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Press Your Luck

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Press Your Luck
The logo for the television show Press Your Luck, featuring the words "Press Your Luck" written in red text on a yellow background.
Logo for the 2019 version
GenreGame show
Created by
Directed by
  • Bill Carruthers (1983–86)
  • R. Brian DiPirro (2019–)
Presented by
Voices of
Narrated by
Theme music composer
  • Lee Ringuette (1983–86)
  • Tim Mosher & Stoker (2019–)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons
  • 3 (CBS)
  • 5 (ABC)
No. of episodes
  • 761 (CBS)
  • 42 (ABC)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Bill Mitchell (1983–86)
  • John Quinn (2019–)
Animators
Running time
  • approx. 22 minutes (CBS)
  • approx. 42 minutes (ABC)
Production companies
Original release
Network
ReleaseSeptember 19, 1983 (1983-09-19) –
present
Related
Second Chance (1977)
Whammy! The All-New Press Your Luck (2002–03)

Press Your Luck is an American television game show created by Bill Carruthers and Jan McCormack. On each episode, contestants answer trivia questions to earn "spins" on a randomly cycling game board whose spaces display cash, prizes, extra spins, special items, or the show's mascot, a cartoon creature known as the Whammy. Landing on a Whammy eliminates any cash and prizes accumulated while also displaying a short comedic animation. Its format is a revival of an earlier Carruthers production, Second Chance, which was hosted by Jim Peck and aired on ABC in 1977. The original version of Press Your Luck aired on CBS between 1983 and 1986. This version featured Peter Tomarken as host, Rod Roddy as announcer, and Carruthers as both director and voice of the Whammy.

Following this version's cancellation, it aired frequently in reruns, first on USA Network and then on Game Show Network. Whammy! The All-New Press Your Luck, a revival of the series, aired from 2002 to 2003 also on Game Show Network with Todd Newton as host and Gary Kroeger as announcer. Various incarnations of the show have also aired in other countries as well. A weekly primetime version (reverting to the name Press Your Luck) began airing on ABC in 2019, with Elizabeth Banks as host.

Gameplay

Three contestants compete on each episode. Gameplay consists of four rounds: two question rounds and two "big board" rounds.[1]

A screen shot of Press Your Luck, showing the game's board and contestant podiums
The Press Your Luck game board, as seen on the ABC version of the show

In a question round, contestants earn spins by correctly answering a series of trivia questions asked by the host. Each question is initially presented as a toss-up open to all; after a contestant buzzes in and answers, the host reads that response and two more to the opponents as a multiple choice selection. Contestants earn three spins or one spin for responding correctly on a buzz-in or multiple choice, respectively. If no one buzzes in, the host reads three answers and each contestant can earn one spin by choosing the correct one. There is no penalty for an incorrect answer at any time.

After the question round is completed, the "big board" round begins, with the contestants using their accumulated spins in an attempt to win cash and prizes. The game board consists of 18 spaces laid out around the perimeter of a 6-by-5 rectangle. Each space cycles through two or more items, which can include cash amounts (sometimes with an extra spin), prizes, spaces which offer a change in direction or alteration to score, and the show's mascot, a red cartoon creature known as the "Whammy". A light flashes randomly around the board, marking one space at a time, and the contestant in control must hit their buzzer to freeze the board and collect whatever is lit at that moment. Landing a cash or prize space adds its value to the contestant's total, while landing on a Whammy resets the total to zero and plays a short animation involving the Whammy for the viewing audience. Any contestant who lands on the Whammy a total of four times (known as "Whammying out") is immediately eliminated from the game and forfeits all remaining spins.[1]

Specialty spaces on the board include:

  • Big Bucks: Redirects the contestant to the highest cash amount on the board at the time.
  • Add a One: Places a one next to the contestant's score as its new leftmost digit (e.g. $500 becoming $1,500).
  • Pick a Corner: Appears in one corner of the board and allows the contestant to choose one of the items in the other three.
  • Double Your Money + One Spin: Adds enough cash to double the contestant's entire score and awards an extra spin.
  • Take the Lead + One Spin: Adds enough cash to move the contestant into the lead by $1 and awards an extra spin; if the contestant already is in the lead, they receive only the spin. Added to the board in season three of the 2019 version.
  • Money or Lose a Whammy: Contestant can either take the displayed cash amount or remove a previously hit Whammy from their tally, if they have any.
  • Big 40: Awards 40 of a small prize. Added to the board in season five of the 2019 version to celebrate the show's 40th anniversary.

