This is the 1986 section of the Press Your Luck episode guide. The year would end up being a problematic one for the show as it moved to 4:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. CT-MT-PT on January 6 (Noon in some markets including New York City) to replace Mark Goodson Productions' Body Language and make way for a Bob Eubanks-hosted revival of Card Sharks. Despite still providing as many memorable big winners and zany moments as before (including the debut of one more Directional Square called Across the Board in March), the time change really hurt the show as many CBS affiliates pre-empted the series for news or local programming (and while it probably had nothing to do with the demise of the show, the values on the Round 2 board got cheaper; most of the $2,000 and $2,500 spaces were replaced with $500 and $1,000 ones, and Pick A Corner was reduced to having many anti-climactic choices, prompting it to be removed on July 25). According to Broadcasting Magazine on July 14, by the end of the second quarter of the year in June, the program had ranked 25th out of 26 daytime shows with a 2.3/10 rating share. On August 18, that same publication reported that the program's live clearances had dwindled to 9%, and, projecting that the total clearance level would dwindle from 47% to 43%, CBS decided to surrender the time period. The show aired on CBS for the last time on September 26. CBS was the third and final network to throw in the towel with the 4:00 p.m. timeslot; ABC already did this on December 28, 1984 with the end of The Edge of Night, and NBC threw in theirs on December 2, 1977 when The Gong Show moved to 12:30 p.m. Between December 1986 and September 1987, some local stations (some of which were CBS stations that did not air the show when it was in production) aired reruns of the show in syndication. On September 14, 1987, the USA Network picked up reruns of the show. Despite TV listings seemingly indicating a Basketball game preemption on May 26, 1986, the show actually aired on that day, and probably on September 1 & 5, despite Tennis games being scheduled for both of them. https://gameshows.fandom.com/wiki/Press_Your_Luck#Rebroadcasts.
Ep. # | CBS Airdate | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 | Show Total | Running Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
592 | 01/02/1986 | Craig | Chris | Lori | $11,834 | $11,834 |
593 | 01/03/1986 | Marla | Joyce | Chris | $11,000 | $11,000 |
594 | 01/06/1986 | Marla | Kent | David | $7,940 | $7,940 |
595 | 01/07/1986 | Kimberly | David | Tommy | $5,750 | $5,750 |
596 | 01/08/1986 | Ann | Betsy | Tommy | $6,475 | $6,475 |
597 | 01/09/1986 | Betsy | Sam | Jenea | $13,738 | $20,213 |
598 | 01/10/1986 | Lee | Betsy | Jimmy | $10,797 | $31,010 |
599 | 01/13/1986 | Mayuri | Betsy | Jim | $9,000 | $9,000 |
600 | 01/14/1986 | Jim | Craig | Perri | $11,693 | $11,693 |
601 | 01/15/1986 | Perri | Judy | Darren | $10,500 | $10,500 |
602 | 01/16/1986 | Ruth | Mando | Darren | $13,459 | $13,459 |
603 | 01/17/1986 | Nancy | Lisa | Mando | $10,700 | $10,700 |
604 | 01/20/1986 | Kathy | Lisa | Oliver | $7,050 | $17,750 |
