User:Daniel Benfield/Press Your Luck 1983 Video Archive

Press Your Luck is...what can I say?...a classic (I think Adam Nedeff once called it "The New Classic"). That said, the early months were the show finding its footing again six years after Second Chance, and for some it seems to be more fun to watch.

In the early days, the Big Board would malfunction from time to time with slides going blank, resulting in jump-cuts if a player happened to stop on one; took a bit longer to fix the buzzers so they wouldn't break, though...

Early on, the top value in Round 1 was $1250, with [4] having $750 as the lowest value; also very early on, some slides (particularly $2000) were off-white and a bit difficult to see.

Big thanks to Jason Hernandez's episode guides for much of the below placement.

LEGAL STUFF SO I DON'T GET SUED: I'm only linking to these videos, none of which were uploaded by me, for the purposes of research and as a public record. Footage ©1983-85 Carruthers Company Productions/FremantleMedia and associated entities.

("Wait," I hear you say, "1983-85? Isn't this just for '83?" Mostly, yes, but there's a bonus at the end. :)

Misc.
 * Taped 5/18/83 (Pilot: JACK CAMPION/Maggie Brown/Matt Dorf {alternate copy})
 * Fall 1983 (Promo)
 * Fall 1983 (Another early promo)

September
For whatever reason, USA never reran the first two weeks. Further, #6 was partially or completely pre-empted by CBS.


 * September 19, 1983 (Premiere: Lana/Linda/Phil; taped from Buzzr! {alternate copies: #1 from original broadcast, fuzzy/blurry video; #2, taped from GSN})
 * September 20, 1983 (#2: Linda/Patricia/Henri; taped from GSN)
 * September 21, 1983 (#3: Robert/Cathy/Henri; taped from GSN)
 * September 22, 1983 (#4: Jim/Robert/Terry; has commercials {alternate copy, taped from GSN})
 * September 23, 1983 (#5: Dave/Shirley/Robert; has commercials {alternate copy, taped from GSN})


 * September 26, 1983 (#6: Alison/Tom/Robert; taped from GSN)
 * September 27, 1983 (#7: Debbie/Maggie/Harold; taped from GSN {alternate copy, from original broadcast})

Whammy foghorn sound effect debuts; score disappears upon hitting a Whammy
 * September 28, 1983 (#8: Donna/Rocco/Maggie; taped from GSN {alternate copy taped from WCBS, followed by a clip from the pilot for whatever reason})
 * September 29, 1983 (#9: RANDY WEST!/Pam/Maggie; taped from GSN {alternate copy, from original broadcast})
 * September 30, 1983 (#10: RANDY WEST!/Kathy/Alan; taped from GSN {alternate copy, taped from WCBS})

October

 * October 3, 1983 (#11: RANDY WEST!/Clay/Martha; taped from GSN)
 * October 4, 1983 (#12: Wendy/Marie/Ken; taped from GSN)
 * October 5, 1983 (#13: Ken/Rose/Mark; taped from GSN {alternate copy from a USA repeat, begins at second Big Board round})
 * October 6, 1983 (#14: Bea/Steve/Ken; taped from GSN)
 * October 7, 1983 (#15: Shirley/Bea/Dave; taped from GSN)


 * October 10, 1983 (#16: Shirley/Larry/Denise, with Rod getting tongue-tied during the intro; taped from GSN {alternate copy, from a USA repeat})
 * October 11, 1985 (#17: Tom/Larry/Jill, with the cheapest prize in the show's history!; taped from GSN)
 * October 12, 1983 (#18: Larry/Ted/Jeanne; taped from GSN {alternate copy from a USA repeat, average quality, very low audio})
 * October 13, 1983 (#19: David/Jessica/Jeanne; taped from GSN {alternate copy from a USA repeat, video messes up briefly during intro})
 * October 14, 1983 (#20: Warren/Jessica/Miriam, with the first instance of a rare event; taped from GSN {alternate copy})


 * October 17, 1983 (#21: Miriam/Betty/Warren; taped from GSN)
 * October 18, 1983 (#22: Miriam/Sandy/Norma; taped from GSN)

Round 1 board increases (top value now $1,500); "passed spin" sound changes (began 10/19/83)
 * October 19, 1983 (#23: Tom/Draya/Miriam; taped from GSN)
 * October 20, 1983 (#24: Taina/Mark/Tom; taped from GSN)
 * October 21, 1983 (#25: Mark/John/Jackie, with some bad editing and weird shots; taped from GSN {alternate copy from a USA repeat, most of first segment missing...and what is there isn't visible})


