Hello again to everyone out there in the Acorn Sphere. We hope all is well with you. In today’s post, we are going to talk about how the ingenuity of a person to game a gameshow made him a little fortune and cost a production company embarrassment and ridicule from inside Hollywood. Now sit right back, and let’s learn about the story of Mr. Michael Larson and the brief history of the American game show.
Game shows have been a staple of American television since the late 1930s, evolving from simple quiz formats to more complex and entertaining competitions. The first major hit was “Truth or Consequences,” which debuted in 1940. The genre gained massive popularity in the 1950s with shows like “The $64,000 Question” and “What’s My Line?” The 1970s and 1980s saw the rise of iconic game shows like “The Price Is Right,” “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune,” which became cultural phenomena. Game shows have continued to evolve, blending traditional formats with modern twists, and remain a beloved form of entertainment on American TV.
“Press Your Luck”
“Press Your Luck” is one of the most memorable game shows in American television history. It is known for its unique format, vibrant personality, and the iconic “Whammy.” First airing in 1983, it quickly became a fan favorite due to its exciting gameplay, charismatic host, and suspenseful spins.
“Press Your Luck” was developed by Bill Carruthers and Jan McCormack and produced by Carruthers Company in association with 20th Century Fox Television. The show debuted on CBS on September 19, 1983, with Peter Tomarken as the host. It was created as a revival of the 1977 game show “Second Chance,” which featured a similar gameplay concept but did not achieve the same level of success.
The show quickly gained popularity due to its engaging format and the iconic “Whammy” character, which would appear to “take away” contestants’ earnings if they landed on a Whammy space during their spins. The show ran until September 26, 1986, after which it was canceled due to declining ratings. Despite its relatively short initial run, “Press Your Luck” left a lasting impression on American game show culture.
The gameplay of “Press Your Luck” was centered around a giant game board with 18 spaces, each displaying different cash amounts, prizes, or Whammies. Contestants answered trivia questions to earn spins, which they then used on the game board. The objective was to accumulate as much money and as many prizes as possible without landing on a Whammy, which would reset the contestant’s score to zero for that round.
The suspense of whether a contestant would land on a Whammy added a layer of excitement that kept viewers on the edge of their seats. The show’s catchphrase, “Big Bucks, Big Bucks, No Whammies!” became a cultural staple, symbolizing the high stakes and unpredictability of the game.
Cultural Impact and Legacy
“Press Your Luck” holds a special place in the pantheon of American game shows, primarily due to its innovative format and the iconic Whammy character. The Whammy became a cultural icon with its mischievous animations and catchy jingle, making it one of the show’s most recognizable features.
After its cancellation, “Press Your Luck” continued to thrive in syndication and through various revivals. The most notable revival came in 2019 when ABC launched a reboot of the show hosted by Elizabeth Banks. The modern version of “Press Your Luck” retains the original’s core gameplay while introducing new elements, such as a bonus round, to appeal to contemporary audiences.
“Press Your Luck” is a quintessential example of how a game show can leave a lasting cultural impact despite a relatively brief initial run. Its engaging format, the suspense of avoiding Whammies, and the iconic imagery associated with the show have made it a beloved part of American television history. The continued interest in and revivals of “Press Your Luck” underscore its enduring appeal and its place in the legacy of American game shows.
Hello, Mr. Michael Larson
Michael Larson was not your typical game show contestant. A man that told a story of being a 35-year-old out of work, ice cream truck driver from Ohio, Larson had always been fascinated by puzzles, numbers, and patterns. He spent his spare time analyzing everything from stock market trends to lottery tickets, convinced that every game had a weakness if you looked closely enough. But it wasn’t until he turned his attention to the popular TV game show “Press Your Luck” that his obsession would lead to one of the most extraordinary stories in television history.
It all started in the summer of 1984 when Larson, flipping through the channels one afternoon, stumbled upon “Press Your Luck.” The show was fast-paced, with contestants trying to accumulate money and prizes by spinning a giant electronic game board. The board flashed various cash amounts, prizes, and the dreaded Whammy, an animated character that would “steal” the contestant’s earnings if they landed on it. What intrigued Larson was the randomness of the board, or rather, what he suspected might not be so random after all.
