The Man Who Broke A 1980s TV Game Show

Michael Larson was a contestant on the popular 1980s game show Press Your Luck. He went on a legendary run that had the audience shocked, the host losing his mind, his fellow contestants frustrated, and network executives on the phone with their legal team. CBS didn't want to air the episode.
How did he get there? How much money did he win? Did he get to keep it? Did he cheat?
I'm going to answer all of these questions and more…in today's 1980's Story.
• Big Bucks - The Press ...
tiff.net/event...

[@Tolstoy111]

Sad postscript: Peter Tomarken was killed (along with his wife) in a small plane crash in 2006.

[@mysocalledgenxlife]

I considered mentioning that, but it just didn’t fit anywhere in my script. It was so sad. He was very young. Thanks for the comment!

[@Tolstoy111]

@@mysocalledgenxlife And it was part of a charity he was involved in. Awful!

[@curtyeomans8446]

Wow. I saw a special/documentary about Michael Larson a few years back on one of those game show channels and Peter Tomarken was in it chatting with the other contestants about that game. I assumed it was a newly made special at the time but, based on when he died, it would have had to have been at least a decade old at that time, if not older

[@jenniferhansen3622]

​@@curtyeomans8446 That documentary is right here on YT. I just watched it last week.

[@jenniferhansen3622]

Yes, that's very sad.😢

[@MotownBatman]

Big Bucks No Whammies! This dude was L337 before that was a Thing

[@danalvin1184]

I used to watch this every day but I don't remember this!!!

[@ClinicalDecisionYikesYT]

Congrats on 10k! Your editing has improved so much since I started watching. 😊❤🎉

[@mysocalledgenxlife]

Thanks! The first few videos I posted were made with my phone. Once I moved to a computer, that helped tremendously. 😂😂 but honestly, thank you. I’m getting ready to take a course in adobe premiere pro and up my game another level.

[@mattrexer9086]

Man, the guy who decided to put zero whammies and "$ + 1 Spin"s in 2 of the boxes probably had a stern talking to that day...

[@larryk731]

He didn't cheat- he learned how to beat the system.

[@Jamessmith-xk3fh]

Like the person who did it to The Price is Right

[@Aster_Risk]

He worked hard to accomplish a goal.

[@pika23]

I know a lot about pricing bc I like to shop and I am in charge of the grocery budget. So if that's a crime they can lock me up,! I'm always 'winning,' whenever I watch the show. You have to be careful bc your likes to use the MSRP and that can get ya on electronics. Like game console for 397 at Walmart would price at like 410 on the show or more​@@Jamessmith-xk3fh

[@cyshadowx]

I feel like I'm hanging with old friends from my childhood on ur video content. I love ur channel sub for life 80s kids 4ever 90s teens 4ever

[@danielherrin]

This should be a movie

[@WendyDahling3]

I remember how exciting this was to watch. I never thought he cheated. He figured out the pattern and was able make it work.

[@matthewbaduria]

RIP Peter Tomarken he really was the show, there won't be another one like that again.

[@G34RH34D]

Don't hate the player, hate the game.

[@lizd.8655]

I had to pause this video when he hit $102,851 because I love playing with inflation calculators. That amount would be worth $311,617.74 today! I may edit this comment once I see his final total Edit: His final total would be $333,995.83 today!

[@jenniferhansen3622]

I love doing that too! Especially when I watch old TV shows & movies. When they talk about the cost of something, or how much they make per hour, I always like to look it up and see what it would be today. 😊

[@lizd.8655]

@@jenniferhansen3622 my interest began when I found a copy of the contract for my childhood home from 1983! The price was $28k which would be almost $89k today

[@SuperMarioBrosIII]

You should do a video about lost made for tv movies? such as Mr. Boogerdy and Bride Of Boogerty 1986-1987. Not Quite Human, Still Not Quite Human, Not Quite Human III, Dance Til Dawn, The Invisible Woman, I-Man, The Last Electronic Night/SideKicks, High School U.S.A. High School U.S.A. pilot special, Trail Of The Incredible Hulk, Death Of The Incredible Hulk, The Incredible Hulk Returns, The Odd Couple Together Again, I Dream Of Jeannie: 15 Years Later, I Still Dream Of Jeannie, Munsters Revenge tv movie 1980, Rescue From Gilligans Island, The Castaways Of Gilligans Island, The Harlem Globtrotters on Gilligans Island, Return To Mayberry, Bring Me Back The Head Of Dobie Gillis, Splash II, Problem Child III: Junior In Love, Project ALF, Revenge Of The Nerds III and IV and Bionic Showdown: The Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman from 1989 which introduced the world to a young Sandra Bullock. 🧞‍♂🏝🧟📺

[@mysocalledgenxlife]

Oh Yes...I've got a few of these in the works. I can't make videos fast enough! Lol. Thanks for the comment. If you haven't checked out my miniseries videos, I think you might like those :)

[@davinp]

The ABC revival looks just like the old board from the 1980s

[@ThorTwinkle]

That was so interesting! I guess he really won fair and square. A pity he lost everything because he couldn't get enough. I think I'll check out the movie (and the documentary) because while I was watching this video I kept thinking that this story would make a good one lol

[@JohnTaylor-xg4jn]

I found your channel yesterday and as someone born in '82 I don't think I've ever identified more with a KZbin channel. Thank you and keep putting out these great videos!

[@missladyanonymity]

No whammies! Loved this show. The animations were adorable. 🥰

[@jenniferhansen3622]

I just watched the documentary about this incident! It's hosted by Peter Tomarken, the host of Press Your Luck. It's right here on YT. 😊

[@mysocalledgenxlife]

Yes! I used it to make this video. Link in the description 😊

[@jenniferhansen3622]

@@mysocalledgenxlife That's awesome!! I haven't started watching your video yet, but I got excited when I saw it!! 😍

[@dashrendar7200]

Jeez, did you gain 1000 subs in 24hrs? Awesome!

