Press Your Luck

"Big money, big money — no Whammies, stop!" Press Your Luck combines trivia, greed, and the relentless risk of hitting the Whammy on every press of the button.

Created by Bill Carruthers, Press Your Luck premiered on CBS on September 19, 1983 with Peter Tomarken, who hosted 757 episodes through 1986. The show became infamous when Ohio ice-cream-truck driver Michael Larson — who had memorized the Big Board's "random" light pattern from VCR tapes — won $110,237 across 45 consecutive spins on June 8 and 11, 1984, triggering a CBS investigation that ultimately let the winnings stand. The modern revival premiered on ABC on June 12, 2019 with Elizabeth Banks as host. Cartoonist Savage Steve Holland designed the original Whammy character.

What makes it unique: Press Your Luck wraps trivia (for spin-earning) around pure push-your-luck gambling (for spin-spending). Every press of the Big Board button is a choice between banking the current prize and risking it all on the next flash — Whammy takes everything. The Whammy cartoons (each one a different joke, played on the contestant who lost their bankroll) gave the show its signature slapstick voice.

Quick Facts

• Hosts: Elizabeth Banks (since 2019); Peter Tomarken (1983–1986 original)
• Network: ABC (summer primetime)
• Premiere Year: 1983 (CBS original); 2019 (ABC revival)
• Seasons: ABC revival: 6 seasons through Summer 2025; Season 7 summer 2026
• Filming Location: Los Angeles

Learn more: abc.com/press-your-luck · Wikipedia