forsyth (and indeed Jim Perry) were. Kenny has clearly watched the UK version and decided to be like Brucie. Problem is the talent just isn't there. Some of the interaction with the players, and especially the assistants, was excruciating. Where Bruce's delivery was effortless, this was painful. Still, fascinating upload, thankyou!

[@LogoMan7777]

Even Pat Bullard's a better host than this guy.

[@andrewschroy6368]

And I can definitely say Bob Eubanks and Bill Rafferty were a lot better than Mr. Cantor, too. Same with Joel McHale.

[@Da1Dez]

Kenny passed away in September 2019.

[@benjaminkellog7311]

That VHS at 22:00 looks bizarrely like the first VHS system my family had. You had to press the buttons in quite a ways to do anything with your tapes, a bit annoying when all you wanted to do was veg out on the couch and watch Little Golden Book Land. Eventually, some of the buttons stuck permanently and we bought a replacement set we've been using with some regularity ever since.

[@rodney1279TheFlip]

That is a high stage, I would be scared that I would fall down the stairs. Thanks Wink for this video.

[@TheBundychick82]

This is a gem well In the United Kingdom and Australia it’s called play your cards right too I enjoyed this New Zealand version the host wasn’t too bad either thanks wink :)

[@davidlewis7267]

Check out the pop-bottle glasses!

[@chriswalker9986]

GREAT Brett Somers Glasses!!!

[@locutus442]

The first thing I thought when I saw the host was a line from Revenge of the Nerds: (said by Ogre) "NERD!"

[@tirmyta]

The host really made a spectacle of himself.

[@willmack5909]

Not to mention his spectacles!

[@marcpower4167]

Seems like he was trying too hard to be Bruce Forsyth. Cardinal rule of game show hosting: just be yourself.

[@LogoMan7777]

@@marcpower4167 Except if you can be Iron Man. Then be Iron Man. Also, what if being yourself doesn't cut it?

[@marcpower4167]

​@@LogoMan7777 Then it's not meant to be.

[@troytakesphotos]

I just can't believe they were able to squeeze out applause for the host podium robot.

[@LudoRex]

Wow, was that sloppy! The director missed calling some card reveals.

[@andrewschroy6368]

Kinda curious whether it was Channel 1 or TV2 that carried this version of Card Sharks (as they, to my knowledge, were the only main channels in NZ at the time).

[@johncraw8572]

Awesomeness

[@Da1Dez]

The host of this show ran an entertainment centre in Suffolk, England that did kid's birthdays in the 90s. My cousin had his 5th birthday there and always ran away from him when he came out to entertain.

[@marques0818]

Play Your Cards Right Is Like Card Sharks

[@andrewschroy6368]

Uh, well, it IS Card Sharks-- just a different name.

[@17tubemaster]

If Neville and Cindy had lost, they likely would have been brought back on a future show for that card turning flub as it caused them hardship (double jacks).

[@JimmySand9]

Harry Caray does a reasonably convincing accent.

[@HarlemHyena]

27:42 1st time we ever saw THAT happen.

[@chrisfinch8637]

6:43, 13:51, 15:21, 18:00 "You don't get anything for a pair...NOT IN THIS GAME!"

[@scootover7]

Other than the host and the questions in the money cards I liked this.

[@marcpower4167]

It's clearly based on the uk version, right down to Kenny trying to be Bruce Forsyth.

[@Gambit771]

That's a great set.

[@Michael_86]

Very interesting, thank you for sharing

[@kenman923]

Whoever criticizes Bill Rafferty for his hosting abilities will owe him an apology after watching this show.

[@LogoMan7777]

Hey, Rafferty was good. You need to replace that with Pat Bullard.

[@marcpower4167]

@@LogoMan7777 exactly, I found Rafferty a bit awkward on blockbusters, but he did great on card sharks.

[@gameshowlover3235]

That host though.. his face on the card though....

[@sovietonion72]

I actually liked this game show cause the questions were pretty simple aswell as the concept, prefer this over Jeopardy.

[@petercolbeysgameshowmania7176]

Thanks for this rare look at a New Zealand game show, Wink! (P.S. 100th comment!)

[@georgiburke]

RIP Kenny

[@TheEggplantThatAteChicago]

It's a pleasant surprise to see Kenny Cantor is still alive. That said, I hope never to see him attempt to host a game show again.

[@jasejj]

Yeah I did a bit of reading up on him, seems he was quite upset when a book referred to him as a failure (which given his long career is rather unfair) and pointed to this as an example of his success. While I'm sure anyone would be proud of getting a game show gig, I'm not sure I'd want to remind people of the mess he made of this (although I suspect that as the entire production was a bit amateurish this wasn't entirely his fault).

[@SMlFFY85]

I read this and thought "oh is he?" Googled him and the first results is news of his death. :(

[@gordonbeattie4864]

@@jasejj He did not bad and got two series of this show. He had a very long and successful career on stage and worked tirelessly encouraging youngsters into working in entertaining and in drama schools.

[@Da1Dez]

He died in September 2019.

[@troytakesphotos]

On the rewatch... did he ever offer the couples the opportunity to freeze? I don't think I ever saw that happen.

[@andrewschroy6368]

He did in another episode. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2KanaCcnr-VfKs

[@MrKenichi22]

I like how the big chance cards are green

[@montyf2165]

Feel yourself sinking into your chair with excruciating embarrassment as you watch this. Seriously thought it was a parody. Safe to say poor Kenny is no Bruce Forsyth (UK version host) and goes to show how difficult it must be to present a game show well.

