Here we are going to have a look at the best three blackjack scenes, in our opinion, the small screen has to offer. Who can forget the classic scene in the third season of Entourage when Ari Gold is on edge, or Peter Griffin and his illogical play in the second season of Family Guy.
A few great blackjack scenes that came close to getting a run in this article were in The Mentalist and Star Trek, but we found the below scenes were the right amount of amazing and entertainment. Enjoy.
3. Rules of Engagement S.4, E.3
Jeff lies to his wife Audrey about going to a bachelor party which has actually been cancelled. Instead Jeff manages to convince his friend Russell and his personal assistant Timmy into going to Atlantic City with him for a hefty bout of blackjack.
Once there Jeff and Russell settle in for some good old fashioned blackjack. After several hands they begin to realise whenever they touch Timmy they tend to win. Poor Timmy doesn’t get a chance to explore the casino because he is being held hostage by Jeff and Russell as their good luck blackjack rabbit’s foot.
Jeff’s lies inevitably catch up with him in an escalating series of phone calls with his wife Audrey but that weirdness is beside the point. Don’t we all know someone who takes their gambling superstitions too far? Jeff and Russell won’t allow Timmy to leave their clutches because they fear whenever they let go of him they will start to lose. In fact, legend of Timmy’s “lucky” touch has spread throughout the casino to such an extent that there is a line up for seats at Jeff and Russell’s table just to play and touch Timmy.
2. Family Guy S.2 E.16
This little segue shows Peter Griffin sitting at a blackjack table with his wife Lois standing behind him. During the skit Peter is dealt 20, which is announced by the dealer. Peter insists on hitting, much to the anger and dismay of both Lois and the dealer. Miraculously Peter hits an ace, giving him a total of 21. Despite this Peter insists on another card, busting and insists on another card still.
This little skit epitomises every real blackjack player’s worst nightmare: sitting at a table with someone who hits like a punch drunk Mike Tyson.
1. Entourage S.3 E.9
This episode sees the crew make their way to Vegas for a promo appearance. Things take a turn toward the peculiar when Vince and his entourage come across his agent, Ari Gold, at a blackjack table, hurling abuse at the dealer. Ari has lost $270,000 at the table and is screaming bloody murder. Vincent sits down in Ari’s stead and tells him that they will win the money back in no time flat.
Vincent, oozing charm, chips up and starts to play with what little remains of Ari’s cash.
We then skip to see Vincent with $75,000 in the box only to be dealt a pair of eights. Vincent splits the eights, now making $150,000 on the table, only to get another eight on the first hand. Vincent looks to Ari who is squirming out of his skin. Vincent tells Ari “you gotta do it” before splitting the second set of eights, now having $225,000 on the table.
On the third split hand Vincent gets a two card total of 11 and naturally doubles down for a total of $300,000 on the table. Ari is climbing the walls in anxiety, unable to contain himself when the next player along splits a pair of kings. Ari begins to abuse the poor punter. Vincent and his entourage tell Ari to keep his cool or he’ll get thrown out, losing the $300K he has on the table.
The dealer busts and Ari begins leaping around, screaming with joy, even kissing the king-splitting punter.
This is a great scene for two reasons.
1) Who among us hasn’t felt like exploding in a fit of rage like Ari at a blackjack table?
2) We all have that one friend who can turn any hand to pure gold. It’s as though they have kidnapped a leprechaun and are holding it ransom for good luck.