605 | 01/21/1986 | Eric | Mitchell | Lisa | $2,750 | $20,500 |
606 | 01/22/1986 | Lisa | Irene | Rob | $13,900 | $34,400 |
607 | 01/23/1986 | Lisa | Sheryl | Don | $12,800 | $12,800 |
608 | 01/24/1986 | Karen | Don | Carolyn* | $20,454 | $33,254 |
609 | 01/27/1986 | Bill | Donna | Don | $6,500 | $6,500 |
610 | 01/29/1986 | Wayne | Julie | Bill | $7,900 | $7,900 |
611 | 01/30/1986 | Julie | Sean | Jennifer | $8,160 | $16,060 |
612 | 01/31/1986 | Julie | John | Joe | $10,990 | $10,990 |
613 | 02/03/1986 | Sherry | Wanda | Joe | $13,749 | $24,739 |
614 | 02/04/1986 | Chris | Michael | Joe | $10,141 | $34,880 |
615 | 02/05/1986 | Dorothy | Wayne | Joe | $0 | $34,880 (Joe) |
616 | 02/06/1986 | Joe | Wayne | Dorothy | $16,260 | $16,260 |
617 | 02/07/1986 | Steve | Cheryl | Wayne | $5,630 | $21,890 |
618 | 02/10/1986 | Judy | Wayne | Kathy | $11,425 | $11,425 |
619 | 02/11/1986 | Sam | Judy | Whip | $2,338 | $2,338 |
620 | 02/12/1986 | Linda | Bill | Sam | $7,472 | $7,472 |
621 | 02/13/1986 | Nora | Bill | Jimmy | $14,527 | $14,527 |
622 | 02/14/1986 | Deborah | Nora | Craig | $7,798 | $22,325 |
623 | 02/17/1986 | Scotty | Kelly | Nora | $12,500 | $12,500 |
624 | 02/18/1986 | Stacy | Kelly | Stephan | $13,950 | $13,950 |
625 | 02/19/1986 | Tina | Stephan | Ted | $18,082 | $18,082 |
626 | 02/20/1986 | Doug | Tina | Debbie | $8,134 | $8,134 |
627 | 02/21/1986 | Debbie | Kelly | Ivan | $8,200 | $8,200 |
628 | 02/24/1986 | Ivan | Phyllis | Susan | $9,816 | $18,016 |
629 | 02/25/1986 | Ivan | Linda | Jackie* | $15,424 | $15,424 |
630 | 02/26/1986 | Larry | Linda | Daryl | $11,344 | $26,768 |
631 | 02/27/1986 | Andy | Linda | Lorraine | $4,050 | $4,050 |
632 | 02/28/1986 | Andy | Karen | Linda | $9,500 | $9,500 |
633 | 03/03/1986 | Karen | Steve | Grace | $10,920 | $10,920 |
634 | 03/04/1986 | Grace | Hal* | Randy | $9,706 | $20,626 |
635 | 03/05/1986 | Grace | Glenn | Tracey | $12,436 | $12,436 |
636 | 03/06/1986 | Joy | Kathy | Glenn | $23,900 | $23,900 |
637 | 03/07/1986 | Drew | Kathy | Louise | $11,350 | $35,250 |
638 | 03/10/1986 | Chris | Kathy | Robert | $6,143 | $6,143 |
639 | 03/11/1986 | Zena | Robert | Ellen | $14,734 | $14,734 |
640 | 03/12/1986 | Bill | Zena | Deanne* | $7,000 | $21,734 |
641 | 03/13/1986 | Michael | Zena | Ken | $13,546 | $13,546 |
642 | 03/14/1986 | Meri Lea | Lance | Michael | $6,250 | $19,796 |
643 | 03/17/1986 | Michael | Jeff | Etta | $33,380 | $53,176 |
644 | 03/18/1986 | Chico | Michelle | Gene* | $13,895 | $13,895 |
645 | 03/19/1986 | Frank | Chico | Calvin | $22,838 | $22,838 |
646 | 03/20/1986 | Tom | Frank | Stacey | $3,500 | $3,500 |
647 | 03/21/1986 | Naomi | Tom | Paula | $13,668 | $17,168 |
648 | 03/24/1986 | Bill | Kris | Tom | $10,152 | $27,320 |
649 | 03/25/1986 | Brad | Jacki | Tom | $18,568 | $18,568 |
650 | 03/26/1986 | Ray | Jacki | Karl | $7,822 | $7,822 |
651 | 03/27/1986 | Cathy | Karl | Molly* | $12,558 | $20,380 |
652 | 03/28/1986 | Susan | Rick | Karl | $7,500 | $7,500 |
653 | 03/31/1986 | Susan | Joe | Bob | $6,750 | $6,750 |
654 | 04/01/1986 | Kathleen | Bob | Oretha | $16,904 | $23,654 |
