5 GSN Articles

[Pavan]

#1.)
Special Includes Never Before Seen 1963 Pilot and
Monty Hall Interview About How It All Began

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Jan. 9 -- In celebration of the revival of
one of America's all-time favorite game shows LET'S MAKE A DEAL, Game Show
Network (GSN) is presenting an hour long special that features the
never-before-seen 1963 pilot of LET'S MAKE A DEAL with host Monty Hall airing
in early spring. It was announced today by Bob Boden, Senior Vice President
of Programming, Game Show Network.
"There are so many interesting facts surrounding LET'S MAKE A DEAL's pilot
that I know fans of the show will enjoy watching this special. Viewers will
find this classic interesting, especially when noting that the audience was
not dressed in costumes, but in business attire," said Boden. "Plus with
Monty Hall's added commentary, the special is certainly one that should not be
missed by any TV lover."
The never-before-seen pilot will be broadcast in its entirety during the
special and new interviews with host Hall will fill out the rest of the hour.
Host Hall reveals many interesting behind-the-scenes facts about the pilot as
well as how it made it to network air. GSN's creative on-air promotion
department had a little fun with this special and produced promos resembling
Geraldo Rivera's infamous special "The Mystery of Al Capone's Vault." But
upon breaking through a wall, they find Hall holding the tape of the unaired
pilot and exclaiming, "That's the last time I take door number 2!"
Hall served as host of LET'S MAKE A DEAL for 27 years after its December
30, 1963 premiere. The classic game show broke all ratings records, changed
networks and moved from daytime to primetime in its successful run. In
addition to being known for its costumed contestants, the show also brought a
new word to America's vocabulary, Zonk!, in reference to funny gag prizes.
Game Show Network is programming the special to coincide with the new NBC
prime time series LET'S MAKE A DEAL, hosted by Billy Bush, which is
tentatively set to air midseason. The new series is executive produced by
Monty Hall and his daughter Sharon, and Jay Renfoe and David Garfinkle for
NBC.
The original LET'S MAKE A DEAL with Monty Hall airs on Game Show Network
weekdays at 10:00 AM ET/7:00 AM PT.






#2.)
Original Documentary Profiles Legendary 'Press Your Luck' Contestant Michael
Larson Who 'Broke the Game's Code' and Became Its All-Time Money Winner

Documentary Premieres Sunday, March 16 from 9 to 11 PM ET/PT and Includes the
Two Controversial Larson Episodes Not Broadcast Since Initial
Airings 19 Years Ago

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Jan. 9 -- Game Show Network (GSN) is
broadening its programming slate to include the production of its first-ever
documentary based on the real-life story behind contestant Michael Larson's
legendary winning streak on CBS' "Press Your Luck" game show in June 1984.
The documentary, BIG BUCKS: THE PRESS YOUR LUCK SCANDAL will debut Sunday,
March 16 from 9 to 11 PM ET/PT (and will re-air March 17 and 22 from 9-11 PM
ET/PT and March 26 and 28 from noon-2 PM ET). The announcement was jointly
made today by Rich Cronin, president and chief executive officer, GSN and Bob
Boden, senior vice president, programming, GSN as part of the network's
Television Critics Association presentation.
Larson, an unemployed ice cream truck driver from Ohio, memorized the
sequence of flashing screens and awaited the dreaded "Whammy" on "Press Your
Luck's" game board to become the show's all time money winner, racking up
$110,237 in cash and prizes with his two-episode appearance. The documentary
will feature both the original episodes of Larson's game play and exclusive
interviews from sources close to the show and Larson, including host Peter
Tomarken, co-contestants, Larson's family and network executives.
"We have always found the Michael Larson story fascinating," commented
Cronin. "With the exception of the 'Twenty One' scandal, which was
dramatized in the feature film 'Quiz Show,' Larson's story is one of the most
controversial in game show history. In fact, a feature film is currently
being developed."
"Larson's memorization of the 'Press Your Luck' game board was anything
but illegal -- just truly amazing," stated Boden. "He literally outsmarted
the game and had producers introducing new rules."
Larson, who had watched "Press Your Luck" since it premiered on September
19, 1983, tried out to become a contestant in the spring of 1984 after fervent
study of the show's game board. The "Press Your Luck" game board was
comprised of flashing TV screens which featured money in dollar amounts,
prizes and the cartoon character "Whammy." Contestants stopped the flashing
sequence and "landed" on a screen by pressing a control button on his or her
podium. Landing a "Whammy" would wipe out a contestant's winnings. After
researching the pattern of the flashing screens, Larson deduced that there
were only "six" different sequences and upon memorizing each pattern he would
theoretically be able to control the board any way that he wished as a
contestant.
With this insight, Larson flew to LA with only enough money in this pocket
to try out to be a contestant. The executive producer and head contestant
consultant disagreed over his acceptability as a contestant, however,
ultimately he got his chance. Larson was ready to take on the board.
As a contestant, Larson played it safe on his first spin by hitting a
whammy, but on the following two spins he garnered the top dollar amount,
$1250. Larson began to really heat things up in round two when he earned
seven spins. He pinpointed two screens which he wanted to continuously hit to
earn money and additional spins. He immediately started to raise his prize
winnings from $14,000 to $18,000 to $28,000. As Larson kept rolling, the show
ran out of time and had to cut the show at his 15th consecutive spin and
record earnings of $36,851. Prior to Larson's experience, "Press Your Luck"
never had to resume a show that wasn't completed in the allotted 22 minute
time frame.
Spinning on and on, Larson increased his earnings to $70,000 before he
began to struggle with the synchronization between the timing of the buzzer
and the flashing of the board.
When he hit the $102,000 mark after 40 consecutive spins, Larson
relinquished his remaining spins to the other contestants. In the end, Larson
won the game and left with $110,237, with over $100,000 of it in cash.
As a result of his outsmarting the board, the producers added sixteen more
patterns and the network set a $75, 000 cap on winnings. What did he do with
his money? Larson spent his entire earnings in less than two years. Larson,
who was later interviewed by the FBI for his alleged involvement with
unsecured securities dealings, died in 1999 of cancer in Florida while on the
run from the SEC.





