Catch 21

Production

The series was executive produced by Scott Sternberg and Merrill Heatter, premiering on July 21, 2008. The first season had 40 half-hour episodes. Before the premiere, GSN aired a 30-minute documentary titled The Making of a Game Show: Catch 21.

The show's name is inspired by Catch-22. GSN renewed the series for a 65-episode second season on April 6, 2009, which added an extra power chip in the bonus round. A third season debuted on October 12, 2009, featuring some celebrity episodes. The fourth season premiered on August 16, 2010.

On March 21, 2019, Adweek reported a revival; Ribeiro returned as host, with Witney Carson replacing Mikki Padilla as card dealer. Carson and Ribeiro had previously been partners on Dancing with the Stars. Revival contestants were Las Vegas residents, and episodes were filmed in July and August 2019, premiering on October 14, 2019.

Reception

Critics generally liked Catch 21, with Carrie Grosvenor of About Entertainment calling it a fun game built on a solid idea. Hollywood Junket singled out host Alfonso Ribeiro as one of the best in the business, highlighting the rare, sibling-like chemistry between him and co-host Padilla. When Bounce TV picked up the series in 2013, the network pointed to its popularity and steady ratings growth. The revival’s October 14, 2019, premiere attracted 459,000 viewers and a 0.04 rating among adults 18-49.