Press Your Luck

The first time I saw this show I was instantly drawn to it. I loved everything about this show; The bad poetry people would send in about the show or Peter Tomarken, Rod Roddy (this was the first time I saw him), the excitement when the contestants played for prizes and "big money" as well as their greed. Also I liked the contestant's banter when they pressed their luck; "No Whammies, No Whammies, No Whammies" and the best was one guy who would scream, "BIG MONEY, BIG MONEY, BIG MONEY, AND NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMIESSSSSSSSSS!!. He still sticks out in my mind.

And of course, who could forget those wonderful Whammies?? I can still see the "Boy George" Whammy singing, "Who would want to hurt a Whammy?" to the tune of Culture Club's "Do you want to hurt me?" The pizza making Whammy and The construction worker Whammy as they would take away your winnings when you got them.

One of my all time game shows that I will never forget.

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.

While many will snort "Chance! Nothing but chance!" when asked about the game show "Press Your Luck", the rules of the game turned the big board bonus round into a true exercise in strategy.

To refresh your memory, after the 3 contestants earned spins by answering 4 general knowledge questions, it was time to face the 18-square big board, with its changing prize values, score-zeroing Whammies and flying cursor. In motion, the big board was possibly one of the most hypnotic devices ever created for a game show. The contestants stopped the cursor on one of the squares by mashing an over-sized button (the same button used to buzz in and answer a question to earn 3 spins instead of answering it as a multiple-choice question for 1). It was also customary to chant "No Whammies. . .big bucks. . .no Whammies. . .big bucks" before shouting "STOP!" and hitting the button.

After the contestants earned a few thousand dollars in cash and prizes, strategy came into play. If you're in the lead, do you pass your spins and hope the second-place contender can be wiped off the board? If you're trailing, do you give your spins to the leader, hoping to topple his or her empire? The four-Whammies-and-you're-out rule forced one to make even shrewder decisions. Two players who had Whammied their scores to zero passed their spins to the only one with any prizes, and since she, too, had hit a Whammy, all three were eligible to return to play again.

It isn't until you've experienced the game yourself that the strategy angle really becomes apparent. Short of trying out for "WHAMMY: The All New Press Your Luck" on Game Show Network, you can download a remarkably accurate computer simulation of the original "Press Your Luck" at:

http://www.crossbearer.com/software/press/pyl.html

When I was younger, I would watch this game show every afternoon. It became a tradition when the reruns aired on the USA Network in the afternoons several years ago. I was sad to see the reruns go, but now "Press Your Luck" has been revived on "Game Show Network" 4 times a day!

In case you don't know, "Press Your Luck" has a light-up board, with prizes, spins, and money on it, as well as a pictures of a sneaky little creature, the "Whammy," whom is out to get your money. 3 contestants answer questions in round one to gain spins, then in round two they collect money, prizes, and spins with their earned spins. If they land on any of the "Whammy" spots, they will lose all their money, but can earn it back with existing spins. The Whammies will always dance across the screen in animated form, which si qute comical. 4 Whammies ends your game, and the person with the most the most money is the winner.

This was a great game show, and I am so happy it's back in reruns. Long live the whammies, just avoid them at all costs!

Press your luck is so great to watch I love it when the contestants spin the big board it keeps me on the edge of my seat, and the whammies are very funny. I read gameshow network is planning to make a new press your luck I can't wait to see it!