Trump Card - 1990 - Marc Balcer - Part 1 of 4

Here's my 1990 appearance on the short-lived Trump Card. Yes, it's _that_ Trump. This was the Donald's first foray into TV game shows / reality TV long before The Apprentice.

The game taped at Trump Castle casino in Atlantic City. Since the show was intended for syndication, five or more shows were taped in one day and most of the season was taped in late July and August 1990. The Atlantic City location also explains why so many of the contestants were from the Philadelphia and New York metro areas.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Trump Card
• Game Shows
• Jimmy Cefalo
• Marc Balcer

[nextbarker]

is this the premiere?

[sfquizkid]

No, it was show #10.

[MrLogoman007]

So, Marc. What happened before the show? Did you meet Mr. Trump in person? Did you acquire any autographs? Did you eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner before you taped? Please tell us.

[sfquizkid]

Donald Trump didn't make any appearances on any show except for a pre-taped handshake with Jimmy Cefalo in the first episode. There was a rumor that he'd show up for the finals, but that never happened.

As for being a contestant...I arrived at 9am and we spent the next four hours in a hotel meeting room with the contestant coordinators and the other contestants. During that time we're sequestered...a production assistant even had to accompany us to the bathroom!

[sfquizkid]

If you mean, where were the buttons, they were on a wooden platform on top of the monitors that displayed our scores. I recall that they were rather hard to press--not soft touch buttons like doorbell buttons, but that they had a pretty distinctive "snap" to them. We didn't have the cord pendant switches like on Jeopardy.

[AaronBruceLadner]

There should be a Trump Card Game Show Control.

[96redse5sp]

Where'd you get the footage? I was on the show toward the end and would love to get a copy.

[AaronBruceLadner]

I have Donald Trump's Board Game, and because His "Trump Castle" was where Trump Card took Place, I Drew the Trump Card Contestant Podiums, As Well as the Bonus Game Board, and I Put them in my Donald Trump Game Box.

[thevealchop68]

@imachildofthe80s8089 "donald looks and sounds so different?" what the hell u talking about?? thats former miami dolphin jimmy cefalo!!!!!!!!!!

[fls13ec]

I was on this show. Won the first two rounds for $2250! Not bad for a day's work.

[jgee201066]

This episode aired September 21, 1990.

[AaronBruceLadner]

The Trump Plaza in Atlantic City hosted WrestleMania 4 in 1988 and WrestleMania 5 in 1989.

[nextbarker]

The tournament made no sense, why would they have to make you play a bonus game for $100,000.

[imachildofthe80s8089]

Gosh Donald looks,and sounds so different here, but I looked up this game show(knowing full well it didn't last long but since the game show genre's heating up again, I'm taking the time to find what I can remember and this brief one is one I remember so many years before going "Firing happy" on Apprentice.