Elizabeth Banks to host ABC revival of 'Press Your Luck'
Elizabeth Banks is gearing up to be the new host of the 'Press Your Luck' revival by the ABC network, which is set to premiere next month. The network ordered the popular 1983 game show's revival in March this year, alongside another revival show 'Card Sharks' - both of which will be produced by Fremantle. Joel McHale was assigned the host of 'Card Sharks.'
The new revivals of the game shows are set to debut back-to-back Wednesday, June 12. 'Press Your Luck' - the one hosted by Banks - arrives first at 8 p.m., shortly followed by 'Card Shacks' at 9 p.m. the same day, reported Deadline.
Initially created by Bill Carruthers and Jan McCormack, the original 'Press Your Luck' premiered on CBS all the way back on September 19, 1983, and came to an end after a three-year run, on September 26, 1986. At that time, Peter Tomarken served as the show’s host, with Rod Roddy as the primary announcer.
The biggest twist in the original used to be certain pesky Whammys, which were basically obstacle tropes used on the show. The official synopsis of the original show described it as a game show where contestants had to answer trivia questions and simultaneously gamble their winnings from correct answers, on a randomly flashing game board.
However, the original version of the game show itself was a retooling of the earlier Carruthers production called 'Second Chance', which was hosted by Jim Peck and had aired on ABC in 1977.
“Elizabeth Banks is exactly the type of woman we want on ABC – she’s a big star who’s smart, strong and funny,” ABC Entertainment president Karey Burke shared in a statement, as reported by Deadline. “She has everything we need as the host of Press Your Luck, one of our signature summer game shows. If anyone can ride herd on the Whammy, it’s Elizabeth!”
These new revivals of both 'Card Sharks' and 'Press Your Luck' come in hot on the list of ABC’s current revival game-show lineup that includes shows like 'Match Game', '$100,000 Pyramid', 'Celebrity Family Feud' which is a revival of Family Feud, and also 'To Tell the Truth.' The 'Press Your Luck' revival hosted by Banks is to be executive produced by Jennifer Mullin, Banks, Max Handelman, and John Quinn, with Quinn also serving as showrunner.
Banks is also currently busy with the revival of the 'Charlie's Angels' film, which she is both writing and directing. The film stars Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, Ella Balinska, Banks, Sam Claflin, Noah Centineo, Djimon Hounsou and Patrick Stewart, and is expected to release November 15.