[@whammy850]

The copyright year was obscured by the vault graphic at the end. When was this filmed?

[@gordonbeattie4864]

1983 - it says it at the start.

[@andrewschroy6368]

February 8, 1983, to be exact. Keep in mind that most countries outside of the US write date/month/year-- not month/date/year like we do.

[@twinku1]

I love the theme song. Anyone know its name?

[@msimpson7910]

It's a nearly soundalike version of the UK version used by LWT/ITV in the first incarnation of PYCR in the 1980's. In fact the prize talk over music, does sound like an alternative mix of the UK one. Alan Ainsworth composed the music for the UK version. Suspect he might have had some interest in this, given how close it sounds.

[@torreyk0820]

Those glasses!!!!

[@benjaminkellog7311]

Only two problems with this version of Card Sharks/Play Your Cards Right (the name certainly isn't one of them; it perfectly describes either who's playing the game or what you've gotta do to win it, brilliant stuff). One, the host did get on my nerves a little, and flubbing the order of play a couple of times docked him a few points in my eyes. Two, I understand game shows in that part of the world didn't have incredibly high budgets, and thus had to be more protective of their prizes, but the Money Cards round should not end on a nail-biting trivia question! (BTW, I almost said Peter Noon, but then I remembered his Henry 8 was married 7 times, oops.) The Big Bet is already a perfectly adequate risk barrier. Just don't let the contestants change that last card, force them to play it while risking half, or maybe all in this version's case, of their points.

[@jasejj]

Take a look at the UK version, which this is very obviously based on. Most of the good parts where the UK version improved upon the original (including the name) are copied here, just not done very well. They seem to have missed the point of the last question here. It was always intended to calm the contestants down a little bit before the final reveal; on the UK version the crowd were allowed to chime in so the question was pretty much a formality.

[@gordonbeattie4864]

The prize budgets on the NZ version were much higher than on the original UK version. Overall, the Prize Package on offer would have been worth nearly $20,000 NZ whereas you could only win ONE prize on the UK version and that was a car worth no more than £3,000.

[@jasejj]

@@gordonbeattie4864 That's down to broadcasting rules of the day, I think £3000 was the upper limit in 1983. As UK gameshows tended to be prime time there was no reason other than the IBA that they couldn't have given away tens of thousands per episode.

[@marcpower4167]

@@jasejj I think it was £5000 by that point but I could be wrong. I remember the uk version of the $64,000 question had to get special permission to offer a grand prize of £6400.

[@notmyrealname2592]

This also looks like a bad Austin Powers movie with Austin under cover.

[@quizmaster85]

Just three-and-a-half hours' flight across from my own Australia :)

[@CCStmac]

Great to see Bernie Sanders Before he became a politician

[@mshroye2]

Gee whiz those glasses

[@wnychevy09]

Looks like our version of Card Sharks with 4 people instead

[@andrewschroy6368]

Most international versions of Card Sharks have two teams of two playing.

[@utoobcaneatshitt5745]

Can you guys picture Drew Carey with those glasses?

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

No.

[@brianhixson5357]

Woooow either the ladies are very tall or he is very very short

[@Drchainsaw77]

It's hard to imagine anyone making a more serious effort to make himself look and sound ridiculous.

[@mocub33]

Actually, it's Brett Somers in Male Drag!

[@billybishop1997]

How is a game show host from the UK hosting a game show from New Zealand? He isn't from there but he is from the UK. How can that be possible?

[@frazzleface753]

Air travel.

[@redeye_]

planes. they have existed for more then 100 years

[@willmack5909]

Okay this host is truly creepy. Looks like a bad SNL skit from the early 80s!

[@jasejj]

I dunno, I think he's just out of his depth. It seems he didn't do any TV other than this series. I'm willing to believe that he was noticed on the club circuit (where he seems to have been respected) and just didn't work out on TV. He got to host a show and shat himself. It happens, the question is what were the producers thinking to give him the job after the pilot.

[@MrKenichi22]

Will Mack Not quite, a lot of foreign versions of game shows are scaled down.

[@MrKenichi22]

Will Mack But it is dated I can give you that.

[@Tubewings]

For starters, the colors are swapped, with team #1 using the blue cards, and team #2 using the red cards. As for Kenny Cantor, who's from the UK, it's not nice to see him to see him...

[@willmack5909]

(yelling in unison with the audience) "Not Nice!"

[@notmyrealname2592]

Bernie Sanders lost New Zealand brother ??

[@andyrose5616]

Man or Muppet?

[@johnnyfeen1347]

Host looks like cross between a balding Jimmy Saville and Elton John.

[@BRBTheFireball]

You get nothing for a pair... not in this game!

[@jasejj]

Someone DEFINITELY didn't shuffle those cards well enough. Far too many doubles.

[@robertborder1156]

This version seems very long and dragged out.

[@quizmaster85]

Too right.

[@jesuszamora6949]

The set looks nice, but this dude is CORNY. I also can not believe they put his glasses on the question podium.

[@mocub33]

NOT the best director at all, especially at the end of the 2nd game.

[@jasejj]

To be fair he was probably drafted in from the news department and given half an hour to go through the routine... TVNZ were no Goodson Todman.

[@Marc010]

This is the most awkward version of Card Sharks. The host is annoying.