And He Stopped on a Whammy – UPDATED

Miscellaneous TV

By madeyoulaugh | Tuesday, March 14, 2006 | 9:40 am | 37 Comments

host.jpgpyl.jpgwhammy.gif

Sad news to report today, former game show host and giver of gasms Peter Tomarken died yesterday of natural causes brought on by a plane plunging into the ocean. Now while TVgasm doesn’t often post obituaries, when the passer was giver of many a ‘gasm, their passing should not go unnoticed. I’m not sure how many people will admit to watching this show with the fervor and gusto that I did, but I remember being a kid and faking an illness in order to stay home from school and watch Press Your Luck. To this day I still use “big bucks no whammies, and STOP– on a whammy” when poking fun at what chick our B-Side has brought home from a bar or Weight Watchers meeting. Stepping into the huge shoes of game guru Monty Hall, Peter Tomarken was host of PYL when in 1984, Michael Larson figured out the not so random order the wall lit up and took the gameshow for $110,237 in cash and prizes. It was just one of several Press Your Luck TVgasms had over the years, and I am so not ashamed to step up and say as a kid, I loved that show.

Tomarkin, you, your porcelain veneers, your huge tan and hair were and 80′s game show staple, and you will be missed. Big bucks good friend, big bucks.

UPDATE: Tonight GSN will be airing Big Bucks: The Press Your Luck Scandal, and this Sunday will be run a 9 hour Press Your Luck Marathon. (Check local listings.)

37 Comments

  1. 1
    southerngal
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 9:46 am

    I’m right there with you, madeyoulaugh.

    RIP Peter Tomarkan.

  2. 2
    Tracie
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 9:52 am

    I loved the show, too. I’m not afraid to admit it.

  3. 3
    happytheatregeek
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 10:00 am

    I absolutely LOVED that show. And Peter…well he made a great host.

    It’s like a little part of my childhood went down with that plane.

  4. 4
    EdHill
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 10:01 am

    “died yesterday of natural causes brought on by a plane plunging into the ocean”

    That was funny.

  5. 5
    jack
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 10:13 am

    ah, myl–you got me nostalgia trippin’. i too used to fake sick to stay home for the veritable cornucopia of excellent daytime television–hogan’s heroes, perry mason, love american style, 64,000 pyramid, and, of course, press your luck.

    the best was when i could put together a streak of absences (thank you, strep throat!) and watch a repeat winner be transformed by whammy-anxiety from mild-mannered reserve into full-on bug-eyed, twitching, bwa-ha-ha-ing madness. those little animated whammy skits were the best, too.

    RIP, pete. i will forever remember the glaring contrast of your porcelain veneers against your cancer-tan.

  6. 6
    susanarosa
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 10:32 am

    Hell, I still watch Press Your Luck on GSN…

  7. 7
    livemusicjunkie
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 10:35 am

    I used to watch this show all of the time w/my grandma…she loved it so much that she taped it and we’d fast-forward through the commercials and get to the “big bucks, big bucks, no whammies!!!” I, of course, always wanted ppl to get a whammy just so I could see what silly guy would come out.

    Great show. RIP Peter – you rocked the gameshow circuit in your day!!!

  8. 8
    jenny10girl
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 10:51 am

    LOL so do I susanarosa!!

  9. 9
    JasonR
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 11:03 am

    Any reminiscing of daytime TV classics from our Gen-X childhood must give props to Match Game, Tic Tac Dough (Wink Martindale was the man!), Love Connection, and of course syndicated reruns such as That Girl and Brady Bunch?

  10. 10
    JasonR
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 11:06 am

    Livemusicjunkie (#7), I thought PYL pre-dated the VCR? How long was this show on the air anyway?

  11. 11
    America's Next Top Fan
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 11:10 am

    So glad someone in the blog world is paying respect to this guy. Loved the show & he was funny so my condolenses goes to the family.

  12. 12
    America's Next Top Fan
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 11:15 am

    One of my favorite Tomarken ‘gasms is when someone would Whammy he would say sarcastically, “Oh so sorrrry”.

    The contestants would shoot him daggers after he got that off. Loved it.

  13. 13
    flymotha
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 11:18 am

    This is a devastating loss. I’m tearing up over those screen shots you posted. No more whammies, Peter Tamarkan, no more whammies…

  14. 14
    livemusicjunkie
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 11:20 am

    JasonR/#10 – nope, VCRs have actually been around since the late 70s. PYL was on in the early 80s, I believe 1983.

  15. 15
    JasonR
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 11:45 am

    My parents were pretty behind the times. I couldn’t talk them into a VCR until 1985.

  16. 16
    BrugaCMH
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 12:17 pm

    RIP Mr. No Whammy

  17. 17
    Double L
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 12:23 pm

    You’re not alone, I loved PYL growing up as a kid. Peter Tomarken we’ll miss you. You put a whammy on my heart… I don’t know what that means though… but you get the point.

