The Greatest Game Show of All-Time Is Back! [Archive]

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Brian Cruz

03-23-2002, 01:06 AM

http://www.toonzone.net/brian/images/t-whammylogo.jpg (http://www.toonzone.net/brian/images/whammylogo.jpg)

Game Show Network Launches "Whammy! -- the All New Press Your Luck''; New Version of Classic Game Show Brings Back "Big Bucks, No Whammys'' for April 15 Premiere
     CULVER CITY, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--March 22, 2002--Game Show Network, the 24-hour cable network devoted exclusively to game shows and interactive game play, has ordered 65-episodes of the FremantleMedia-produced "Whammy! -- The All New Press Your Luck," an updated version of the classic game show, which will premiere on Monday, April 15. Hosted by Todd Newton, "Whammy!" will air Monday- Friday at 10:00 p.m. ET/ 7:00 p.m. PT.

     "We're thrilled to debut the only new game show with an animated character," said Rich Cronin, president and CEO of Game Show Network. "'Whammy!...' is a fine example of our team's effort in developing more original programming for the network."

     Added Bob Boden, senior VP Programming for Game Show Network, "I am very happy that we have chosen a game show with great excitement and prominent play-along value, and am confident that 'Whammy!...' will not only please a variety of viewers, but will attract the established fans of 'Press Your Luck.'"

     "We are delighted to have revived the classic game show 'Press Your Luck' for today's audiences," said David Lyle, president of entertainment, FremantleMedia North America. "The show has always been a favorite and this contemporary version will be filled with exciting new elements for viewers to play along and have fun."

     Host Todd Newton, who was recently the host of "Hollywood Showdown" for Game Show Network, is also recognized by television audiences for his work with E! Entertainment Television. In addition to being the on-air voice of the network, Newton is host of "Coming Attractions" and "FYE!" and co-host of "Wild On." He also occasionally fills in on "Talk Soup" and can be seen hosting many of the network's live special events on the red carpet.

     "Whammy!...," a Game Show Network original series, is a high-energy game of luck and skill where three contestants compete to earn spins on the Big 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 Big 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.

     Game Show Network, currently seen in more than 44 million homes, is the premier programming service exclusively dedicated to the exciting world of games, game playing and game shows. Game Show Network is jointly owned and operated by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Liberty Media Corporation. Game Show Network offers a wide array of programming including game show favorites from its diverse library, and new interactive game shows where viewers can become contestants in their own homes. Game Show Network can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.gameshownetwork.com.

     FremantleMedia is one of the largest international producers of entertainment programs in the world, producing more than 190 programs in over 33 countries. The company is responsible for US favorites such as the award-winning 100 Centre Street, The Nero Wolfe Mysteries, The Price is Right and Family Feud. The company's international distribution division distributes 17,500 hours of programmes to 150 countries worldwide. FremantleMedia is the production businesses arm of RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio company.

     Liberty Media Corporation (NYSE:L, LMC.B) owns interests in a broad range of video programming, broadband distribution, interactive technology services and communications businesses. Liberty Media and its affiliated companies operate in the United States, Europe, South America and Asia with some of the world's most recognized and respected brands, including Encore, STARZ!, Discovery, USA, QVC, Court TV and Sprint PCS.

     Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a division of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com.

Calhoun07

03-23-2002, 01:59 PM

For some reason, I really don't care for that show. I tried watching it but it's so lame. There is no real skill involved in the game, just chance (well...you know what I mean!) and I get so tired of hearing the contestants say, "Come on! Big money! Come on!" It's like they are coached all to chant the same thing while they play the game.

Personally, I want them to bring back Match Game, but I have no idea who would host it. Gene Rayburn was the best host ever for that show, and the recent incarnation of it a few years back stank. But it's a great game show and I wish somebody would bring it back right.

and the greatest game show of all time is easilly the Price is Right. Don't even try to pretend otherwise!@

Joe Tully

03-23-2002, 02:14 PM

I was thinking about posting something about this when I saw your avatar, Brian. I just saw another commercial with those little CG Whammies a few minutes ago. I'll probably watch it every now and then. I agree with Calhoun that Press Your Luck is a pretty cheesy game and is almost entirely luck, but that's kind of why it's fun to watch. :) And if you don't like some shows because they're cheesy, then why do you think that Price Is Right is the greatest game show? :p ;)

Here's a related story that I really like, about the guy who "cheated" the original Press Your Luck out of over $110,000.

http://gscentral.net/larsen.htm

Naraht

03-23-2002, 02:29 PM

mosszonedotcom

03-23-2002, 04:34 PM

Doesn't anyone know the story of the guy who knew the pattern and won a ton of games straight?

