The 2nd Luckiest Man in America...

A few weeks after I became a Press Your Luck Champion in 1984, Michael Larson appeared and ignited the biggest game show scandal of the modern era. The film just opened. Let me take you inside 1984.

Me, Press Your Luck, 1984.

In the 1980’s, there’s a run of old, nondescript office buildings on Hollywood Boulevard just off Vine, and in one of them, is the “Press Your Luck”production offices. The building is one of those forgettable places, with lots of chrome and grey and black, one elevator out, overflowing ashtrays, stained carpeting, tiny offices, and perpetually in need of a cleaning.

Responding to an ad soliciting game show contestants in the newspaper, I found the building, went up the stairs, found the room, and joined a couple dozen other dream seekers, taking my seat at one of the long tables facing the large long table at the front.

Two animated, and enthusiastic young people, jumped to the front of the room and gave us the lay of the land. First there would be a written test. For those who passed it, there would be a chance to “play the game” for the producers. From there, the producers would observe, and make the calls on who would go on, and who would go to the back of the line.

The written test wasn’t hard, but only about 1/3 of the group passed. I passed. I would get to play the game for the producers.

Michael Larson walked into that room just a few weeks later, with the knowledge that he had found a way to beat the game that no one else had tried. It would become a battle for the prize money after accusations of cheating, and launch a very strange series of events to follow.

Me, Savage Steve and the Whammy, and how the hell did I get to LA?

Savage Steve Holland, Film Director, Animator, Creator - “The Whammy”