Larson's Brother Jim Wins Whammy! Rematch

[Brett Ferino]

Todd Newton said, "It has to be something in the genes." The late Michael Larson's brother Jim won a rematch, albeit with far less money, with the opponents of Press Your Luck's all-time record winner on Monday night's return of Whammy!

The 8:30 p.m. episode (ET) featured Larson, whose legendary brother was profiled in an encore of Big Bucks: the Press Your Luck Scandal immediately afterward, challenging Michael Larson's 1984 foes Ed Long and Julie Dakan.

Michael Larson died of throat cancer at the age of 50 four years ago after allegedly fleeing from law enforcement authorities investigating his financial dealings. The two episodes in which he won a record pot on PYL when he memorized the game's electronic patterns were aired during the documentary for the first time in 19 years.

The winnings were far less than Michael's $110,237 twenty years ago. Dakan blew more than $16,000 when she hit a Double Whammy late in the game. Larson sealed the victory with a $6,695 digital grand piano. Long had a chance to make a rally but, just as in the game with Michael on CBS, fell short.

A nostalgic moment on the show's return was the appearance of the original host of PYL Peter Tomarken (who was also Game Show Network's original nighttime anchor). Tomarken emceed the question round. The audience gave Tomarken a huge ovation after he was paid a tribute by Newton.

In the evening's opening episode, contestant Kevin won what Gary Kroeger described as "a magnificent new pinball machine" worth $3,400 on his way to an $8,000 triumph.