How contestant won £87,000 on top game show but stunned TV bosses refused to pay out over claims he’d cheated
A GAME show contestant who won £87,000 on a hit program was refused his winnings after the TV bosses claimed he cheated.
Despite his perfectly legal methodology, