One of my all-time favorite game shows was Press Your Luck, hosted by Peter Tomarken and starring the "Whammy" who bankrupted contestants. I vividly remember watching the show when I'd be home from school or afternoons when it was syndicated on the USA Network.
It's original run was from 1983-86 when I was 7-10 years old, the perfect time to attract Saturday morning cartoon addicts. The animated Whammy character was the reason we children of the '80s LOVED the show. We didn't care how much the contestants won...we just wanted to see the Whammy take it all away! But whether you were a sadistic kid like me or an adult who loved the thrill of winning "big bucks", Press Your Luck really delivered the goods.
Here are 6 things we loved about Press Your Luck that made it so much fun to watch for kids and adults alike...
When contestants danced along with Whammies - Some contestants were good sports and just were glad to be on the show (like the first guy in the video above.) That attitude showed through when contestants would dance or sing along when landing on a Whammy.
Want more? Check out the myPYL YouTube channel for 600+ complete episodes of Press Your Luck!