Press Your Luck (TU's vision)

Press Your Luck is an American television game show created by Bill Carruthers and Jan McCormack.[2] It premiered on CBS daytime on September 19, 1983,[3] and ended on September 26, 1986;[4] it was revived in daytime syndication in following the end of the show's network television run. In the show, contestants collected spins by answering trivia questions and then used the spins on an 18-space game board to win cash and prizes. The contestant on the CBS version who amassed the highest total in cash and prizes kept their winnings for the day and became the returning champion. The contestant on the ABC version who amassed the highest total in cash and prizes kept their winnings for the day and played a bonus round for as much as $1 million. Peter Tomarken was the show's original host, and Rod Roddy was the primary announcer. John Harlan and Charlie O'Donnell filled in as substitute announcers for Roddy on different occasions. The ABC revival of the show is hosted by Elizabeth Banks and Neil Ross is the announcer. Press Your Luck is videotaped before a live studio audience at CBS Television City, Studios 33 (Bob Barker Studio) and 43, in Hollywood, California;[6] the ABC revival is also credited as being "from Television City in Hollywood"[7] and was taped in Studio 36. The show was a retooling of the earlier Carruthers production Second Chance, which was hosted by Jim Peck and aired on ABC in 1977.[8]

The show was known for the "Whammy", a red cartoon creature with a high-pitched, raspy voice. Landing on any Whammy space causes the player to go bankrupt and start over from $0, accompanied by an animation that showed the Whammy taking the loot, but frequently being blown up or otherwise humiliated in the process. The Whammies were created and animated by Savage Steve Holland and Bill Kopp, and voiced by Bill Carruthers.