655 | 04/02/1986 | Kate | Robert* | Bob | $7,000 | $7,000 |
656 | 04/03/1986 | Kate | Rod | Smittay | $11,624 | $11,624 |
657 | 04/04/1986 | Sandy | Rod | Leslie | $21,038 | $21,038 |
658 | 04/07/1986 | Leslie | Liz | Fred | $5,454 | $26,492 |
659 | 04/08/1986 | Leslie | Rick | Norma | $13,295 | $39,787 |
660 | 04/09/1986 | Ken | Leslie | Connie | $18,030 | $18,030 |
661 | 04/10/1986 | Ken | Jon | Reggie | $10,994 | $29,024 |
662 | 04/11/1986 | Ken | Lisa | Mark | $14,675 | $43,699 |
663 | 04/14/1986 | Albert | Ken | Robin | $11,750 | $11,750 |
664 | 04/15/1986 | Don | Maria | Robin | $19,998 | $19,998 |
665 | 04/16/1986 | Brian | Michelle | Don | $7,554 | $27,552 |
666 | 04/17/1986 | Maurine | Scott | Don | $8,344 | $8,344 |
667 | 04/18/1986 | Tommie | Mindy | Scott | $6,600 | $6,600 |
668 | 04/21/1986 | Mindy | Pat | Scott | $15,267 | $15,267 |
669 | 04/22/1986 | Scott | Stephon | Bea | $14,057 | $14,057 |
670 | 04/23/1986 | Bill | Bea | Barbara | $5,568 | $5,568 |
671 | 04/24/1986 | Barbara | Greg | Dwan | $11,200 | $11,200 |
672 | 04/25/1986 | Vince | Kevin | Dwan | $14,260 | $25,460 |
673 | 04/28/1986 | David | Dwan | Nadine | $6,776 | $32,236 |
674 | 04/29/1986 | Barbara | Dwan | Rick | $750 | $32,986 |
675 | 04/30/1986 | Hercules | Peggy* | Dwan | $13,050 | $13,050 |
676 | 05/01/1986 | Aaron | Laura | Nancy | ? | ? |
677 | 05/02/1986 | Marc | Aaron | Kathryn | $10,684 | ? |
678 | 05/05/1986 | Peggy* | Aaron | Vance | $9,089 | $9,089 |
679 | 05/06/1986 | Vance | Gail | Joe | $15,346 | $15,346 |
680 | 05/07/1986 | Llewellyn | Dave | Joe | $0 | $0 |
681 | 05/08/1986 | Susan | Llewellyn | Kevin | $12,700 | $12,700 |
682 | 05/09/1986 | Mark | Susan | Rita | $16,400 | $29,100 |
683 | 05/12/1986 | John | Susan | Mike | $9,734 | $9,734 |
684 | 05/13/1986 | Rob | John | Donna | $9,300 | $19,034 |
685 | 05/14/1986 | John | Judy | Jim | $8,850 | $8,850 |
686 | 05/15/1986 | Phil | Judy | Dani | $9,550 | $18,400 |
687 | 05/16/1986 | Tucker | Frank | Judy | $8,750 | $8,750 |
688 | 05/19/1986 | Leselle | Ed | Frank | $7,000 | $15,750 |
689 | 05/20/1986 | Nealy | Erica | Frank | $4,000 | $4,000 |
690 | 05/21/1986 | Erica | Rich | Joan | $19,172 | $23,172 |
691 | 05/22/1986 | Erica | Mordecai | Jeannie | $6,342 | $6,342 |
692 | 05/23/1986 | Mordecai | Kieran | Bobbi | $9,850 | $16,192 |
693 | 05/26/1986 | Sandra | Peggy | Mordecai | $3,825 | $3,825 |
694 | 05/27/1986 | John | Mona | Sandra | $6,389 | $6,389 |
695 | 05/28/1986 | Mike | Rita | Mona | $15,428 | $15,428 |
696 | 05/29/1986 | Rita | Joe | Cheryl | $12,262 | $12,262 |
697 | 05/30/1986 | Joe | Mark | Leslie | $5,250 | $5,250 |
698 | 06/02/1986 | Robb | Lynn | Mark | $11,334 | $16,584 |
699 | 06/03/1986 | Dewey | Mark | $14,500 | $14,500 | |
700 | 06/04/1986 | Beth | Dewey | Katie | $9,150 | $23,650 |
701 | 06/05/1986 | Dewey | Mike | Phyllis | $19,764 | $43,414 |
702 | 06/06/1986 | Dewey | ? | ? | ? | ? |
703 | 06/09/1986 | ? | Jason | Jerry | ? | ? |
704 | 06/10/1986 | ? | ? | Trish* | ? | ? |
705 | 06/11/1986 | Trish | Jo | George | $11,006 | $11,006 |
706 | 06/12/1986 | Billy | Jo | Tim | $14,500 | $25,506 |
