The title Card Sharks is a play on the term "card sharp", a person skilled at card games. The show originally ran on NBC from 1978 to 1981 with Jim Perry hosting. It also appeared as part of CBS's Gameshow Marathon. A revival hosted by Joel McHale aired on ABC from June 2019 to July 2021. Reruns of the show aired on Game Show Network from 1994 until 2018.