The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: ITSBRY on February 13, 2025, 04:47:07 PM
-
I randomly did some searching about the status of this and found an EW article posted just today. Looks like April 4th is the release date. The article has some stills of the set. Looks really impressive! I’m excited to see this.
https://ew.com/paul-walter-hauser-game-show-cheat-the-luckiest-man-america-exclusive-11678897
-
Edited to add (clarification for myself namely :) ) that this is the movie about Michael Larson and Press Your Luck.
-Jason
-
Well, we've finally seen from a trusty source, the release date and that came as quite a surprise to me, since we haven't gotten any other information yet, particularly, the MPAA rating for the film (I imagine it will be PG-13), and haven't seen any movie trailer/nor official film poster. Maybe EW is the first source to officially receive a "press release," and other sources will be involved shortly.
The movie will make it's UK debut during the first week of March, and this confirms it:
https://www.glasgowfilm.org/movie/the-luckiest-man-in-america/
I am also finding out, now, that the movie opens Tuesday, March 11, at the California Theater in San Jose:
https://tickets.cinequest.org/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=463993~a12ee803-7eae-437e-8208-1c4d52da2020&epguid=330ab4d6-45cd-4e3a-a87e-02c739b12dbb&
-
The movie will make it's UK debut during the first week of March, and this confirms it:
https://www.glasgowfilm.org/movie/the-luckiest-man-in-america/
I am also finding out, now, that the movie opens Tuesday, March 11, at the California Theater in San Jose:
https://tickets.cinequest.org/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=463993~a12ee803-7eae-437e-8208-1c4d52da2020&epguid=330ab4d6-45cd-4e3a-a87e-02c739b12dbb&
Both of these are film festival screenings, so not "openings" per se.
-
Gotta love the interns publishing an article. He didn't cheat. Why is Ew doing this? Thought they were a respected publication? More incentive Not to sign up with them
-
Gotta love the interns publishing an article. He didn't cheat. Why is Ew doing this?
Rage bait. Being accurate doesn’t mean anything as long as you get people to the site.
-
As a game show nerd, I'm excited that they made the film and I'm certainly interested in seeing it. That said, does this movie really have a lot of mass-market appeal? Is the average person interested in seeing a pseudo-documentary about some guy they've likely never heard of who found a way to exploit a 40-year-old game show?
I have a hard time seeing this movie becoming the next Hunger Games.
-
As a game show nerd, I'm excited that they made the film and certainly interested in seeing it. That said, does this movie really have a lot of mass-market appeal? Is the average person interested in seeing a pseudo-documentary about some guy they've likely never heard of who found a way to exploit a 40-year-old game show?
I have a hard time seeing this movie becoming the next Hunger Games.
I think if this had fully come to fruition as the Bill Murray version in the late 90's/early 2000's, it would've had a real chance at appealing to the average Joe/Jane. That being said, I definitely will be seeing it in theaters and I do think it will find an audience through streaming.
-
As a game show nerd, I'm excited that they made the film and certainly interested in seeing it. That said, does this movie really have a lot of mass-market appeal? Is the average person interested in seeing a pseudo-documentary about some guy they've likely never heard of who found a way to exploit a 40-year-old game show?
I have a hard time seeing this movie becoming the next Hunger Games.
I think if this had fully come to fruition as the Bill Murray version in the late 90's/early 2000's, it would've had a real chance at appealing to the average Joe/Jane. That being said, I definitely will be seeing it in theaters and I do think it will find an audience through streaming.
I would not be surprised by any result. I recall Quiz Show did NOT do well at the box office, but DID do well, first when it reappeared in bargain theaters, and later even better when on Premium movie channels and in video rental stores. Timelines for Quiz Show and The Luckiest Man in America were at least 40 years after the actual events took place, and I think that is a contributing factor to helping them be more popular. I could be wrong.
I am surprised that GameShowNewsNet posted an updated page today, but no mention of the forthcoming PYL movie!
-
It's worth remembering that Quiz Show was a Robert Redford–directed movie released by a major motion picture distributor. The Luckiest Man in America was cowritten by a man who is directing his second feature-length movie and is being released by IFC Films, which pretty much by definition indicates it's closer to an independent film. I don't think anybody affiliated with the movie is expecting a multi-hundred-theater wide release or blockbuster-level box office.