707 | 06/13/1986 | Jo | Robert | Donna | $4,198 | $29,704 |
708 | 06/16/1986 | Bruce | Jo | Paige | $5,145 | $5,145 |
709 | 06/17/1986 | Scott | Paige | Jacques | $13,902 | $19,047 |
710 | 06/18/1986 | Bill | Yvonne | Paige | $8,100 | $8,100 |
711 | 06/19/1986 | Yvonne | Lauren | Dave | $10,880 | $18,980 |
712 | 06/20/1986 | Howard | Yvonne | Sue | $8,043 | $27,023 |
713 | 06/23/1986 | Yvonne | Paul | Annemarie | $27,617 | $27,617 |
714 | 06/24/1986 | Annemarie | Dailyn | Robert | $8,721 | $36,338 |
715 | 06/25/1986 | Annemarie | Nora | Mike | $26,370 | $62,708 |
716 | 06/26/1986 | Keith | Linda | Jim | $7,984 | $7,984 |
717 | 06/27/1986 | Greg | Regina | Keith | $3,350 | $3,350 |
718 | 06/30/1986 | Jim | Greg | Patricia | $16,489 | $19,839 |
719 | 07/01/1986 | Angie | Greg | Carol | $5,223 | $25,062 |
720 | 07/02/1986 | Mark | Donna | Greg | $7,686 | $7,686 |
721 | 07/03/1986 | Jim | Cynthia | Mark | $24,247 | $24,247 |
722 | 07/04/1986 | Jane | Cynthia | Robert | $19,484 | $19,484 |
723 | 07/07/1986 | Lillie | Robert | Gary | $17,800 | $17,800 |
724 | 07/08/1986 | Michael | Gary | Marlise | $11,414 | $11,414 |
725 | 07/09/1986 | Paulette | Marlise | Dan | $8,109 | $8,309* |
726 | 07/10/1986 | Dan | Marlene | Sam | $10,882 | $10,882 |
727 | 07/11/1986 | Sam | Todd | Mary | $6,500 | $6,500 |
728 | 07/14/1986 | Todd | Gary | Nancy | $8,966 | $15,466 |
729 | 07/15/1986 | Michelle | Dave | Todd | $1,550 | $1,550 |
730 | 07/16/1986 | Margo | Dave | Curt | $10,186 | $11,736 |
731 | 07/17/1986 | Dave | Anitra | Tessie | $6,990 | $6,990 |
732 | 07/18/1986 | Anitra | Pam | David | $6,342 | $6,342 |
733 | 07/21/1986 | Craig | Eli | Pam | $10,655 | $10,655 |
734 | 07/22/1986 | Debbie | Craig | André | $16,750 | $16,750 |
735 | 07/23/1986 | Rick | Steve | André | $17,670 | $17,670 |
736 | 07/24/1986 | Rick | Molly | Nick | $17,047 | $34,717 |
737 | 07/25/1986 | Rick | Grace | Chris | $6,402 | $41,119 |
738 | 09/01/1986 | Rick | ? | ? | ? | ? |
739 | 09/02/1986 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
740 | 09/03/1986 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
741 | 09/04/1986 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
742 | 09/05/1986 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
743 | 09/08/1986 | Diane | ? | ? | ? | ? |
744 | 09/09/1986 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
745 | 09/10/1986 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
746 | 09/11/1986 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
747 | 09/12/1986 | Joe | ? | ? | ? | ? |
748 | 09/15/1986 | Joe | ? | ? | ? | ? |
749 | 09/16/1986 | Kathy | Joe | Danny | $7,750 | $28,084 |
750 | 09/17/1986 | Joe | ? | ? | ? | ? |
751 | 09/18/1986 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
752 | 09/19/1986 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
753 | 09/22/1986 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
754 | 09/23/1986 | Lynne | Jeanie | Mike | $7,250 | $7,250 |
755 | 09/24/1986 | Jeanie | Karen | Vic | $19,408 | $19,408 |
756 | 09/25/1986 | ? | Karen | Elaine | $7,398 | $26,806 |
757 | 09/26/1986 | Andy | Karen | Bill | $12,777 | $39,583 |