#3.)
GSN Hosts Also Join the Fun as Participants in Special LINGO Episode
Benefiting Charity

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Jan. 9 -- Game Show Network (GSN) gets in
the spirit of April Fools Day when GSN hosts swap jobs for a day. Watch
CRAM's Graham Elwood, FRIEND OR FOE?'s Kennedy, WHAMMY!'s Todd Newton,
WINTUITION's Marc Summers, RUSSIAN ROULETTE's Mark L. Walberg, as they
surprise contestants and audiences by hosting each others shows as special
guest hosts. In addition, Elwood, Kennedy, Summers and Walberg appear as
contestants on LINGO, hosted by Chuck Woolery, While Newton "fools" around as
Woolery's off-camera announcer and on-camera sidekick.
Specifically, viewers will be treated to:

-- CRAM's Elwood dishing out "big bucks" on WHAMMY! The All New Press
Your Luck;

-- FRIEND OR FOE's Kennedy getting schooled on WINTUITION;

-- Todd Newton navigating the "drop zones" on RUSSIAN ROULETTE;

-- WINTUITION'S Marc Summers shepherding sleepy contestants on CRAM
(Marc) backwards!) and;

-- RUSSIAN ROULETTE'S Mark L. Walberg getting a bird's eye view of trust
and backstabbing on FRIEND OR FOE?

The fun continues on the set of LINGO with all five hosts participating in
a special charity episode hosted, as usual, by Chuck Woolery. Todd Newton
takes on the role of Woolery's court jester. Teamed up as contestants are
Walberg and Summers competing against Elwood and Kennedy. Viewers will see
one of these teams win the highest cash prize in LINGO history, $10,000 for
charity!






#4.)
Second Season of the Todd Newton-Hosted Game Show Adds New Whammys and More
'Big Bucks' Beginning March 17, 2003

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Jan. 9 -- Game Show Network's (GSN)
original game show WHAMMY!, the high-energy game of luck and skill where
contestants compete to earn spins on a game board to win "big bucks" and avoid
"the Whammy," returns for a second season on Monday, March 17. Todd Newton,
also known to audiences as the host of E! Entertainment Television's "E! News
Live" and "Wild On" returns as host of the FremantleMedia production. The
announcement was made today by Bob Boden, SVP, programming, GSN, at the
Network's Television Critics Association presentation.
Highlights in store for season two include a four day "Tournament of
Champions" event where big winners compete to win the grand prize of a brand
new car. Season two not only brings more "big bucks," but new Whammys with
the introduction of the "Supermodel Whammy," the "Rapper Whammy" and the
"Whamu-killer Whammy." Also new to the game is the "progressive jackpot"
which gives contestants a chance to win over $25,000 by landing on the
"progressive jackpot" squares on the game board and answering a question
correctly.
"We are delighted that WHAMMY! and Todd Newton are returning for a second
season," said Bob Boden, Senior Vice President, Programming. "With Todd's
humor and the always-energetic contestants, season two of WHAMMY! will bring
new and exciting game play for our contestants and viewers."
WHAMMY!, a GSN original series, is a high-energy game of luck and skill
where three contestants compete to earn spins on the game board and win "big
bucks," all while trying to avoid "the whammy" which takes away their cash and
prizes. In the first round, contestants are offered as many spins as they
like, knowing that each time they spin more "Whammys" are added to the board.
In the second round, contestants earn their spins by answering trivia
questions correctly. The final round brings the players back to the game
board and introduces the "double Whammy," which players try to avoid for fear
of the animated whammy's ability to reach into the real world. Four "Whammys"
eliminate a player from the game. The player with the most money after the
third round wins the game.
Whammy has a complementary sync-to-broadcast play-along edition available
to all viewers via gameshownetwork.com . The itv Whammy game is one of the
networks most popular with active chat rooms and a growing database. Itv
participants play-along through real-time broadcast with their own game board.
Whammy itv is engaging and entertaining for players of all ages.






#5.)
Series Name Comes From Woolery's Top-40 1968 Hit 'Naturally Stoned'

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Jan. 9 -- Game Show Network (GSN)
announces a new title for its first-ever reality series which features
America's favorite game show host, Chuck Woolery. Formerly titled "Chuck
Woolery: Behind the Lingo," the name CHUCK WOOLERY: NATURALLY STONED is drawn
from Woolery's top-40 hit with partner Elkin "Bubba" Fowler and the group
Avant-Garde. "Naturally Stoned" landed the coveted #1 spot in 1968 for seven
straight days -- and it will soon be heard again as the show's title song!
CHUCK WOOLERY: NATURALLY STONED will feature Woolery at work on the set of
GSN's most popular original game show, LINGO, and at home with his family in
Park City, Utah. The series will reveal the inner workings of making a game
show and also capture candid moments in Woolery's personal life at home with
his third wife, Teri (granddaughter to Ozzie and Harriet Nelson), their two
sons Michael (12) and Sean (6), as well as Teri's daughters from her previous
marriage, Jennifer (23) and Courtney (22), with whom Woolery is close.

[dawsongirl]

OMG!! That 3rd story is hilarious!