For the first "big board" round, initial control is awarded to the contestant who has earned the fewest spins in the question round (or is seated closer to the host in the event of a tie). At any point after stopping the board, a contestant may choose to spin again (known as "press[ing] one's luck") or pass any remaining spins to the opponent with the higher score (or the opponent of that contestant's choice in the event of a tie). Passed spins must be played by their recipient, but are converted to earned spins in the event of hitting a Whammy. Play during the "big board" round ends when all accumulated spins have been exhausted or forfeited.

The second half of the game also consists of a question round followed by a "big board" round. Initial control for the latter is given to the contestant with the lowest score, and cash/prize values are increased. On the 1983 version of the program, after all spins had been exhausted in the second "big board" round, the contestant with the highest score kept everything they had accumulated, won or retained the championship, and returned to play the next game. Champions retired after reaching/exceeding a preset winnings limit (originally $25,000, later raised to $50,000) or appearing on five consecutive episodes, whichever came first. The 2019 version does not feature returning champions, but allows the day's champion to keep their winnings and play a bonus game.

If two contestants Whammy out and the third one has any spins remaining, that contestant may play one spin at a time and stop at any point if desired. The game ends once they use their last spin, choose to stop, or Whammy out. On the 1983 version, if a game ended with all three contestants Whammying out, no one returned as champion and the next game was played with three new contestants.

Bonus game

The 2019 revival features a bonus game not present in the original, in which the day's champion faces the "big board" for a chance to win up to $1 million. The champion plays through five rounds, taking a set number of spins in each round: five in the first, four in the second, three in all others. The board displays cash, prizes, directional/specialty spaces, and Whammys as in the main game, and cash/prize values increase from one round to the next. Some prizes are tailored to the champion's particular interests. Landing on a Whammy wipes out the champion's bank and returns any personalized prizes to the board, but main-game winnings are not affected. If the champion ends a round with a bank total greater than zero, they may either end the bonus game at that point and keep all winnings, or continue into the next round. The game ends immediately upon collecting a fourth Whammy. The champion wins the entire bank for completing all five rounds; however, if the bank reaches or exceeds $500,000 at any point, the game ends and the total is increased to $1 million. Beginning in Season 4, a "Prize-a-Palooza" space appears on the board during the final round, awarding every currently displayed prize if hit.[2]

History

A black-and-white picture of game show host Peter Tomarken.
Peter Tomarken, seen here on the set of the May 1983 pilot, was the original host of Press Your Luck.

Press Your Luck is a revival of an earlier game show format created by producer Bill Carruthers, known as Second Chance. This show was hosted by Jim Peck and aired on ABC in 1977. Like Press Your Luck, it also featured contestants answering trivia questions to assume control of a randomly generated board with cash and prizes. This game board also featured spaces labeled with a devil-like creature called the Whammy, who would take away all cash and prizes if the contestant landed on one.[3] Carruthers and Jan McCormack began developing Press Your Luck in 1983.[4]

Peter Tomarken, prior to working in television, was an editor for Women's Wear Daily magazine.[1] His first major television role came earlier in 1983 on the NBC game show Hit Man, and he was chosen to host Press Your Luck after the former was canceled.[5] Press Your Luck began both tapings and airings in September 1983.[6] The show premiered on September 19, 1983, on CBS at 10:30 a.m. ET (9:30 CT/MT/PT), replacing Child's Play.[7] Serving as announcer on the show was Rod Roddy, with whom Tomarken had previously worked on Hit Man, and who would later become known for announcing on The Price Is Right. John Harlan and Charlie O'Donnell filled in on a few episodes when Roddy was unavailable.[1] In addition to creating the show, Carruthers served as both director and the voice of the Whammy. The animations featuring this character were created by animator Savage Steve Holland; Carruthers personally selected Holland to design the character, and immediately liked Holland's first concept, which he sketched out on a napkin. Holland animated the character via computer software,[8] thus making Press Your Luck one of the first game shows to use computer-designed graphics.[5] Author David Baber noted that the Whammy animations were "popular with the viewers".[3][verification needed] Some of the animations featured the Whammy taunting the contestant and becoming injured or harmed in a manner which Baber compared to a Wile E. Coyote cartoon.[3][verification needed] Others featured satires of then-contemporary pop culture figures such as Boy George or Tina Turner.[3][verification needed] Ed Flesh designed the show's set, and Lee Ringuette composed the show's music.[1]

