Franklin & Bash: Blackjack

So there is a dram-edy television show titled "Franklin & Bash" about two lawyers.
In this episode Red or Black
The title characters are arrested for the "Wong" method of counting cards…
They are threatened with 5 years jail time for cheating
They argue that the casino's house edge is itself cheating (Judge strikes this down)


Your thoughts on how the media consistently gets the idea that card counting is illegal?

I cringed through the entire episode. It even had me asking whether the legal talk in every TV show might be so consistently wrong. It really makes you wonder. One possibility is that writers are verbalists and simply don't deal well with math (while lawyers are also verbalists).

Yeah it was tough to watch a "legal" show take such liberties…

Although, the part I did like was showing the casino welcoming someone who put themselves on the "self ban" list with open arms while he was losing — then, when they realize he is friends with the "winners", back rooming them all

However, they made it seem as if counter, by hitting on certain hands or not hitting on others, was able to ensure that the non-counters (who had no idea the other guy was counting) would win…unbelievable

And their use of the term "wong" was incorrect

I just watched it on demand where, unfortunately, fast forward was not available. Ouch!

I always wondered what became of Zack from Saved by the Bell and it's nice to see that Heather Locklear is aging well.

Card counting is boring. The writers may or may not know that it's legal but they'll never let the truth get in the way of a good plot or in this case a bad one. Liberties will always be taken to produce 40 something minutes that they hope will hold the attention of the viewers. They're probably banking on the fact that many people will believe that counting is illegal and they are probably right.

What is unbelievable is the speedy trial. Arrested one day and at trial the very next morning. Now I'm insulted.

Does anyone have chips from the Desert Opal Casino or the Golden Oasis on the strip? :-)

This is similar to the complaint most police have about their drug testing depictions on television.

The most common is the detective who places a finger in a pile of powder and places it on the tip of his tongue, then confirms based on his going numb that its cocaine.

No officer would ever do that. They don't know what the substance is. It might be poison.

Quote: 1BB

I just watched it on demand where, unfortunately, fast forward was not available. Ouch!

I always wondered what became of Zack from Saved by the Bell and it's nice to see that Heather Locklear is aging well.

Card counting is boring. The writers may or may not know that it's legal but they'll never let the truth get in the way of a good plot or in this case a bad one. Liberties will always be taken to produce 40 something minutes that they hope will hold the attention of the viewers. They're probably banking on the fact that many people will believe that counting is illegal and they are probably right.

What is unbelievable is the speedy trial. Arrested one day and at trial the very next morning. Now I'm insulted.

Does anyone have chips from the Desert Opal Casino or the Golden Oasis on the strip? :-)

True - most of society has at least heard of card counting whereas I am not sure if the public would have followed along if they were "past posting"

Of course, I love how they are once again allowed to place bets in the same casino that had them arrested (I think they would have been formally trespassed)

Quote: 1BB

...it's nice to see that Heather Locklear is aging well.

That wasn't Locklear.

Quote: socks

That wasn't Locklear.

Haha, you're right. No wonder she looked so good. When searching for the episode I saw Heather in a previous show and assumed it was her. Oh well, at least I got Zack right.

Card counting as depicted by Hollywood always makes me cringe. For one thing why is every counter mouthing the count as they go along. Kind of a give away fellas. When I tell people I count cards (not something I do regularly). They always say one of two things. "oh like in Rain Man"...or if they are younger "oh like in 21". I just sigh and say it's not like the movies. No where near as interesting for one thing. They chuckle and we move on. Nobody really wants to hear about 3 shoes at 2 am, where the true count never gets above zero for more than a hand or two. Or the smoke, or the grumpy cocktail waitress, or the dealer who hasn't done more than grunt at me in 2 hours. Or the drunk guy next to me who has spilled 3 drinks. Those moments make for bad TV.

I was going to add this to a thread where someone asked about the legality of online gambling.

I didn't mention it because it wss on TV.
Some TV show or movie was reading a list of prior convictions a suspect had. Internet gaming was one they mentioned.

Quote: socks

That wasn't Locklear.

Locklear was a regular on last season - so he might have been watching an older episode

Quote: vendman1

When I tell people I count cards (not something I do regularly). They always say one of two things. "oh like in Rain Man"...

You mean it doesn't work like this??? "Lots of Queens"...lol And also rewatching this clip, Tom Cruise should be doubling down according to basic strategy anyway.