-
This is going to have the same vibe as Jason Reitman's Saturday Night film from last year. The actual facts of what happened are just going to be a starting point for a work of fiction. Some of us are going to embrace that, and some of you are going to come back here complaining that the font on the contestant nametags was wrong.
-
This is going to have the same vibe as Jason Reitman's Saturday Night film from last year. The actual facts of what happened are just going to be a starting point for a work of fiction. Some of us are going to embrace that, and some of you are going to come back here complaining that the font on the contestant nametags was wrong.
Or that Walton Goggins has no resemblance of Peter Tomarken. Anyway, I'm looking forward to it. I saw "Quiz Show" and I thought that was a great movie. I learned about the Quiz Show Scandals and did a historical paper about it in high school for my Modern American History class.
-
This is going to have the same vibe as Jason Reitman's Saturday Night film from last year. The actual facts of what happened are just going to be a starting point for a work of fiction. Some of us are going to embrace that, and some of you are going to come back here complaining that the font on the contestant nametags was wrong.
Is it wrong? (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32331377/mediaviewer/rm3684334593/) Also, is the Whammy the right shape?
Still, since this is "based on" a true story and, presumably, they keep all of the original names, the main facts of the real story should be kept intact.
Actually, I am reminded of MAD Magazine's takeoff on Quiz Show, which ends with the last panel pointing out some of the flaws in that movie - for example, how Van Doren's appearance in the Congressional hearings happened almost immediately after his appearance on the show, rather than two years later.
Spoiler: according to a review on IMDB, there's no "twist" at the end - but shouldn't there be one; namely, how he was robbed after converting most of his remaining money into $1 bills in an attempt to win a "lucky serial number" contest?
-
Well the movie is called "The Luckiest Man in America" for a reason. Besides, it's not the first movie to take creative liberties and leave out or change a few things. I could see Act I being about him being out of work, discovering a pattern and making his way to Cali. Act II is the audition/taping and the producers freaking out, then in Act III they try to take the money before relenting.
Let the get rich quick scheme be in the sequel about the Unluckiest Man in America.
-
Still, since this is "based on" a true story and, presumably, they keep all of the original names, the main facts of the real story should be kept intact.
This might be a silly question, but I don’t know much about how IP rights work. I presume since they are making a decent attempt to replicate the actual show and not creating a parody show as a vehicle to tell the story, that Fremantle would have to approve the use of the name, logo and format, correct? Assuming they use the actual music and/or cues, those rights would need to be procured also (if they’re separate from the other stuff), but what about the actual story? Since many of the people portrayed in this have passed away, who owns the rights to their story, portrayal and likeness? If they were alive, would they get a say or do contestants basically hand over their rights when they agree to appear on a game show?
I would imagine telling true stories in movies would be very complicated if you have to get everyone’s permission to do it. If so, it’s kind of a miracle niche projects like this even get made.
-
This might be a silly question, but I don’t know much about how IP rights work. I presume since they are making a decent attempt to replicate the actual show and not creating a parody show as a vehicle to tell the story, that Fremantle would have to approve the use of the name, logo and format, correct? Assuming they use the actual music and/or cues, those rights would need to be procured also (if they’re separate from the other stuff), but what about the actual story? Since many of the people portrayed in this have passed away, who owns the rights to their story, portrayal and likeness? If they were alive, would they get a say or do contestants basically hand over their rights when they agree to appear on a game show?
I would imagine telling true stories in movies would be very complicated if you have to get everyone’s permission to do it. If so, it’s kind of a miracle niche projects like this even get made.
Fremantle would indeed have had to agree on licensing the show's elements for this. And based on what I know, the actual people who were apart of the episode that are in the movie are Bill Carruthers, Peter Tomarken, Michael, Janie, and Ed. Everyone else is a concoction of the writers. I am surprised that Rick Stern is not a part of this since he's one of the few people still alive and well who worked on this show and, in fact, has the master copy of the full episode.
I get the sense that this movie revolves as much around Bill Carruthers' perspective as Michael Larson's.