 * October 24, 1983 (#26: Linda/Mark/Tom; taped from GSN)
 * October 25, 1983 (#27: Marv/Linda/Kim; taped from GSN)
 * October 26, 1983 (#28: Kim/Patti/Mark; taped from GSN {alternate copy from a USA repeat, begins at first contestant interview, first Question Round missing, no credits...and the first part of said last segment is a "shaky-cam" capture})
 * October 27, 1983 (#29: Regan/Patti/Sam; taped from GSN {alternate copy from an old broadcast, slightly dark video})
 * October 28, 1983 (#30: Tony/Sam/Aradine; taped from GSN {alternate copy from an old broadcast, dark video})


 * October 31, 1983 (#31: Peter/Julia/Sam; taped from GSN {alternate copy of some portions including nearly all of the second Big Board round, from a USA repeat})

November
The second Big Board sound effect (the one I remember from watching GSN in 2002-03) debuts November 2, and the scoreboards are now erased one digit at a time upon hitting a Whammy.

The flashback intros debut on November 7, with the intro music added to them on the 16th.


 * November 1, 1983 (#32: Peter/Lillian/Jack; taped from GSN {alternate copy from an old broadcast, pretty low audio})

Second Big Board sound effect debuts; scoreboards are erased one digit at a time upon a Whammy
 * November 2, 1983 (#33: Jack/Laurie/Ted; taped from GSN {alternate copy, from original broadcast})
 * November 3, 1983 (#34: Dave/Janis/Ted; taped from GSN {alternate copy from a USA repeat with a few bits of commercials, begins during first Big Board round, ends after Round 2})
 * [The USA copy is evidently cobbled from two different ones, as it starts out in average quality before abruptly going to near-perfect while Peter runs down the scores at the start of the second Big Board round (and there's some overlap in the footage).]
 * November 4, 1983 (#35: Dave/Jon/Robin; taped from GSN {alternate copy from original broadcast, begins just before Peter's intro, second Question Round missing})

Flashback intro added
 * November 7, 1983 (#36: Marty/Marilyn/Jim; taped from GSN)
 * November 8, 1983 (#37: Jim/Joan/Dan; taped from GSN {alternate copies, taped from WCBS: #1; #2, irritating tape-related sound throughout})
 * November 9, 1983 (#38: Bruce/Joan/Fran; taped from GSN)
 * November 10, 1983 (#39: Pam/Bruce/Tony; taped from GSN)
 * November 11, 1983 (#40: Leeann/Tony/Gabe; taped from GSN)


 * November 14, 1983 (#41: Toni/Bob/Tony; taped from GSN {alternate copy from a USA repeat, begins at "-most exciting game of their lives!"})
 * November 15, 1983 (#42: Tony/Dan/Cre; taped from GSN {alternate copy from a USA repeat, "wavy" video but very watchable})

Intro music now begins during flashbacks
 * November 16, 1983 (#43: Eileen/Dave/Randi; taped from GSN)

Intro changes "big bucks" to "high stakes"
 * November 17, 1983 (#44: Dave/Al/Susan; taped from GSN)
 * November 18, 1983 (#45: Rocky/Dave/Brigette; taped from GSN)


 * November 21, 1983 (#46: Beverly/Kirk/Arlene; taped from GSN)
 * November 22, 1983 (#47: Jay/Arlene/Elinore, with a terrible Round 1; taped from GSN {alternate copy from a USA repeat, ends during fee plugs})
 * November 23, 1983 (#48: Elinore/Lynelle/Neal; taped from GSN)

[No episodes aired on Thanksgiving or Black Friday.]


 * November 28, 1983 (#49: Neal/Dick/Helen, with a first question I'm surprised hasn't popped up in any "hur hur sex stuff" blooper specials; taped from GSN {alternate copy, from a USA repeat})
 * November 29, 1983 (#50: Helen/Cheryl/George; taped from GSN)
 * November 30, 1983 (#51: Sherry/Michael/Helen; USA repeat, really low audio {alternate copy, same source with some commercials but the same audio issues})
 * [For some reason, after expanding their initial lease from the first 50, GSN opted to start with #52.]