Lonestarr

03-23-2002, 06:29 PM

However, the fact that the Whammies are now CG doesn't instill me with much hope. While not the best game show ever, it's definitely in my top five. May God help the producers if they screw it up.

Dark Spider

03-23-2002, 09:33 PM

I used to watch this show on USA back in 1991. I was only 6 at the time. I used to watch the show just to see the different whammie animations. When I watch this show on TV now, it brings back old memories. It also makes me wonder how I ever got into that cheezy show in the first place. But it is undoubtedly a classic. I'll watch the new CG show when it comes on.

get so tired of hearing the contestants say, "Come on! Big money! Come on!" It's like they are coached all to chant the same thing while they play the game.

Yea, I noticed that too. In EVERY EPISODE, EVERY CONTESTANT said the same things: "Come on!", "Big Money!", "No Whammie!",and "STOP!" (they don't even need to say stop, they just have to push the buton). They say it in that order too, its really sickening.

Calhoun07

03-23-2002, 11:43 PM

Originally posted by Joe Tully
I was thinking about posting something about this when I saw your avatar, Brian. I just saw another commercial with those little CG Whammies a few minutes ago. I'll probably watch it every now and then. I agree with Calhoun that Press Your Luck is a pretty cheesy game and is almost entirely luck, but that's kind of why it's fun to watch. :) And if you don't like some shows because they're cheesy, then why do you think that Price Is Right is the greatest game show? :p ;)

Here's a related story that I really like, about the guy who "cheated" the original Press Your Luck out of over $110,000.

http://gscentral.net/larsen.htm

That is a pretty cool story! Do they re run that episode on Game Show Network? Is there a schedule on line where one can see when it will be re run? I'd love to see that!

That kind of reminds me of a guy I saw once on Price is Right. While it was no where near the legendary porportions of the Press Your Luck story, this guy I saw on Price is Right boggled my mind. When it was his turn to roll the big wheel to see who would be in the show case show down, he grabbed the wheel and kind of moved it up and down, as if to get a feeling of the weight and all. The he proceeded to give it a very precice spin and it wound up on the dollar. He won 1000, I think. Then he got to spin again, for a chance at I forget how much now, but a good chunk of money, five thousand I think. He did the same thing, kind a tested the wheel at first then gave it a very precice spin...and it went to the dollar on the first spin again! How the heck he could ever practice for something like that is beyond me and how he knew how much to push the wheel to get it to land on the dollar the first time around just boggles my mind.

And Price is Right is cool cuz Bob Barker is cool. Who else could kick Adam Sandlers ass?

Larsen's story will be further immortalized in 2001, when Bill Murray will play the genius contestant in a feature film about the entire experience.

When is that movie supposed to be out???? And bummer about what happened to Larsen. I guess he tried to take his luck a little too far!

Joe Tully

03-24-2002, 06:34 AM

Originally posted by Calhoun07

When is that movie supposed to be out????

According to http://www.upcomingmovies.com/pressyourluck.html the distributor dropped out of the project in about Jan 2001, so it's still in the "In Development' stage. Who knows if it'll ever get off of the ground.

According to a FAQ at http://gscentral.net/pylmisc.htm Game Show Network is working on getting rights to those eps so that they can air them, but you can see some clips from that episode at http://gscentral.net/media.htm as well as a funny clip with Mel Blanc correcting one of the show's mistakes about a LT question!

You can also get a free copy of the game for your computer at http://gscentral.net/pylmisc.htm also. I used to have a copy of it but took it off of my computer when I wasn't getting enough work done. :o

Calhoun07

03-24-2002, 08:21 AM

Aww, crap. I gotta download Real Player to watch it? Well, maybe later! I had some problems last time I downloaded Real Player and had to remove it from my computer. :(

Chris Sanders MSX

03-24-2002, 10:08 AM

Alright.. I LOVED this show. Back when I would stay at my grandmother and great aunts house, we would watch this..I used to call out "WHAMMY'S IS ON" and then well we'd watch it.

Too bad I don't ahveThe Game show Network.