Lottery!

I've watched this show when I was a kid and loved it! It's about two guys who, sometimes like they were heaven sent, go to people's houses giving them their lottery prizes, changing their lives. If anyone knows the name of this series in portuguese, please contact me.

I'm not sure why my childhood memories of this show are so vivid; something about it must have made an impression on me. Ben Murphy (of "Alias Smith and Jones" fame - "Mystery Science Theater 3000" fans will recognize him from the "Riding With Death" episode) played Patrick Flaherty, a representative of the Intersweep Bank Lottery. He was the guy they sent out to tell people they'd won and deliver the checks. The IRS assigned one of their agents, Eric Rush, to travel with him and advise people about tax arrangements for their winnings (all he ever seemed to actually DO was hand out business cards.) Every week there was a new winner, and the show would go into how their newfound wealth changed their lives. Usually Flaherty and Rush got caught up in the winners' adventures. I guess it was like an updated version of the older show, "The Millionaire." There was a lot of "Odd Couple" style personality clash between the button-down IRS agent and the freewheeling lottery employee. I remember thinking at the time that they were both handsome guys, and I enjoyed the show a lot.

Of all the television shows that I have seen, good or bad, I remember Lottery for some strange reason. It was never the hit that should have been. It taught us that life can change for the better or worse with wealth. It was interesting that these two men always had $5,000 with them and a check to unsuspecting people. I never bought that part of the story. I remember when Mabel King was a church organist and she was awarded her lottery winnings. I remember when a couple threw the money and check out into the garbage only to get another check but no 5,000 grand. I never understood why the amounts were different from week to week but I didn't care. It was one of the few shows that I remember from the 1980s that never gained enough fans to keep it on the air longer. IT was a decent melodrama with all the elements of watching guest stars become millionaires when they worried about money. If only Lottery was that true.

I never forgot this show. But everyone around me really has! I used to watch it when I was about 14 back in France, I even remembered it aired on Saturdays at 6PM! I am surprised it did not have more "seasons" or episodes. They are so hard to find and so... forgotten, they really don't deserve it! I decided to watch an episode that I could find and I really thought I would be disappointed because what I liked then became very tasteless and so cheesy to me 30 ++years later (like I used to love the Persuaders and when I watched an episode a few years ago I thought that except for the credits, it was so bad!). Now Lottery, I have re-watched one episode, then 2 then 3 and I spent the whole afternoon watching a bunch as I enjoyed them just the same despite the looks which are definitely nothing glamorous nowadays! I think the concept is great : how people react to an outstanding money income. In this show there is a lot of humor, some drama, it varies which makes it very enjoyable. I am wondering if you dust it off a bit and re-adapt to the current trends and styles, make it a little bit more realistic, how would it work? There are no DVDs or anything available as far as I know.

I watched this show when I was 10-11 yrs old and it had enough 'good' stories that I remember it. It's based on the idea that common people winning the lottery can certainly change lives, but that the most uncommon things happen when unexpected winnings are awarded.

I would have to agree with the one reviewer who suggested that the show was more often SOLD to the viewer through the GOOD LOOKING lead actors. (A practice that I think was more common among TV shows 30 years ago)

It was interesting enough that I remember it from my youth. (Apparently not interesting enough to last for more than 17 episodes.)

I'm not sure you can even get this series anywhere but I would be interested in watching it again just to see if I remember why it captured my interest so many years ago.