December

 * December 1, 1983 (#52: David/Becky/Helen; taped from GSN {alternate copy from a USA repeat, brief snippet of second Question Round missing, ends early in final segment})
 * December 2, 1983 (#53: John/Toni/SCOTT HOSTETLER!; taped from GSN {alternate copy from a USA repeat, somewhat low audio})

Board layouts increase again
 * December 5, 1983 (#54: Thawann/John/SCOTT HOSTETLER!; taped from GSN {alternate copy from original broadcast, begins as Peter gets to his podium})
 * December 6, 1983 (#55: Marsha/Brent/Thawann; taped from GSN {alternate copy, from a USA repeat})
 * December 7, 1983 (#56: Annie/Rob/Marsha; taped from GSN)
 * December 8, 1983 (#57: Mickey/Ellie/Linda; taped from GSN)
 * December 9, 1983 (#58: Ellie/Cathi/Michael; taped from WCBS, with commercials {alternate copies: #1, same source but no commercials; #2, taped from GSN})
 * December 12, 1983 (#59: Beth/Michael/Jeff; taped from GSN {alternate copy, taped from WCBS})
 * December 13, 1983 (#60: Chris/Dave/Jeff, with some indication that Jeff figured out the 2-12-1-9-4 pattern; taped from GSN {alternate copy, from an old broadcast})
 * December 14, 1983 (#61: Jeff/Diana/Greg; taped from GSN {alternate copy})
 * December 15, 1983 (#62: Greg/Julie/James; taped from GSN {alternate copy})
 * December 16, 1983 (#63: Barbara/Greg/Dave; taped from GSN {alternate copy, taped from WCBS})
 * December 19, 1983 (#64: Glenn/Barbara/Pam, with a really rare event; taped from GSN {alternate copy from a USA repeat, intro and Question Rounds missing})
 * ["MERRY XMAS" Big Board present for this week. Pam returned on 2/14/84 (#105: Wendy/Pam/Jesse) due to a faulty question – specifically, according to a comment left on Chris Bryant's upload of the latter, the second question of Round 2.]
 * December 20, 1983 (#65: Dee/Frank/Glenn; taped from GSN)
 * December 21, 1983 (#67: Frank/Nancy/A.J., the unstated rematch; taped from GSN)
 * [Yeah, weird story about skipping #66: it was the first show of the taping day, but went so badly that they opted to scrap it and have the players do a "rematch" of sorts. It apparently doesn't exist anymore, as neither USA nor GSN aired it.]
 * December 22, 1983 (#68: Nancy/Tracy/Pierre; taped from GSN {alternate copy, from a USA repeat})
 * [USA copy has the post-credits Whammy Carolers.]
 * December 23, 1983 (#69: Matt/Laura/Tracy; taped from GSN)
 * [Matt's the same one from the pilot! (It's not even hinted at, though.)]


 * December 26, 1983 (#70: Carlotta/Tracy/Steve; taped from WCBS, with commercials {alternate copies: #1, same source but no commercials; #2, taped from GSN})
 * December 27, 1983 (#71: Stephan/Carol/Daun; taped from GSN {alternate copy from a USA repeat, intro and Question Rounds missing, ends during Peter's end-of-show rundown})
 * December 28, 1983 (#72: Russ/SuAnne/Carol; taped from GSN)
 * December 29, 1983 (#73: SuAnne/Scott/Kennie; taped from GSN {alternate copy from a USA repeat, begins just after first guess of third question, audio and video mess up nearly throughout})
 * [Despite the audio/video issues in the USA copy (the former moreso than the latter), it's still watchable to an extent.]
 * December 30, 1983 (#74: Dee/Kennie/Kurt; taped from GSN)

"Select" Package (1984-85)
While I'd love to do the entire run of Press, there's just way too much of it out there and it's pretty well-documented anyway. Still, I want to do something with the period I'm not covering on this page or the 1985-86 one, so here you go – everything I could find from the January 2, 1984 to November 15, 1985 period that's online from original broadcasts (with commercials, preferably), USA repeats with commercials, or master copies.

There's also a scant few GSN repeats in here, mainly some very notable or infamous moments. Of this period, I know of only two episodes that aired on CBS but not GSN: May 31, 1984 (#182) and October 4, 1985 (#530).

