The Man Who Pressed His Luck

I have recently become aware of a movie that is in post-production. I know for sure I'm going to enjoy watching it.

The film will be about Michael Larson and his time on the American game show - Press Your Luck.

To better explain what Press Your Luck is, I'll copy a little bit of Wikipedia's explanation of the rules:

Press Your Luck is an American television game show created by Bill Carruthers and Jan McCormack. Contestants answer trivia questions to earn 'spins' on a randomly cycling game board whose spaces display cash, prizes, extra spins, special items or the show's mascot - a cartoon creature known as The Whammy. Landing on a Whammy eliminates any cash and prizes accumulated while also displaying a short comedic animation.

A British version of Press Your Luck was broadcast in the HTV West region back in the 80s or 1990s. That is where I first came across the show. Over the past twenty years or so, however, I have often found myself watching old episodes from the United States via YouTube.

The most famous contestant - on the US edition of the game show - is Michael Larson. His appearance took place on June 8 and 11 of 1984. The reason why he was on two episodes is because he was too successful and CBS had to split the game into two parts for airing. 

Larson walked away with $110,237.

There was an investigation following Larson's win and it turned out the contestant had painstakingly recorded every episode of the series he could get a hold of and noticed a trend with the way the lights cycled through the game board.

To be blunt - Larson knew when to press his luck.

CBS' investigation concluded that Larson did not cheat and was given his money. However, the programme makers did reprogramme the game board to ensure they were not compromised again.

I think what Larson did is incredible. To study all those episodes, find the pattern and then to actually get onto the show is an amazing feat. There's no question as far as I'm concerned - that guy deserved and earned every single Cent he won.

With the highs of the win came some lows.

Larson lost approximately $50,000 of his cash in a house burglary. He was also involved in some sort of Internet con in the mid-1990s and passed away of throat cancer in 1999.

I'm sure the additional stories will be part of the movie as well.

Paul Walter Hauser will play Larson in the film (also named Press Your Luck). A still of the movie - unveiled by Protagonist Pictures - can be seen below.