If Michael Larson were a contestant on Whammy! or the 2019 version... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

staytuned · 07-16-2025, 05:39 AM

...I can imagine that he would've not been successful in either version due to the random patterns being computerized.

cd637299 · 07-16-2025, 10:25 PM

^ Was gonna say…!!

The whole idea of making “Big Bucks: the Press Your Luck Scandal”, although noble, was clearly a misnomer. There WAS NO scandal. Michael did something that nobody else thought of doing (watching patterns carefully on VCR), and applied himself. He won fair and square. CBS was up the creek without a paddle, and they knew it. It was CBS’ fault for limiting patterns.

Miami didn’t get PYL during the original CBS run; WTVJ was CBS under Wometco 4 years before NBC purchased it; WCIX became CBS, and now both are network O&O’s. In 1995 facilities of channels 4 & 6 switched. Long story short, I didn’t get to see it during the original run, and only a TV Guide blurb tipped me off!

It was a kind of exciting-yet-creepy feeling when I saw it the first time. I know that even Peter Tomarken was outright worried for Michael. And the other two contestants, well, such is life, facing Michael when they did.

All the stuff of legend.

cd

opus · 07-16-2025, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cd637299

And the other two contestants, well, such is life, facing Michael when they did.

All the stuff of legend.

cd

Remember when those 2 played Michael’s brother on Whammy?

https://youtu.be/MWifFATKiWg?si=R-FCS-ZIv8XsFdYu

staytuned · 07-17-2025, 12:37 AM

If I'm not mistaken and correct me if I'm wrong here guys, the two players were minister Ed Long and Janie Litras (now Janie Litras Dakan) who worked for a crazy polish dentist, and Michael's brother was James Larson.

Although he didn't win as much like his brother did in 1984, he still won nonetheless.

side note, I highly doubt James was a huge fan of PYL, let alone game shows in general unlike his late brother was.

cd637299 · 07-17-2025, 11:35 PM

@opus—-

No I never saw that “Whammy”. That was fun but a bit too wild for me.

Nice to see the other two back, but hey, they faced another Larson!

cd

staytuned · 07-18-2025, 08:20 AM

Has anyone seen The Luckiest Man in America yet?

opus · 07-18-2025, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by staytuned

Has anyone seen The Luckiest Man in America yet?

Not yet but I see it’s streaming on AMC+ which I have access to, so I’m going to try and get to it soon.

opus · 07-18-2025, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cd637299

@opus—-

No I never saw that “Whammy”. That was fun but a bit too wild for me.

Nice to see the other two back, but hey, they faced another Larson!

cd

Didn’t like the double whammys?

staytuned · 07-18-2025, 03:28 PM

So opus, I guess DVD and blu-ray is out of the question.

Double Whammies are basically like an adult version of Double Dare.

Dude111 · 07-18-2025, 03:56 PM

I only like the original PRESS YOUR LUCK.........

Yes its amazing he remembered all that!!!

staytuned · 07-18-2025, 06:12 PM

Also Dude111, who can forget the equally amazing, yet criminally underrated Peter Tomarken.

Dude111 · 07-19-2025, 03:04 AM

Ya its incredible!!!!!

What did they do after that show where Mike won so much?? -- What was the very next episode like do you recall???

staytuned · 07-19-2025, 06:24 AM

Not sure Dude111

07-16-2025, 05:39 AM	#1
staytuned Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 22, 2025 Location: Some Where You are Posts: 269	If Michael Larson were a contestant on Whammy! or the 2019 version... ...I can imagine that he would've not been successful in either version due to the random patterns being computerized.
	Last edited by staytuned; 07-17-2025 at 12:26 AM.

07-17-2025, 12:37 AM	#4
staytuned Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 22, 2025 Location: Some Where You are Posts: 269	If I'm not mistaken and correct me if I'm wrong here guys, the two players were minister Ed Long and Janie Litras (now Janie Litras Dakan) who worked for a crazy polish dentist, and Michael's brother was James Larson. Although he didn't win as much like his brother did in 1984, he still won nonetheless. side note, I highly doubt James was a huge fan of PYL, let alone game shows in general unlike his late brother was.
	Last edited by staytuned; 07-18-2025 at 08:22 AM.

07-16-2025, 10:25 PM	#2
cd637299 cd637299 Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 14, 2022 Location: South Florida Posts: 845	^ Was gonna say…!! The whole idea of making “Big Bucks: the Press Your Luck Scandal”, although noble, was clearly a misnomer. There WAS NO scandal. Michael did something that nobody else thought of doing (watching patterns carefully on VCR), and applied himself. He won fair and square. CBS was up the creek without a paddle, and they knew it. It was CBS’ fault for limiting patterns. Miami didn’t get PYL during the original CBS run; WTVJ was CBS under Wometco 4 years before NBC purchased it; WCIX became CBS, and now both are network O&O’s. In 1995 facilities of channels 4 & 6 switched. Long story short, I didn’t get to see it during the original run, and only a TV Guide blurb tipped me off! It was a kind of exciting-yet-creepy feeling when I saw it the first time. I know that even Peter Tomarken was outright worried for Michael. And the other two contestants, well, such is life, facing Michael when they did. All the stuff of legend. cd

07-17-2025, 11:35 PM	#5
cd637299 cd637299 Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 14, 2022 Location: South Florida Posts: 845	@opus—- No I never saw that “Whammy”. That was fun but a bit too wild for me. Nice to see the other two back, but hey, they faced another Larson! cd

07-18-2025, 08:20 AM	#6
staytuned Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 22, 2025 Location: Some Where You are Posts: 269	Has anyone seen The Luckiest Man in America yet?

07-18-2025, 03:28 PM	#9
staytuned Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 22, 2025 Location: Some Where You are Posts: 269	So opus, I guess DVD and blu-ray is out of the question. Double Whammies are basically like an adult version of Double Dare.

07-18-2025, 03:56 PM	#10
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 35,780	I only like the original PRESS YOUR LUCK......... Yes its amazing he remembered all that!!!

07-18-2025, 06:12 PM	#11
staytuned Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 22, 2025 Location: Some Where You are Posts: 269	Also Dude111, who can forget the equally amazing, yet criminally underrated Peter Tomarken.

07-19-2025, 03:04 AM	#12
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 35,780	Ya its incredible!!!!! What did they do after that show where Mike won so much?? -- What was the very next episode like do you recall???

07-19-2025, 06:24 AM	#13
staytuned Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 22, 2025 Location: Some Where You are Posts: 269	Not sure Dude111