On January 6, 1986, CBS relocated Press Your Luck in order to make room for a Bob Eubanks-hosted revival of Card Sharks. Press Your Luck replaced Body Language in the network's 4:00 p.m. afternoon time slot. Tomarken stated that by the end of 1985, the contract for The Price Is Right was up for renewal, but CBS was unable to pay Mark Goodson Productions the kind of money they wanted to continue that show on their network. Goodson came up with the solution of taking over the 10:30 a.m. timeslot.[9] The last episode of the CBS version aired on September 26, 1986. The final tapings took place in August of that same year, when its cancellation was first announced.[10] Following the cancellation, Tomarken went on to host a number of other game shows including the syndicated show Wipeout in 1988-89, as well as a number of infomercials. He and his wife both died in 2006 when a private plane he was piloting crashed in Santa Monica Bay.[5]

Michael Larson

Main article: Michael Larson

Press Your Luck gained media attention in 1984 for the winnings of a contestant named Michael Larson. A self-described unemployed ice cream truck driver from Lebanon, Ohio, he applied to be on the show that year. By recording episodes at home on a videocassette recorder and playing them back frame-by-frame, Larson discovered that the presumed random patterns of the game board were not actually random and he was able to memorize the sequences.[11] On the single game in which he appeared, an initially tentative Larson spun a Whammy on his very first turn, but then went 45 consecutive spins without hitting another one.[11] The majority of his spins landed on the highest-valued spaces, which offered $3,000, $4,000, or $5,000, all with an extra spin. The game ran for so long that CBS aired the episode in two parts, on June 8 and 11, 1984. In the end, Larson earned a total of $110,237 in cash and prizes.[12]

After an investigation, CBS executives concluded that Larson's memorization of the board patterns did not constitute cheating and allowed him to keep his winnings. The board was then reprogrammed with up to 32 new patterns to prevent subsequent contestants from duplicating his feat. In 1994, TV Guide magazine interviewed Larson and revealed the background of this episode including his decision to pass his remaining spins after he lost concentration and missed his target squares.[13]

The story was featured in a two-hour documentary on Game Show Network titled Big Bucks: The Press Your Luck Scandal in March 2003, which Tomarken hosted.[11] In July 2010, Michael's brother James, and his former wife at the time of winning, were interviewed for PRI's This American Life for the episode "Million Dollar Idea".[14] His story was also featured on the first episode of Game Show Network's documentary series Cover Story in 2018.[15]

Rebroadcasts, syndication, and digital television networks

In early 1987, 130 episodes of the show were packaged by Republic Pictures for off-network syndication to a handful of local stations. These episodes originally aired on CBS from February 25 to August 23, 1985,[16] and were also the first to be shown on USA Network from September 14, 1987 to December 30, 1988. Press Your Luck remained on its schedule until October 13, 1995, when USA dropped its game show block altogether.[1]

Game Show Network aired the show from September 2001 to March 2009, airing episodes from February 1984 to November 1985. Game Show Network resumed airing the show in 2012, airing episodes from the September 1983 premiere to February 1984. From 2014 to 2016, Game Show Network aired episodes 561 to 696, which originally ran from November 1985 to May 1986; after this, GSN aired episodes from the 1984 to February 1985 until the show was removed from Game Show Network's schedule again in May 2017. From December 2017 to February 2018, Game Show Network aired episodes from 1984 as part of a Saturday night game show block.[17]

On July 2, 2018, reruns of Press Your Luck started airing on GameTV in Canada.[18]

Whammy! The All-New Press Your Luck

Main article: Whammy! The All-New Press Your Luck

On April 15, 2002, Game Show Network debuted a revival titled Whammy! The All-New Press Your Luck (sometimes abbreviated to just Whammy!), with Todd Newton as host and Gary Kroeger as announcer, although Tomarken hosted a pilot episode.[19] This incarnation of the show featured similar gameplay to the original, and was described by Game Show Network executives as being a modern incarnation of the show. One feature unique to this revival was the addition of a "Double Whammy", which would not only remove all cash and prizes accumulated by the contestant, but also subject the contestant to a physical stunt such as having objects drop from the ceiling.[20] Whammy! aired in first-run from April 2002 to December 2003.[19]

2019 revival

A picture of actress Elizabeth Banks.
Elizabeth Banks has hosted Press Your Luck since 2019.