-
Right. IANAL, but the events of the show as captured on tape and broadcast over the public airwaves are a matter of public record. As Tyshaun said, you would probably have to get clearance from Fremantle to use any of the trademarked elements of Press Your Luck or any of the copyrighted elements of the actual episode (if you decided to pull a quote word for word for the script), but beyond that, I'm sure the contesti signed their rights away to any of that.
But they DIDN'T sign their rights away to having their NIL used as movie characters otherwise, so they (or their estates) would probably have to be renumerated for that usage as soon as those characters do anything outside of the scope of the broadcasted episode, and outside of Carruthers NOBODY else who was present that day is going to be referenced by anything CLOSE to their real name or likeness.
Again, though, IANAL.
-
But they DIDN'T sign their rights away to having their NIL used as movie characters otherwise, so they (or their estates) would probably have to be renumerated for that usage as soon as those characters do anything outside of the scope of the broadcasted episode, and outside of Carruthers NOBODY else who was present that day is going to be referenced by anything CLOSE to their real name or likeness.
Again, though, IANAL.
I wonder how much freedom they have with creative license. Like if they added a scene where Michael robbed a 7-11 at gunpoint, could the Larsen family sue for defamation?
I wondered the same thing about the biopic they did on Stu Unger. His daughter said most of the movie was made up, and a lot of his depiction is not very flattering. But to my knowledge, no legal action was ever taken.
-
Given what Michael did the 7-11 might be too believable, but I think you’re on to something. If the actual game show element is the jumping off point, there has to be something fantastical to carry the second and third acts.
-
I wonder how much freedom they have with creative license. Like if they added a scene where Michael robbed a 7-11 at gunpoint, could the Larsen family sue for defamation?
That’s what got me thinking about this. I imagine the lines can get fairly gray here. Nobody would have ever considered 40 years ago that an incident on a short lived game show would be fictionalized in a movie. I also wondered how a small independent film deals with a mega corporation like Fremantle to get whatever rights they need. Does Fremantle get a cut? Do they have any say in how their property is portrayed? I can’t imagine that allowing this film to be made benefits Fremantle in any way. The show has already been rerun to death so I can’t imagine that a small independent film that probably only we care about would produce any ratings bumps for Buzzr.
It fascinates me to no end that niche stuff like this even gets made.
-
Given what Michael did the 7-11 might be too believable, but I think you’re on to something. If the actual game show element is the jumping off point, there has to be something fantastical to carry the second and third acts.
Reminds me of the movie "Rudy". The producers spent two hours telling the audience to believe in themselves, while telling the story of a guy who had one inconsequential sack in the final play of the final game of his college career.
And from what other teammates said, it wasn't even close to being that dramatic.
-
Fremantle would indeed have had to agree on licensing the show's elements for this. And based on what I know, the actual people who were apart of the episode that are in the movie are Bill Carruthers, Peter Tomarken, Michael, Janie, and Ed. Everyone else is a concoction of the writers. I am surprised that Rick Stern is not a part of this since he's one of the few people still alive and well who worked on this show and, in fact, has the master copy of the full episode.
I get the sense that this movie revolves as much around Bill Carruthers' perspective as Michael Larson's.
Except... I saw it at TIFF in September and to the best of my recollection *it didn't* have any Fremantle acknowledgement, and I remember specifically looking for that.
As I said before - you'll enjoy it (most likely) because it's a movie about PYL on the big screen that we've been waiting forever for (it seems) but they've taken lots of creative liberties if you think you're going to get a cut-and-paste version of the show itself.
Go with an open mind, grab some popcorn, and just enjoy the fact that we're getting a game show movie on the big screen!
-
Go with an open mind
Have you been reading this thread, sir? :)
-
Go with an open mind
Have you been reading this thread, sir? :)
Oh I am very aware that my thought process is a bit off-kilter but I'm just trying to manifest happiness for our roughly once a decade game show big screen movie extravaganza :)
-
Although I haven't seen, nor hear any new info; I found three photos of the production crew while shooting a scene:
https://jaguarbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/press-your-luck-1.jpg
https://jaguarbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/press-your-luck-2.jpg
https://jaguarbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/press-your-luck-3-768x512.jpg
These are all pics of a scene in a mock automobile. You should recognize Paul Walter Hauser, Haley Bennett, and director Samir Oliversos. I don't know who is in the backseat, but apparently I'd say it's someone playing the Larson's daughter.
