Wanna Bet?
A character starts betting, usually on horse races. At first, they clean up, usually because they have some kind of "system," but eventually, they lose it all.
The Odd Couple
Appearances
- The Munsters: Season 2, episode 16, "Herman Picks a Winner" (1966). Herman attempts to teach Eddie a lesson about gambling by placing bets on horse races, but he ends up winning big. When a local gang hears about his win streak, they lure him to their hideout to find out what his system is and discover it's basically "eenie, meenie, miny, moe." Herman ends up helping the police bust the whole gang, but he never gets his winnings.
- The Odd Couple: Season 5, episode 16, "Felix, the Horse Player" (1975). Oscar has a connection at the racetrack who gives him tips on winning horses. He and Felix start betting and make a bundle, but when Oscar's connection quits to become a jockey, they make one last bet and lose it all.
- What's Happening!!: Season 2, episode 8, "Give Me Odds" (1977). Dwayne has won Rob's football pool five times thanks to his secret betting system, so Rerun's brother-in-law, Ike, bets his vacation money on Dwayne's pick for an upcoming football game. When Dwayne finally reveals that his system is based on which team has the fanciest helmets, it's too late for Ike to take back his bet, and he loses it all.
- It's a Living: Season 2, episode 12, "Horsing Around" (1982). Jan overhears two customers talking about fixing a horse race, and she and Maggie place bets on the horse, which wins. When the same two customers come in again, Maggie hears them say "number four," so the whole staff bets on number four, but what they don't know is that what Maggie heard was their selection from the wine list.
- Too Close for Comfort: Season 4, episode 14, "Goodbye, Mr. Chip" (1984). Monroe uses his borrowed computer to predict the outcome of a horse race, and he, Jackie, and Sara all bet and rake it in. Henry is reluctant to bet at first, but he finally relents and bets on the computer's second pick, but the horse collapses and has to be shot, and everyone loses their money.
- ALF: Season 1, episode 23, "The Gambler" (1987). Alf thinks the Tanner family is broke, so he tries to make them some money by betting on horse races. At first it seems like he can't lose, but soon he gets in a hole and has to raise the money he owes before the bookie shows up to collect.