1984
 * January 4, 1984 (#76: Tom {Day 2 - $12,745}/Vicki/Troy, the last show with the original buzzers...and it's not hard to see why; original broadcast, average video {alternate copy taped from GSN, much better quality}

Buzzers change to their regular style (began January 5)
 * January 5, 1984 (#77: Dalene/Jeff/Troy {Day 2 - $14,600}; USA repeat, average video that's mostly B/W throughout {alternate copy taped from GSN, much better quality})
 * February 2, 1984 (#97: Susan {Day 2 - $18,376!}/Naomi/Alan; USA repeat, with commercials)


 * April 17, 1984 (#150: Joe/LaVerne {Day 2 - $9,895}/Diana, the first take with some awkward/funny/awkwardly funny moments; said take is aborted soon after the fourth question is read, but for a pretty good reason... {full second take with Peter making a brief reference to the first, taped from GSN})
 * May 18, 1984 (#173/Home Player Sweepstakes I, Day 5: David {Day 2 - $5,799}/Becky/Paul; "uncut" copy by Jason Hernandez of the second Big Board round and closing segment, combining the CBS and GSN edits {the former had more footage related to the Home Player Spin, the latter focused more on gameplay})
 * May 25, 1984 (#178/Home Player Sweepstakes I, Day 10: Phyllis/David {Day 2 - $750}/John; has commercials)
 * June 8, 1984 (#188/Home Player Sweepstakes I, Finale: Ed {Day 2 - $11,516}/MICHAEL LARSON!/Janie {taped 5/19/84}; original broadcast!)
 * June 11, 1984 (#188, continued {this was all one taping session, but CBS had to edit it down so they could air it}; original broadcast!)
 * Taped 5/19/84 (#188: Edited-together version of the second Big Board round and closing segment, mostly from the GSN broadcasts {including the Big Bucks documentary})
 * [Contrary to somewhat-popular belief, this was not the last show of that taping day – that honor goes to #189, hence why Peter is still shaken up about this game on that show.]
 * June (or so) 1984 (Promo for the CBS daytime lineup: The New $25,000 Pyramid {last clip has a "$10,000" win graphic from the 1982 premiere week}, Press {first clip is from the 1983 pilot!}, and The Price Is Right; oddly, Body Language isn't present despite this promo having been sourced from one such episode)
 * July 19, 1984 (#216: Dave/Jani {Day 2 - $8,200}/Nancy)
 * August 10, 1984 (#232: Randy/Lori/Cathy {Day 2 - $2,950}, with a{n infamously-}long spin battle {taped 7/1/84}; studio master with slate!)
 * October 29, 1984 (#288: Linda/Ruben {Day 2 - $2,828}/John; original broadcast!, begins at end of opening montage)

Cash limit raised to $50,000 (began November 1)
 * December 25, 1984 (#327: Janet/Randy {Day 4 - $37,147!}/Eric, with the set and Big Board decorated for Christmas; USA repeat, with commercials {alternate copy of credits})

1985

"Home Player Spin" cue changes from Price Is Right clangs and whoops to a big band
 * January 23, 1985 (#347/Home Player Sweepstakes II, Day 3: Andrea {Day 2 - $10,489}/Al/Rita, with a strange ending {only the third time!}; USA repeat, with most commercials)
 * February 4, 1985 (#355/Home Player Sweepstakes II, Day 11: Barbara/Jody {Day 2 - $7,645}/Evan; USA repeat from 8?/95, with commercials)


 * February 22, 1985 (#369: Sam/Susan/Janie {Day 2 - $2,250}; original broadcast!, fee plugs missing)
 * February 26, 1985 (#371: Sam {Day 3 - $19,344}/JIM HESS/Pamela; taped from GSN {alternate copies, same source: full episode, final spin})
 * April 9, 1985 (#401: Brenda/Mark/Michele {Day 5 - $37,351); from GSN)
 * June 19, 1985 (#452: Nina Jo/Andrew {Day 2 - $18,876}/Paul, the "$3" episode; taped from GSN {alternate copy, same source})


 * 1985 (CBS promo for Press and The Price Is Right)
 * [Per one YouTube comment, not only are the two shows back-to-back on the schedule but one of the Press clips is Tracy winning $14,237 in an April '85 show.]
 * 1985 (Promo for the CBS game show lineup: The $25,000 Pyramid, Press, Price, and Body Language)

Neon colors debut
 * August 23, 1985 (#499: Jacklynn/Mark {Day 2 - $11,595}/Matt, with an opening montage consisting of College Week clips, a promo for Back-To-School Week and a couple of obvious edits in Round 2 where the slides blew {alternate copies: #1, #2})


 * August 1985 (#500!/Back-To-School Week, Day 1: Jacquie/Matt/Roxy, not aired by CBS or USA!; taped from GSN {alternate copies: #1, #2})
 * [Per the GSN schedules, this was indeed the 500th episode; for whatever reason, Back-To-School Week was taped between shows 497 and 498.]
 * October 4, 1985 (#530: Mike/Jean/Faye {Day 2 - $10,967}; Round 2 clip from an opening montage, repeated ten times for some reason {neither USA nor GSN has aired this one, and I'm not sure why})