-
Early this morning, when I couldn't sleep, I went online and at IMDb, found out that apparently in the last day or two, TLMIA movie has been given an "R" rating for "language."
-
And it's been given the MPA certificate number 55404, which is just slightly over half Michael Larson's winnings.
-
Recently, some online stores have made available for purchase a "plush" Whammy doll, similar to the one in IG's Press Your Luck home game. It, too, apparently is available by IG!
I haven't seen much about the board game in recent years, and I've wondered if these dolls are being marketed in connection to the movie.
We're now less than four weeks away from the slated premiere date, and I wonder if we might soon see promotional trailers online, in theaters, or on TV soon!
-
Target is selling the Plush Whammy Doll for $19
https://www.target.com/p/imagination-gaming-press-your-luck-8-inch-whammy-character-plush-toy/-/A-94177647?sid=&TCID=PDS-20996572735&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwm7q-BhDRARIsACD6-fXm_Oo8AIVbpRrzUWZzLosOcfNnQ4N4lFXtedFgApxfCc27OaptDOIaAo5CEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
-
I admit I'm tempted, although it's a bit small. Would fit in well with Stuffed Buoy and Stuffed Gritty.
-
As of Monday, March 10:
(per X - OneTakeNews)
"The first trailer for ‘THE LUCKIEST MAN IN AMERICA’ has been rated and ready for release.
The film, which premiered to critical acclaim at #TIFF24, is set to release in theatres on April 4, 2025."
-
And we have a poster. Yes, Peter's lectern is on the other side. No, it should not affect your ability to enjoy the movie.
(https://www.simpleimageresizer.com/_uploads/photos/2c16fab2/pyl_50.jpg)
-
Thumbs up to the poster! I wonder if they just reversed the set image, and digitally turned what would've been most obviously backward around. I wonder because not only is the host lecturn on the opposite side, but the contestants (Ed and Janie) are reversed, too; and it also looks the contestant name tags are on their right breasts (viewers' left-side), and not their left breast (viewers' right side).
It doesn't bother me at all, but the large image of the character Larson, looking out of the corner of his eyes, is not at all like the real Larson, whose eyes are focuses almost 100% on the game board.
Thanks for sharing!
-
Thumbs up to the poster!
Thanks for sharing!
Agreed. I will make an effort to see this in a theater.
-
I wonder if they just reversed the set image, and digitally turned what would've been most obviously backward around. I wonder because not only is the host lecturn on the opposite side, but the contestants (Ed and Janie) are reversed, too
You seem to be absolutely right. The shots from the movie in the original post are all the "correct" way. Somebody just wanted the host at the left for the poster aesthetic.
-Jason
-
Definitely reversed for the poster only (in addition to all the other things pointed out, the colors indicating earned spins and passed spins are on the opposite side).
In the movie, Peter and the contestants (and the name tags and the spin counters) were in the correct positions.
-
https://youtu.be/5Dw_pujgp5Y?si=82vGj0MdGwcXVoKO
The film's trailer.
JD
-
Wow, Paul Walter Hauser's portrayal of Larson is scarily accurate. The awkward smiling, the odd vocal inflection every time he yells "STOP!"...he did his homework.
Looking forward to seeing this, and really hoping that the weird hallucination sequence involving a giant Whammy makes sense in context...
-
https://youtu.be/5Dw_pujgp5Y?si=82vGj0MdGwcXVoKO
The film's trailer.
JD
Holy cow, this looks phenomenal.
They even included the hidden score displays facing the contestants. Someone really did their homework. It’s a crying shame if they destroyed that set afterwards. So cool. Very excited to see this.
-
Wow! If the movie is edited as well as the trailer, it’ll be phenomenal. I love David Straithairn, the guy playing Bil Carruthers.
-
Looking forward to seeing this, and really hoping that the weird hallucination sequence involving a giant Whammy makes sense in context...
Come to find out that the show actually did have a human size Whammy on set. It just never made an appearance on the show.