  18. 18
    james_woods_rules
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 12:27 pm

    Yeah Press Your Luck was totally aweosme. Those Whammy dudes were KICK ASS, especially when they would breakdance all over your money when you lost it. I too, used to fake illness to stay home and watch it. What wonderful childhood memories old Peter and PYL hold for me. I hate it when peope die.

    Um and totally off the subject-am I insane or what? Where the smeg is the LOST update? Wasn’t the “Claire gets her memory back” episode AFTER the Sayid torturing Dorthy Gale’s uncle Henry???????????????

  19. 19
    james_woods_rules
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 12:28 pm

    I hate it when PEOPLE die, too.

  20. 20
    BigTeebo
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 1:14 pm

    Wasn’t there a movie planned starring Bill Murry over the PYL guy?

  21. 21
    Doodle
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 1:46 pm

    Why don’t I remember this scandal at all? I loved PYL…..

    Interesting article….
    http://www.rotten.com/library/conspiracy/press-your-luck/

  22. 22
    BigMax
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 3:02 pm

    Loved the show. Also still use “no whammies, STOP” whenever possible.

  23. 23
    kepster
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 3:41 pm

    “Big bucks, no whammies” is still part of my vocabulary. I was a total PYL fan.

    Rest in Peace…no whammies in the sky.

  24. 24
    busybee68
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 5:04 pm

    I read on MSNBC that he and his wife were on a volunteer flight to pick up a hospital transport patient when their plane crashed.

  25. 25
    james_woods_rules
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 5:16 pm

    #25

    Yes, and according to MSNBC, the plane was his and he was the pilot. It just really sucks.

  26. 26
    Amy1116
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 8:15 pm

    I loved this show when I was. By the way the show had to be on in the late 80′s early 90s, it could of just been old ones I don’t think we got cable until then. I used to love when the whammies came out and sang. I used to watch PYL and Scrabble all the time when I was little.

  27. 27
    Amy1116
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 8:16 pm

    I loved the show when I was little. I can type.

  28. 28
    Soriner
    Posted March 14, 2006 at 11:19 pm

    That GSN special was awesome. I died laughing at the dude on screen left when he got his whammy….aaah whammy memories. Can you believe that in 1984 the guy who won the money was only 35 years old, whereas Tomarken was already 42?

    Anyway, Tomarken seemed like a genuinely good guy who wasnt embarassed at all about his PYL pass. He died doing volunteer work….which is a testament to his character. I salute you, Peter Tomarken. Thanks for the memories.

  29. 29
    subgenre
    Posted March 15, 2006 at 9:28 am

    Hey! How about “No WHAMMIES, STOP!” to all posters who MUST corekt there speling with additional posts. Man, that has to be one of my BIGGEST pet peves. Fellow commentators, TVGasm was kind enough to create a “Preview” button for you to proofread your posts. Quit cluttering up the comments pages with your adroit spelling corrections. I am pretty sure we all can read typo and we are all already convinced how smart any of us here are.

    Blah! I *know* this is not the place topost this. Sorry Peter T fans, but neither is this the place to continually post lame 1 line comments to tell us that you meant “you’re” instead of “your”!!!!

    I am off my meds.

  30. 30
    subgenre
    Posted March 15, 2006 at 9:36 am

    Do all the recent MYL posts mean that MYL is back as a TVGasm irregular?

  31. 31
    busybee68
    Posted March 15, 2006 at 9:59 am

    Judging by subgenre’s post #30, he/she did not use the preview button to check for typos either… :)

  32. 32
    subgenre
    Posted March 15, 2006 at 10:21 am

    busybee – um.. that was the point!

  33. 33
    james_woods_rules
    Posted March 15, 2006 at 10:24 am

    And although adverse to those who use a whole new post to SPELL CORRECTLY, subgenre is apparently fine with using a WHOLE NEW LINE for another thought, which could have been written in the original post….

    I have to pee.

    See?? Just like that!

  34. 34
    AbbyAnn
    Posted March 15, 2006 at 10:32 am

    Who among us does not fondly remember the cartoon whammies coming to take some poor slob’s money in a creative way? I for one always rooted for the little red guys.

  35. 35
    Madeyoulaugh
    Posted March 15, 2006 at 11:55 am

    subgenre,

    The conflict of interest which was my primary reason for leaving, no longer exists. That said, youll be seeing more of me…which depending on your POV is a good thing or bad.

    MYL

  36. 36
    subgenre
    Posted March 15, 2006 at 1:30 pm

    MYL – Welcome Home, baby!

    And to anyone upset by my previous post (#30), I am back on my meds. All is well in the world again. Or at least till the ‘script runs out.

    subgenre (she)

  37. 37
    TinkerbellAPixie
    Posted March 16, 2006 at 5:13 am

    OOOH MYL is back!! That is the best news I’ve heard all week!

    It’s so nice to have you back where you belong. (sung to the tune of Hello Dolly)

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