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Press Your Luck

  • TV Series
  • 1983–2003
  • TV-G
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
822
YOUR RATING
Peter Tomarken in Press Your Luck (1983)
FamilyGame Show

A game show where contestents answer trivia questions and then have to gamble their winnings on a randomly flashing game board.A game show where contestents answer trivia questions and then have to gamble their winnings on a randomly flashing game board.A game show where contestents answer trivia questions and then have to gamble their winnings on a randomly flashing game board.

  • Creators
    • Bill Carruthers
    • Jan McCormick
  • Stars
    • Bill Carruthers
    • Peter Tomarken
    • Rod Roddy
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    822
    YOUR RATING
    • Creators
      • Bill Carruthers
      • Jan McCormick
    • Stars
      • Bill Carruthers
      • Peter Tomarken
      • Rod Roddy
    • 21User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations total

    Episodes772

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    Photos11

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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Bill Carruthers
    • The Whammies…
    Peter Tomarken
    • Self - Host
    • 1983–2003
    Rod Roddy
    • Self - Announcer
    • 1983–2003
    Charlie O'Donnell
    • Self - Announcer
    • 1986
    John Harlan
    • Self - Announcer
    • 1984
    Michele Erickson
    • Self
    • 1985
    Dwan Smith
    Dwan Smith
    • Self
    • 1986
    Wayne Nakamura
    • Self - Contestant
    • 1986
    Lisa Francois
    • Self…
    • 1985
    Ed Long
    • Self - Contestant…
    • 1984–2003
    Anthony Filosa
    • Self - Contestant (as Tony)
    • 1983
    Miriam Voorhees
    • Self
    • 1983
    Pam Kirk
    • Self
    • 1985
    Joe Young
    • Self
    • 1985
    Lee Newcom
    • Self
    • 1985
    Mike Poiani
    • Self
    • 1985
    Thorne Butler
    • Self
    • 1985
    Ernie Pokorski
    • Self - Contestant
    • 1984
    • Creators
      • Bill Carruthers
      • Jan McCormick
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews21

    7.5822
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    Featured reviews

    asherjdoak

    LOVED IT!!!

    For as long as I can remember, this was one of my all-time favorite shows. I used to get a big laugh out of the Whammies taking all the contestant's money because each Whammy had a different look and said something really funny. One that always sticks out in my mind was the Whammy that was dressed like Elvis and how he broke his hip dancing. That was a hoot! I even used to do the whole "c'mon, big bucks, c'mon, big bucks" routine along with a contestant, much to my mom's annoyance 'cause this was pretty much at the bottom of her list of favorite shows. I'm just glad that it's found a home on Game Show Network where a whole new generation can hope that they won't lose all their money.
    jbond1

    ADDICTIVE!!!!!!!!

    I just got the game show network 6 days ago. I was flipping around the television at about 9:30 pm(3:30 pm EST) and I saw an episode of "WHAMMY! THE ALL NEW 'PRESS YOUR LUCK'". I enjoyed the little whammy running about and taking people's money. The next day I saw an episode of the original "PRESS YOUR LUCK". I liked it even better than "WHAMMY!". I now find myself taping it and watching it when I get home. It's addictive.
    8marcusmontgomery-93526

    An underrated 1980s game show with big bucks and whammies!

    In 1983, CBS debuted a new game show called Press Your Luck, and that involves winning big bucks and avoiding the dreaded red creatures known as the whammies! The gameplay may be simple and basic, but it executed well!

    The late Peter Tomarken, while not the first thing to pop into mind as a great game show host, did do a solid job as the host of the show.

    An underrated favorite of mine, if you haven't seen it yet, check it out for yourself!
    lowerexpo

    THE BEST

    This the THE BEST game show ever. I used to watch this game show as a kid. I fell in love with the show immediately. I liked the little whammy cartoons, my favorite being the bad dance whammy. And I loved the concept of the game. I wish it was this easy to win big bucks.

    Now that I am an adult, I am still in love with the show becuase of the silly questions, and the crazy, but memorable contestants. I am currently taping all of the episodes on the Game Show Network.

    To sum it up, this is a game show that people of all ages can enjoy.
    jackal749

    Wow! What a great game show.

    This was the best game show ever. Everyone I know has fond memories of the whammy... The game show was a lot flashier than the other shows on the air at the time. High rollers went too slow to enjoy. That bingo game they had was terrible! Overall, Press Your luck was great if you saw it.

    Best Emmys Moments

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    Related interests

    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family
    Bill Barretta and Pat Sajak in Wheel of Fortune (1983)
    Game Show

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Michael Larson, an unemployed ice cream truck driver from Ohio, noticed that the board followed predictable, repeating patterns. He became a contestant and used his knowledge to extend the game for almost twice as long as normal, winning $110,237. The shocked producers decided to broadcast this extended game as a two-part episode on Friday June 8, 1984, concluding on Monday June 11, 1984. The ratings more than doubled. Afterward, the producers increased the number of distinct light patterns and varied their speed to prevent such a thing from happening again.
    • Quotes

      [Someone has won with $0, as the other two players both got four Whammies and were eliminated]

      Peter Tomarken: Now is the time when Rod Roddy tells you everything you've won! Rod?

      Rod Roddy: Yes, Peter?

      Peter Tomarken: What'd she win?

      Rod Roddy: Bupkis!

    • Alternate versions
      A complete and unedited version of the Michael Larson episode was screened in the TV special "Big Bucks: The Press Your Luck Scandal".
    • Connections
      Featured in The Boy Who Could Fly (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      Main Theme
      (1983-1986)

      by Lee Ringuette for Score Productions

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    FAQ19

    • How many seasons does Press Your Luck have?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 19, 1983 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • CBS Television City - 7800 Beverly Boulevard, Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studios 33, 41, 43)
    • Production companies
      • CBS
      • Carruthers Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 30m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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