-
The TV production nerd in me is screaming about that show somehow being switched on a Grass Valley 100.
(https://i.ibb.co/nsmLhrRp/switcher.png)
That, and the late 80's Panasonic, seen elsewhere in the trailer. But it does look fantastic--looking forward to seeing this.
-
The TV production nerd in me is screaming about that show somehow being switched on a Grass Valley 100.
Yeah, they were complaining about that a little on Eyes Of A Generation. Someone there also did a point-out on the RCA TK-47 cameras that should have been Hitachi SK-110s.
-
Someone there also did a point-out on the RCA TK-47 cameras that should have been Hitachi SK-110s.
Ope! I'm busted!
....though I doubt there's a single Hollywood prop house that has SK-110s. A larger switcher panel should've been easier to find though. Also, it seemed senseless to aim the applause sign *away* from the audience. (also, "boo" and "laugh" signs?????)
The set, though.........quite impressive for a movie reproduction.
I'll be hoping to see this at some point once it shows up in my neck of the woods. I'm sure the nerd side of me will manage to pipe down about the artistic license......
-
Someone there also did a point-out on the RCA TK-47 cameras that should have been Hitachi SK-110s.
...it seemed senseless to aim the applause sign *away* from the audience. (also, "boo" and "laugh" signs?????)...
From the very first promotional picture of Paul Walter Hauser for the movie, I thought those signs were turned away from the audience, and it looks like that is right, and yes, senseless!
I've seen the trailer, and I think it will be enjoyable! I was wondering why there were pieces of what appeared to be thin metal extending up from the main contestant desk. Apparently, they were based on temporary props used on the actual show when they had the Home Viewer Game at the time, to hold the selected home viewers' postcards.
I don't know if I ever mentioned this, but back in 1984, I first found out about the episode, by reading a brief story in TV Guide magazine. Here in Detroit, our then CBS-TV affiliate, WJBK-TV (Ch. 2), had opted not to carry "$25,000 Pyramid," nor "Child's Play," (and later "PYL") from Sept. 1982 until Sept. 1984. I sometimes lucked out and watched on a Toledo, OH station, but often not in great quality. Around mid-September, 1984; WJBK-TV started the post-CBS Morning News hour with "All-New LMAD," followed by "Anything for Money." That was followed by network-fed "Pyramid," and "PYL."
Tomarken welcomed WJBK nationwide, and even brought up the then red-hot Detroit Tigers, who won the WS the following month!
FTR, WJBK switched to Fox Network affiliation in 1994, and WGPR (Ch. 62) became CBS affiliate, and eventually CBS bought the station and changed the call letters to WWJ-TV
-
I don't know if I ever mentioned this, but back in 1984, I first found out about the episode, by reading a brief story in TV Guide magazine.
Me, too. Dang WCCO in Minneapolis ran Hour Magazine instead. I didn’t see PYL regularly until it was on USA.
-
The AMC app has a placeholder for "The Luckiest Man in America Live Q&A with Paul Walter Hauser." They tend to hold these Q&As either at Century City or The Grove... obviously, The Grove would be more appropriate, since it's right next to Television City.
-
The AMC app has a placeholder for "The Luckiest Man in America Live Q&A with Paul Walter Hauser." They tend to hold these Q&As either at Century City or The Grove... obviously, The Grove would be more appropriate, since it's right next to Television City.
Tickets are now on sale for this. Friday, April 4th, at 8:00, at the Grove. Plenty of seats available at the moment I'm typing this.
-
Again, though, IANAL.
I asked my brother, himself an attorney, if he was familiar with that acronym. He said he was not, and he asked his colleagues, and most of them were not, either! (of course, "I am not a lawyer!")
-
I don't know if these poster variations are actually available, but they are neat and interesting:
https://collider.com/the-luckiest-man-in-america-character-posters/
-
Walton Goggins bears more of a resemblance to Peter on the poster, so maybe it’ll grow on me when I see the movie. He definitely has the perfect game show host smile.
-
Just out of curiosity, has the trailer or an abbreviated version aired on any of the major networks?
Also, anybody know if there will be a soundtrack CD, or a downloadable app version, as well?
-
Just out of curiosity, has the trailer or an abbreviated version aired on any of the major networks?