For weeks, Larson recorded episodes of “Press Your Luck” on his VCR and watched them obsessively, studying the patterns on the game board. Most viewers saw only a chaotic mix of lights and sounds, but Larson noticed something different. The board, it seemed, wasn’t entirely random. There was a pattern, five distinct sequences that repeated over and over. Larson realized that if he could master these sequences, he could control the board, avoiding the Whammies and hitting the big money every time.
It was a bold theory, but Larson was convinced it would work. For six months, he recorded every episode. He began practicing the timing of the board at home, memorizing the patterns, and hitting the pause button on his VCR to get his timing down. Larson discovered that there were two boxes that would never have a whammy appear if he landed on them. He numbered the boxes with his system and determined that boxes 4 and 8 were these safe boxes. When he felt ready, he applied to be a contestant on the show, downplaying his confidence and portraying himself as just another regular guy hoping to win some cash.
During his interview with show officials, many felt that Larson was strange and wanted to not allow him on the show. The lead producer quickly overruled them because he liked the story of Larson being an out-of-work Ice Cream driver and thought it would be perfect for their show.
On May 19, 1984, Larson appeared on “Press Your Luck,” standing nervously beside two other contestants as the cameras rolled. But while his competitors were simply hoping for good fortune, Larson knew he had a strategy that could change everything.
The game began, and Larson’s first attempt to get spins by answering trivia questions failed miserably. The question was, what denomination of currency does FDR appear on? Larson quickly buzzed in and answered the fifty-dollar bill, which was incorrect. The correct answer is FDR appears on the U.S. Dime, but this setback didn’t deter Larson from continuing on with his plan. Another quick note about the two safe zones not ever having a whammy, they had a cash value plus an extra spin which was huge for Larson. As long as he got two spins from the trivia questions, he could always bank more spins on the board.
When it was his turn to spin, he took a deep breath and focused. As the lights flashed and the sounds blared, Larson’s eyes tracked the sequence. He pressed the button, but his timing was slightly off, and his first spin landed on a whammy. Again, he wasn’t deterred and continued on with his plan along with getting his timing down.
From this point on, Larson was dialed in and, with precision, landed on high-dollar amounts and prizes while avoiding the Whammy every time.
What’s going on here?
The audience watched in amazement as Larson’s winnings piled up, round after round. The host, Peter Tomarken, and the show’s producers were baffled. This had never happened before. Contestants usually hit a Whammy sooner or later, but Larson was unstoppable. The only thing that put an end to his run was that fatigue and losing concentration could torpedo his plans so the time was good to stop this incredible run. Larson racked up $110,237 in cash and prizes, a record-breaking amount that stunned everyone in the studio. The amount was so large that the scoreboard didn’t have enough space to show his winnings, and the dollar sign had to be eliminated.
Needless to say, everyone at the time of the taping knew that something was up. So much so that the host, Peter Tomarken, told Larson during the episode that the producers and the authorities would be talking to him after the show, but he was allowed to continue.
The producers and lawyers pored over the video and soon found out what Mr. Larson had done. He simply gamed the game show, and the production company looked at every angle they could to prohibit the payout. The major crux was that Mr. Larson technically didn’t cheat. He used his skill and ability to determine the pattern of the gameboard, which wasn’t covered by any rule or law, and thus, the payout was given to Mr. Larson.
The production company was so incensed that they didn’t even want to show the episode, but word got out about this crazy number of spins Mr. Larson had, and “Press Your Luck” relented in the episode’s airing. Mr. Larson’s number of spins was so many (47 in all) that the show had to be broken up into two different episodes because they didn’t fit into the 30-minute timeframe. Yet another slap in the face of “Press Your Luck.”
Michael Larson’s victory on the game show became legendary in game show history. His story was a testament to the power of observation, persistence, and daring to challenge the status quo. Though the show would soon change its patterns to prevent a repeat performance, Larson’s feat remained unmatched, a singular triumph that turned an ice cream truck driver into a game show legend.
Mr. Larson’s story wouldn’t end there, but this will have to be another story. Let’s just say that most of the time, when someone earns fast money, it leaves their bank account just as fast, but this tale is one for the history books. There were two other amounts that surpassed Mr. Larson’s grand total, but if you account for inflation, his winnings were the highest ever.
With that, have yourself a day out there in Acorn land, and we will see you soon for another story.