1983 Gem Ranked Among 'Best Game Shows of All Time' Launched a Catch Phrase Still Used Today
The 1983 debut of Press Your Luck cemented its place as one of television's most unforgettable game shows-so much so that Entertainment Weekly recently ranked it among the "best game shows of all time." Its legacy goes far beyond flashy lights and spinning boards. The game show introduced a high-stakes format and a catchphrase that still echoes in pop culture today: "Big money, no whammies!"
Premiering on CBS in 1983, Press Your Luck combined trivia with risk-based gameplay in a way that felt both strategic and, frankly, chaotic (aka great television). Contestants answered questions to earn "spins," which they then used on the iconic "Big Board"-a flashing grid filled with cash, prizes, and the dreaded "Whammy." Landing on a Whammy meant losing everything accumulated in that round, instantly raising the stakes and tension for both players and viewers.
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What truly set the show apart, however, was its personality. The animated Whammy-a mischievous cartoon character-became a standout element, turning each loss into a comedic spectacle. Rather than simply deducting points, the show entertained audiences with humorous animations whenever a contestant's luck ran out. This blend of humor and suspense helped transform Press Your Luck into a cult classic that endured long after the show's finale in 1986.
"It's odd how well it's remembered because it only aired somewhat briefly, [three] years, which is a pretty short lifespan for a game show," one Reddit user wrote on a thread about the show's catchphrases.
The show's cultural impact is perhaps best captured in its most famous catchphrase: "No whammies!" Popularized by contestants hoping to avoid disaster, the phrase evolved into the widely recognized "Big money, no whammies!"-a saying still used today to express hopeful risk-taking.
Reddit users have shared that they say "No whammies!" "often," adding that they use the catchphrase "more than [they] would have guessed." Some, for example, can't help but say it to themselves in everyday instances.
"When I'm using a payment terminal, and it's taking a bit of time to process the payment, I can't help myself," one Reddit user said.
Beyond its catchphrase, the show also made headlines for one of the most infamous moments in game-show history. In 1984, contestant Michael Larson-an ice cream truck driver from Ohio-memorized the board's patterns and won over $100,000, exposing flaws in what was believed to be a totally random system. This moment in television history only deepened the show's notoriety. Larson became known as the "luckiest man in America."
"This is something that nobody had anticipated," Bob Boden, a network exec at CBS who worked on the show, told The Ohio Newsroom. "So everybody was really dumbfounded about how could this guy do this? What do we do in the case of something like this?"
Decades later, Press Your Luck continues to thrive through reruns and revivals. Its ranking among the greatest game shows ever reflects not just nostalgia but innovation, combining know-how, luck, and personality into a formula that continues to captivate audiences today.
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This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 8:22 PM.