Also, anybody know if there will be a soundtrack CD, or a downloadable app version, as well?
I don’t watch a lot of network tv but I have seen the trailer several times in YouTube ads. The only ad in years I don’t skip. 🤣
-
Looked up my local theater and looked up the coming soon and the showtimes for aoril 4 and luckiest man in America is not there
-
Looked up my local theater and looked up the coming soon and the showtimes for aoril 4 and luckiest man in America is not there
Got a half dozen cinemas in the Houston area carrying it. Might be a "one week and done" like "Queen of the Ring" was.
-
The AMC theater near me is carrying it, but no one else is as of right now.
-
Several theaters in Phoenix (where I'm seeing it) and Dallas (where I live) are carrying it through AMC. Guessing if you live in a smaller market with less choices, it likely won't be running.
-
I am surprised they are showing the movie at regal cinemas in 4 towns in South Jersey.
-
Yesterday I was ready to say this would only be shown at indie theaters, but was surprised to find one of our AMC Superplexes or whatever they call it is showing the movie. Might have to convince the fiancée to do a date night starting with dinner.
-
If she’s stayed with you this long I can’t imagine a geek-out evening would put the kibosh on things.
-
She’s seen worse nerd moments, but the tradeoff is I’ll have to watch either a chick flick or the upcoming Lilo and Stitch movie. :P
-
Only one of the eight AMCs generously included in “my area” is planning to show this, and that one’s 16 miles away. Might have to lower myself to the nearby Regal, which probably hasn’t been renovated since 1984.
EDIT APRIL 2: Showtimes now appear at all of the area AMCs.
-
Might have to convince the fiancée
Don't think I knew this. Congrats!
-
Thanks man!
-
This is the website to my local theatre. No TLMIA
https://www.clarkcinemas.com/
-
Movie theaters often don't have their weekly schedules fully set until the previous Tuesday or Wednesday, so if you're not seeing any showings in your area, check schedules again on the 1st or 2nd, just in case.
-
The Regal theater around the corner from me here in Lancaster is playing it on Thursday night!
-
The Regal theater around the corner from me here in Lancaster is playing it on Thursday night!
🙌🏼 Got my ticket for Thursday as well. Can’t wait!
-
A couple of interesting things here:
First, a much shorter "trailer," on tik tok, with some other footage: https://www.tiktok.com/@ifcfilms/video/7486513999102627118
Next, an article by Adam Nedeff, about the actual event and mentioning the movie, premiering in a few days: https://www.museumofplay.org/blog/luckiest-man-in-game-shows/
When watching the original creation--"Second Chance""--I've often wondered would it have been more difficult to do the same technique on the "SC" board, since it seemed to move around at a considerable faster speed? I think so, but don't know for sure!
-
A couple of interesting things here:
When watching the original creation--"Second Chance""--I've often wondered would it have been more difficult to do the same technique on the "SC" board, since it seemed to move around at a considerable faster speed? I think so, but don't know for sure!
I seem to remember this being discussed here at some point and someone mentioning that a similar incident had occurred on Second Chance. I don’t remember much more than that but I’m assuming it was less dramatic than Larsen’s run.
-
A couple of interesting things here:
When watching the original creation--"Second Chance""--I've often wondered would it have been more difficult to do the same technique on the "SC" board, since it seemed to move around at a considerable faster speed? I think so, but don't know for sure!
I seem to remember this being discussed here at some point and someone mentioning that a similar incident had occurred on Second Chance. I don’t remember much more than that but I’m assuming it was less dramatic than Larsen’s run.
When I recall it being discussed here years ago, someone threw out that a contestant had won upwards of $70K, which seemed improbable, though not impossible.
Looking at the show's intro right fast, I counted an run of 11 safe spaces in the light sequence, which landed on the big money space at least once. I could cede that a contestant figured out the pattern, and thus figured out safe strings of the sequence that more often landed on the big money space.
-
^Wasn't Jim Peck himself the source on that occurring? I wonder if ABC has some sort of network logs like NBC did at the time where that could be confirmed.
At the start of the run, the big money space in round 2 was a static $5k instead of the later one that rotated between values, so I'd guess it would have happened before they changed it.