[@mysocalledgenxlife]

I did! It’s been quite a weekend for my channel 😊

[@dashrendar7200]

@@mysocalledgenxlife 😃💥💥💥

[@machoman1016]

Whammy premiered in 2002 not 2004

[@k.s.nichols4060]

He didn't cheat at all. He played the game by the rules 100 percent.

[@Jamessmith-xk3fh]

Just like the person who watched loads of episodes of The Price Is Right and figured out they used the same prizes so they figured out the prices

[@Average_Brad]

Loved the whammie animations as a kid. Mr. Larson wasn't cheating in this instance IMO, he studied the game and used his skill and knowledge to win. That said he's definitely seems to be a bit shady in general.

[@pdennis93]

No he didn't cheat, he figured out the pattern.

[@JacknVictor]

If you take an exam, and you hapoen to know every answer within that test, because you studied that subject, and then get 100% on the exam, you are not a cheat. This guy studied the show. He's not a cheat. Being a cheat would mean he rigged the game in his favour somehow by tampering with the system. He didn't. The show's oroducers made the game, not him. They are the ones that plan, create and then play the game out, it is actually rigged in their (the shows) favour, not the contestants. The fact he studied it, figured out their patterns, and played it and won is to be comnended. It's no different from playing claw machines or penny falls or any other skill like game in an arcade. They are rigged against you, so to win, Its a skill, and he worked out the pattern, then had to use skill to stop it when he wanted it to stop. If you go on a fruit machine or one armed bandit, it is rigged against you, but in a lot of those machines you can figure out a pattern, and although its not a guaranteed pattern it will give you a good idea of a desirable outcome. Thats what this guy did, he had an idea on how to acheive a desirable outcome, but it wasnt guaranteed, but he played it. There were no rules that a contestant could not figure out the patterns that the producers had figured would be enough to stop people winning big. He played them at their own game. Legally.

[@AB2B]

No whammy! No whammy! lol I actually watched this particular episode, and remembered my grandmother being shocked over his run.

[@MsSmashley]

I was in the middle of watching the original upload when it was taken down 🤣 I was enjoying. Glad to finally finish it.

[@jacktupp4358]

I still say "No Whammies" when I'm choosing something at random or rolling a dice etc...

[@pika23]

I watch a twitch streamer yeroldad and he watches retro gameshows, he and another guy torgo1985(who streams on saturdays at 5 est) are extremely knowledgeable about gameshow history. Well worth a view for some time killing nostalgia. Great char group and fun all around

[@rev68]

I vividly remember watching both episodes live.

[@martinez1701a]

OMG I remember that it was crazy this guy figured out the pattern.

[@davinp]

His luck ran out as his house was broken into stealing his money and then he died in 1999 at the age of 50

[@ChairmanChico]

8:38 that’s my dude Brian… that’s my boy. 😊

[@fabricatedego]

No Whammy No Whammy No Whammy No Whammy. STOP!

[@missladyanonymity]

Was there doogie howser? Sure. But in the 80s, there was no mainstream understanding of geniuses or on the spectrum. But the "cheater" probably wasn't a young sheldon, just recognized the pattern. Not cheating!

[@missladyanonymity]

Exploits! So he is a intelligent crook. Lol. Frank Gallagher. Toby from scorpion. The fake lawyer on suits. Schemers! Like schemer on shining time station!

[@arnieslab]

Wow I can’t wait to binge this channel. So glad it popped up in my recommendations!

[@mysocalledgenxlife]

Yay! So glad you found me. 😎

[@JepMasta]

I was deeply honored to be interviewed for this video. It felt so good that I was able to tell a little bit of the story from a game show fans perspective.

[@mysocalledgenxlife]

Thanks for your help! I appreciate it!

[@dhtsoaedsdhtnadi9575]

kharma be a b.... well, ya know.

[@bcluckey]

Dude was like 35 years old when he was on the show. He looked all of 55-60

[@jwb932]

That's just because his clothes and hair are out of style today.

[@djgokou]

I love you

[@Skeptic78]

This channel is freaking awesome. I was wondering if you could do an episode on the most popular 80s/90s TV shows?

[@mysocalledgenxlife]

Most popular shows? I think I can do that! It will go on the idea board today. 😊 I’ll see what I can come up with.

[@Skeptic78]

@@mysocalledgenxlife cool!!! Thank you.

[@michaelkleen7991]

Guy beat the game, good for him.

[@tdickensheets]

40 years

[@danielherrin]

Is this another tease, or a please? 😂

[@mysocalledgenxlife]

It’s the real deal! 😂😂

[@brockreynolds870]

He didn't cheat any more than Chuck Woolery when he would hit the 1,500$ spot about 50% of the time on the final spin. It comes from study and SKILL

[@bscar]

The man may have died several years ago, but his legend lives on forever. Just like the games from back then, you just needed to find the pasterns to winning, and he did.

[@champagneandjd]

You took a 90 minute documentary with first hand accounts and turned it into 30 minutes where you got some things wrong even though you were literally using the source material. Just stunning.

[@mysocalledgenxlife]

What did I get wrong?

[@mrnobody2683]

YES He exploited it

[@k.s.nichols4060]

He exploited the rules without breaking them at all. That is fair play.

[@charleshall9488]

No

[@FUGP72]

You're getting ahead of yourself? By posting the 19,765th video on this guy after Game Show Network already did an extensive show on him?

[@mysocalledgenxlife]

Thanks for watching and for the comment.