On February 21, 2019, a casting announcement was released by Fremantle for a new version of Press Your Luck advertising opportunities for potential contestants to apply.[21][22] American Broadcasting Company confirmed in early 2019 that the network was partnering with Fremantle to reboot the series, with pre-production on new hour-long episodes of Press Your Luck and Card Sharks already underway and taping slated to begin sometime in the first portion of the year. John Quinn (a producer on Celebrity Name Game) is the executive producer.[23] Actress Elizabeth Banks was selected to host.[24][25] Neil Ross was the announcer for the first four seasons of the ABC version, with Chris Ahearn assuming the role beginning in season five.[26][27]

The series premiered on June 12, 2019[28] following an early premiere the day before.[29] The first season featured eight weekly hour-long episodes.[30][31] ABC confirmed in mid-2023 that, despite the ongoing 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, the show's fifth season would premiere in late 2023 as intended.[2][32]

International versions

See also: International versions of Press Your Luck

Since its inception, Press Your Luck has also been adapted internationally. An Australian version, with Ian Turpie as host and John Deeks as announcer, on Seven Network from 1987 to 1988. Grundy Worldwide packaged this version, with Bill Mason as executive producer.[33] A German version entitled Glück am Drücker ("Good Luck on the Trigger") aired on RTLplus in 1992 with Al Munteanu as host. It had an animated vulture named "Raffi" steal cash and prizes from contestants instead of Whammys. Another remake, Drück Dein Glück ("Push Your Luck"), aired daily in 1999 on RTL II with Guido Kellerman as host; this show's mascot was an animated shark. In the United Kingdom, an ITV version ran for two seasons from June 6, 1991 to September 20, 1992 on ITV in the HTV West region, with Paul Coia as host. The show was canceled following the second season due to budget cuts that resulted from the ITV franchise auctions of 1991,[34] as well as lower ratings figures.

Whammy! The All-New Press Your Luck was also adapted in the Philippines as Whammy! Push Your Luck on GMA Network from 2007 to 2008. It was hosted by Paolo Bediones and Rufa Mae Quinto.

Merchandise

In 1988, GameTek released a home computer game of Press Your Luck for IBM PC compatibles and the Commodore 64.[35] Ludia Inc. (now part of RTL Group, which owns the show franchise) along with Ubisoft released an adaptation called Press Your Luck: 2010 Edition on October 27, 2009 for PC, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Nintendo DS, and Wii. Prior to this, on August 24, 2010, the game was released for the PlayStation 3 (via PSN) as part of the Game Show Party bundle pack (PS3 only) that also included Family Feud: 2010 Edition and The Price is Right: 2010 Edition,[36] and on PlayStation 3's PSN download service from August 24, 2010.[37]

A video game adaption of the show titled Press Your Luck 2010 Edition was released in the U.S. on multiple home consoles and with a PC version. Actor Terry McGovern is the off-screen host.[38] A dsots game based on the 2019 format was also released, with gameplay featuring a slot machine and the Big Board bonus game.[39]

In January 2012, an app developed by former Fremantle subsidiary Ludia and based on Press Your Luck debuted on Facebook.[40] Ten contestants compete in a single-question round together, all answering the same multiple-choice questions. There are six questions in total, each worth between $500 and $1,000, or a Whammy. A correct answer earns the question's value multiplied by the number of contestants who answered incorrectly or ran out of time (e.g., answering the $500 question correctly with three other contestants answering incorrectly earns $1,500). Bonus cash is given to the three contestants who answer the questions correctly in the shortest amount of time. Answering the Whammy question incorrectly causes the contestant to lose any money accumulated to that point.