-
^Wasn't Jim Peck himself the source on that occurring? I wonder if ABC has some sort of network logs like NBC did at the time where that could be confirmed.
At the start of the run, the big money space in round 2 was a static $5k instead of the later one that rotated between values, so I'd guess it would have happened before they changed it.
I also forgot that the series started with returning champions and then moved to three new players each day, so I could see someone racking that up over several days.
-
^Wasn't Jim Peck himself the source on that occurring? I wonder if ABC has some sort of network logs like NBC did at the time where that could be confirmed.
At the start of the run, the big money space in round 2 was a static $5k instead of the later one that rotated between values, so I'd guess it would have happened before they changed it.
I also forgot that the series started with returning champions and then moved to three new players each day, so I could see someone racking that up over several days.
I didn't know they started out with returning champions, I thought that was just the pilot.
Even so, wouldn't a contestant have been retired at $20k? If someone was going to shoot the works, they'd have to get most if not all of it in one day.
-
He didn’t say it at the time but I believe Michael intended to win twenty grand on day one thus getting reps in then go hog wild on day two.
-
He didn’t say it at the time but I believe Michael intended to win twenty grand on day one thus getting reps in then go hog wild on day two.
He does allude to that in the post-game chat with Peter; he said something along the lines of "I came only wanting twenty, so I could come back."
-
My review is here: https://www.buzzerblog.com/2025/04/03/review-the-luckiest-man-in-america-2025/
-
Good news: Buzzr's airing the actual episodes on April 14th at 5:30 PM ET.
Bad news: It could be the "pop-up video" version they posted to YouTube (which starts with the movie trailer).
https://www.youtu.be/UjbgyhuQfcA
-
My review is here: https://www.buzzerblog.com/2025/04/03/review-the-luckiest-man-in-america-2025/
Excellent review. Really enjoyed reading it!
-
Looks like I may have to wait until it drops on streaming:
Two multiplexes within a ½ mile of each other...Two different theater chains...The smaller multiplex is showing the same 6 movies the larger multiplex is...
Both also snubbed "The Day The Earth Blew Up".
This is one of the reasons I don't go to the theaters anymore. The fact that the movie theaters in our area go for the same 5 or 6 movies when there are many others available, the prices for food and tickets, and the variety of movie genres available nowadays.
-
Has anyone posted that this is the first of TWO game show movies this year? I just saw it on iMDB. A remake of The Running Man is expected in November starring Glen Powell with Josh Brolin in the role only Richard Dawson could play.
-
I was gonna say Josh Brolin seems a little young to play such a role. Then I Googled and saw he’s two years older than Richard was when the original Running Man came out.
Granted 1987’s view of the future seemed to be a little prophetic. The 2025 version might be a documentary. :P
/Don’t even get me started on Idiocracy
-
I look forward to seeing it tomorrow. A few theaters in my area are showing it. I wouldn't be suprised if it doesn't last long in the theater. I mean, other than those of us game show fans out there, I don't see many people being drawn to it. They are offering mega discounts for some airings. It's almost like they can't give tickets away.
-
Without spoiling anything,
Followed by, like, a dozen spoilers.
SPOILER: Spoilers aren't just about the plot.
-
Without spoiling anything,
Followed by, like, a dozen spoilers.
SPOILER: Spoilers aren't just about the plot.
Hey, I’ve gotta wait until it hits streaming, DVD (or whatever the latest home release format is), or until IFC picks up the cable rights to see it. So, I'm kind of thankful for spoilers sneak peak!
-
Without spoiling anything,
Followed by, like, a dozen spoilers.
SPOILER: Spoilers aren't just about the plot.
Hey, I’ve gotta wait until it hits streaming, DVD (or whatever the latest home release format is), or until IFC picks up the cable rights to see it. So, I'm kind of thankful for spoilers sneak peak!
We'll still move the bulk of that post to our spoiler-y thread, because I skipped over Bryan's post fearing that very thing (I have my tickets for next week), and Matt confirmed it for me.
-Jason
-
We'll still move the bulk of that post to our spoiler-y thread, because I skipped over Bryan's post fearing that very thing (I have my tickets for next week), and Matt confirmed it for me.
