TVSquad

Yes, I'll admit it. I love Wipeout. Last night I was thinking there should be a Celebrity Wipeout. Wouldn't that be great? I can think of some celebs I'd like to see get wet, whacked in the face, or fall down hard.

But the ABC game show isn't the first game show to be called Wipeout. There was a short-lived syndicated game show in the late 1980s with the same name, hosted by Peter Tomarken (Press Your Luck). Here is an entire episode, thanks to YouTube.

(S01E04) It could be my imagination, but I could swear that the remaining three celebrities vying for the last seat of Game Show Marathon semi-finals were having a good time. Maybe they were finally warming up to each other after four games, maybe it was a 'I don't care what happens, I'm going to have fun' belief. Or, maybe it's the fact they were playing Press Your Luck and, dammit, they really had a competition going on.

The original Press Your Luck, which aired on CBS from 1983 until 1986 was such a cool concept that the show is still a favorite to this day. So, it was great to see it in all it's glory on Game Show Marathon. Other than the late Peter Tomarken all of the elements were there, the spinning set, the big board, the theme music, and, of course, the Whammys. In addition, it was probably the best episode of the series so far.

Peter Tomarken, 63, and his wife, Kathleen, 41, died yesterday when their small plane crashed into Santa Monica Bay shortly after take-off. The couple had volunteered for Angel Flight West, which transports patients to medical facilities for free. Divers spent the afternoon looking for a possible third victim, a patient the Tomarkens were supposed to be transporting. However, a third body has not been found. Airport officials say the couple reported engine troubles and was turning around when it went down in about 19 feet of water.

Tomarken hosted Press Your Luck for four years. The game show was known for its' contestants screaming, "Big Bucks! No Whammies!". He has also hosted a handful of other game shows over the years. Tonight, Game Show Network will pay tribute to Tomarken by airing the documentary, Big Bucks: The Press Your Luck Scandal (how is that a tribute?) at 10 PM. Tomorrow, GSN will devote its programming to reruns of Press Your Luck.