View Full Version : The Model Rolling the Dice in High Rollers 1974-76


staytuned
07-23-2025, 07:41 PM
When you see Ruta Lee or Elaine Stewart (although in Stewart's case, the syndicated episodes have not been uploaded to YouTube as of yet) rolling the dice for the contestant instead of the contestant rolling for themselves even in the Big Numbers bonus round, it just doesn't seem fair to me and I can see why it got rebooted in 1978 and thank god it did.

And no, I'm not saying that either Ms. Lee or Ms. Stewart need to lose their job or anything like that. I think the original should've had the contestants roll the dice themselves but since the dice table was on the left side instead of the right side, the dice probably could've easily fallen off the table and needed to be picked up by hand.

howilu
07-24-2025, 09:52 AM
Producers Merrill Heatter and Bob Quigley did the right thing in letting the contestants roll the dice in the 1978-80 revival. m I though High Rollers was an underrated game show that should have had a long run but it was canceled to make room for a talk show hosted by David Letterman. It had the elements needed for a successful game show, strategy, drama and suspense.

The show was revived in syndication in 1987 with Wink Martindale tasking over as host from Alex Trebek. Unfortunately, this version lasted only one season. It's a show that should be brought back.

Dude111
07-24-2025, 11:01 AM
I love that sh0w!!!

:(

staytuned
07-24-2025, 03:46 PM
You know what's strange howilu?, I've always thought that Snoop Dogg would've hosted the remake for cable since the title alone would've fit his 420 weed smoking lifestyle habits. But I'm pretty sure it would've had either a TV-14 or TV-MA rating due to the uncensored drug mentions, sexual references and of course foul language. Plus, I don't think it would've been good anyway.

Dude111
07-25-2025, 02:09 AM
That would be interesting if he did!

staytuned
07-25-2025, 05:03 AM
Maybe to you Dude111, but still I think it would've had either two or three seasons in total. And just like The Joker's Wild, it would've been called Snoop Dogg Presents High Rollers.

cd637299
07-25-2025, 09:26 AM
Somehow I never really cared for Rollers, but enjoyed Gambit. Although Elaine held up the cards, a contestant cut them, to keep things honest. Gambit’s bonus round was great with choices from card 1 to card 21.

As you may know, Game Show Central (diginet) shows “Catch 21” around 6 episodes a day. A Merrill Heatter knockoff of Gambit, but I don’t see a contestant cutting cards. On top of that, because it was done around 2008 with many pop culture questions, the viewer is stuck with questions about Lindsey Lohan and The Sopranos—in 2025. Insert “facepalm” emoji here.

cd

staytuned
07-25-2025, 02:49 PM
cd637299, have you seen the unsold pilot for Catch 21 called Casino from 2002? It was hosted by Ron Pearson (former host of the short-lived Family Channel game show Shopping Spree from 1996) with Tanya Memme as the card dealer.