-Jason
I didn’t intend to spoil anything for anyone. Apologies if I did. Thx for moving it.
-
Great movie!!!! I laughed at the fact that 4 people walked out in the first ten minutes. But, just a great movie! Well worth the wait!
-
My wife and I saw the movie this afternoon. There were only 2 other people in the theatre - a mom (maybe around 40) and her (looks-like) teen son. After the show I told them this is based on a true story asked them what they thought. She said she'd read about it and was interested in seeing it. She also said that she'd like to seek out more episodes of the original. I told her youtube is good place to start.
I didn't expect to see a big turnout for this. For a while it looked like my wife and I would be the only two as they arrived just a couple minutes before the show started.
-
This is the first movie that I have wanted to go to the theatre to see since Lincoln back in January 2013.
I am curious to see it.
-
This is the first movie that I have wanted to go to the theatre to see since Lincoln back in January 2013.
In general, Lincoln in a theatre is not a good image.
-
I didn't expect to see a big turnout for this. For a while it looked like my wife and I would be the only two as they arrived just a couple minutes before the show started.
FTR, my viewing on Friday afternoon had about 6 or 7 others in the theater. Got a little kick when Walton Goggins first appeared and a lady remarked, "Oh, they got him to play Peter!". Not surprised at the sparse turnouts when IFC did virtually no promotion of the film, other than a Tik Tok and YouTube trailer.
-
FTR, my viewing on Friday afternoon had about 6 or 7 others in the theater. Got a little kick when Walton Goggins first appeared and a lady remarked, "Oh, they got him to play Peter!". Not surprised at the sparse turnouts when IFC did virtually no promotion of the film, other than a Tik Tok and YouTube trailer.
That was about the turnout when I saw it too - Christian, myself, two other friends, and two other random people in the theater.
-
My Sunday afternoon viewing experience was this:
Me and my wife, dead center in the middle of the theatre, completely alone. We were the only souls there.
I started typing more, the realized it was better to put it in the spoiler-laded thread in summaries, so I'm going to head over there.
-
The numbers are in…TLMiA ranked 15th at the box office with $282,000 across 659 theaters. Still haven’t been able to find anything about the budget but given it’s IFC I imagine it’s under $5M.
https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2025W14/?ref_=bo_hm_rw
-
I'm really not inclined to see it. I have watched the original episodes so many times and to me the real excitement of the actual moment is something no movie can ever recreate without coming off as phony.
-
Here in Detroit, our then CBS-TV affiliate, WJBK-TV (Ch. 2), had opted not to carry "$25,000 Pyramid," nor "Child's Play," (and later "PYL") from Sept. 1982 until Sept. 1984... Around mid-September, 1984; WJBK-TV started the post-CBS Morning News hour with "All-New LMAD," followed by "Anything for Money." That was followed by network-fed "Pyramid," and "PYL."
Tomarken welcomed WJBK nationwide, and even brought up the then red-hot Detroit Tigers, who won the WS the following month!
I just found on youtube, the first episode to regularly air in Detroit.
I recalled that Peter Tomarken welcomed WJBK, and mentioned the Tigers, but not until watching this episode today, did I hear that EP Bill Carruthers was born in Detroit, and had worked locally earlier in his career!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Carruthers
-
According to the When To Stream website, this is expected to hit VOD on May 6.
https://www.whentostream.com/news/the-luckiest-man-in-america-digital-streaming-release-date-revealed
-
Thank you! There are several theaters in my area, but none of them are playing it. I'm not up for driving 45 to 60 minutes, so I'll watch it when it hits streaming.
-
Walton Goggins will be hosting the May 10th episode of SNL. I'm sure it's mainly due to his role on "The White Lotus," but this role probably didn't hurt.
-
Walton Goggins will be hosting the May 10th episode of SNL. I'm sure it's mainly due to his role on "The White Lotus," but this role probably didn't hurt.
Counterpoint (and I meant to bring this up when it happened two or three weeks ago): NPR did a long, gushing piece about Goggins a few weeks ago, focusing on how he was having a moment. In other words the whole point of the piece was to mention all the different things Goggins was in recently, and they had plenty of time to tell the story. They did not mention this movie once.