The Luckiest Man in America whammies out

It's quite curious to me that a movie that would go to the trouble to meticulously recreate Press Your Luck's stunning set piece, that enormous board of slides and flashing lights — one of the best game show centerpieces ever — would then go so far afield with the story of Michael Larson. Always looking for the next scheme, Larson memorized the board's patterns and used that knowledge to break the bank. For all the small details captured, like the accurate rendering of the hidden score and spins readout that only the contestants are intended to see, there are incredible diversions in the story, such as network brass drinking champagne in the background after they decide to cash in on Larson's performance. The reality was quite the opposite. 

I'm not sure anyone coming to this movie with no knowledge of Larson or Press Your Luck would find the story particularly interesting; its scenes are largely confined to the show's studio. And I think many people could have written this better. For example, it seems malpractice not to have a scene of Larson sitting at home, eating cereal in his pajamas, watching the great game show block of The $25,000 Pyramid, Press Your Luck and The Price Is Right. One day, studying those lights bounce around the squares on Press Your Luck, he thinks he notices something and starts taking notes through the use of a VCR recording. The tagline at the bottom of the poster says, "What's behind his winning streak?" That's the meat of what is interesting about Larson, and it is largely unexplored here.

I also think Peter Tomarken, who did a fine job hosting the 1983-1986 game show and spent some of his time providing angel flights to sick individuals, would be insulted by the unfairly smarmy portrayal of him in this production. While the cast includes some fine performers like David Straithairn, and it's clear that Paul Walter Hauser studied Larson's in-the-zone technique, it's not enough to save this misguided script. For those intrigued by Larson's feat, Game Show Network's documentary Big Bucks: The Press Your Luck Scandal is excellent and remains the definitive telling of the Larson story.

Verdict: 2 out of 5

Also see // RIP Peter Tomarken

Musical geography and other reflections on the music of 2023

It’s time for the 2024 music wrap-up, and we never did one on 2023. So, here are a few thoughts, because the old traditions will carry on, even if blogging is long dead and the world is burning to the ground as we speak.

One thing that has curiously stuck in my head about the 2023 year in music was the geographical musical matches that Spotify Wrapped presented last year (and didn’t do in this year’s mediocre version). Spotify found my music played during that year to be most attuned to the tastes of Christchurch, New Zealand, based upon plays of Madonna, Meat Loaf and The Motels. It comes as no surprise to me that I am more of a mind with folks on the other side of the globe from me. 

I can explain how Spotify came up with the match:  There’s always a Madonna song in my current playlist; I cycled through several Meat Loaf songs after his death, particularly focusing on Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell, and I was also exploring some of his less successful output from the ‘80s; and I had The Motels’ “Remember the Nights” in rotation for a good chunk of the year. It wasn’t one of their big hits, but it’s one of the best songs from those pensive ‘80s pop-rockers.

Overall, 2023 feels a bit unremarkable for me, musically. My most played song released in or near 2023 was Texas’ “After All,” a new song included on a new best-of compilation. Everything but the Girl placed at #53 (based on my airplay as tabulated by last.fm and including songs old and new) with “Run a Red Light,” which I got into late in the year and would make more of an impact in the 2024 roundup. One of the Pet Shop Boys’ best and most haunting songs to date, “The Lost Room,” from the Lost EP, was also split between the two years, finishing at #51 for ’23. Interest in Tears for Fears’ outstanding 2022 album The Tipping Point carried over to make it the most played current album again in 2023.

Click here to go down the rabbit hole of past years' roundups back to 2005.