In September 2012, Ludia released Press Your Luck Slots on Facebook.[41]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f David Schwartz, Steve Ryan & Fred Wostbrock, The Encyclopedia of TV Game $hows, Checkmark Books, 1999, pp. 176
  2. ^ a b Matt Webb Mitovich (June 24, 2023). "Elizabeth Banks Is Anxious to Give Out Press Your Luck's Biggest Prize — Plus, the Latest on Her 'Adult' Flintstones Series". TV Line. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Baber, David (2008). Television Game Show Hosts: Biographies of 32 Stars. p. 213. ISBN 9780786429264.
  4. ^ McNeil, Alex (1991). Total Television: A Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present. Penguin Books. p. 672. ISBN 9780140157369.
  5. ^ a b c Andrew Blankstein (March 14, 2006). "TV game show host, wife killed". Los Angeles Times. pp. B1, B9. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  6. ^ "Shows–CBS Television City". Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  7. ^ "Telecastings" (PDF). Broadcasting & Cable: 52. August 22, 1983.
  8. ^ "Collider Exclusive Interview – Savage Steve Holland". Collider. Archived from the original on February 26, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  9. ^ David Baber, Television Game Show Hosts: Biographies of 32 Stars, McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2008, pp. 255
  10. ^ "Afternoon Delete". Broadcasting Journal. 18 August 1986. p. 36. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  11. ^ a b c John Kiesewetter (March 20, 2003). "'Big Bucks' recalls scandal". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. F4. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  12. ^ Barbara Mikkelson, David Mikkelson (October 20, 2000). "Did Game Show Contestant Win by Memorizing Sequence of Lights on Prize Board?". Snopes. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  13. ^ "The day the game show got whammied". TV Guide. November 1994.[page needed]
  14. ^ "Million Dollar Idea". This American Life. 16 July 2010. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
  15. ^ Lyons, Margaret (2018-01-11). "How Much Watching Time Do You Have This Weekend?". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-01-26.
  16. ^ "American Radio History" (PDF).
  17. ^ Game Show Network [@GameShowNetwork] (December 22, 2017). "Sleigh bells are ringing and so is GSN! Watch Saturday Night classics tomorrow starting at 7P" (Tweet). Retrieved August 30, 2021 – via Twitter.
  18. ^ "Press Your Luck Schedule on GameTV". Archived from the original on 13 March 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  19. ^ a b Pirnia, Garin (September 26, 2016). "11 Whammy-Free Facts About Press Your Luck". Mental Floss. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  20. ^ "Game Show Network Launches "Whammy! -- the All New Press Your Luck"; New Version of Classic Game Show Brings Back "Big Bucks, No Whammys" for April 15 Premiere". Business Wire. March 22, 2002. ProQuest 445491844. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  21. ^ Davis, Alex (21 February 2019). "Press Your Luck Revival Now Casting". BuzzerBlog.
  22. ^ Silver, Marc. "ABC's 'Press Your Luck' reboot could use a fresh new spin". The Washington Post. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  23. ^ Adalian, Josef (13 March 2019). "No Whammy! ABC Is Bringing Back Press Your Luck and Card Sharks". vulture.com. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  24. ^ Nakamura, Reid (2 May 2019). "Elizabeth Banks to Host ABC's 'Press Your Luck' Reboot". TheWrap. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  25. ^ Dove, Steve (2 May 2019). "Elizabeth Banks Hosts the Return of 'Press Your Luck' Premiering Wednesday June 12 8/7c on ABC". ABC. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  26. ^ Press Your Luck. Season 1. Episode 3. Event occurs at 42:05. ABC.
  27. ^ "WHAT!?!?". Press Your Luck (2019). Season 5. Episode 1. October 10, 2023. ABC.
  28. ^ "Elizabeth Banks to Host the Return of Press Your Luck, Premiering Wednesday, June 12, on ABC" (Press release). ABC. May 2, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2020 – via The Futon Critic.
  29. ^ "ABC Is Eager to Face the Whammy and Press Your Luck with a Special Early Premiere Following One of the Biggest Nights of The Bachelorette on Tuesday, June 11" (Press release). ABC. May 30, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2020 – via The Futon Critic.
  30. ^ Press Your Luck. Season 1. June 12, 2019. ABC.
  31. ^ "Season 1". ABC. Archived from the original on November 4, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  32. ^ Michael Ausiello (May 16, 2023). "ABC Fall Schedule Shocker: Entire Scripted Slate MIA as Writers' Strike Imperils New TV Season". TV Line. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  33. ^ "Memorable Guide to Australia Television". Archived from the original on April 9, 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  34. ^ Kaye, Jeff (December 3, 1991). "Britain's Thames Television Faces an Uncertain Future". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  35. ^ "Press Your Luck for DOS". Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  36. ^ "Ludia to Put Its Spin on 'Press Your Luck'; Signs Exclusive, Multi-Year Deal with Fremantle". Reuters. October 29, 2008. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  37. ^ Jando, Eva (23 August 2010). "Coming Tuesday to PSN: Press Your Luck for PS3". Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  38. ^ "Press Your Luck: 2010 Edition". IGN. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  39. ^ "Press Your Luck Slots". Gamelab. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  40. ^ Mack, Christopher (January 9, 2012). "Press Your Luck on Facebook Review". Gamezebo. Archived from the original on November 1, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  41. ^ "Ludia and FremantleMedia Enterprises Announce "Press Your Luck® Slots" Game Now Available on Facebook®". Financial Post. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
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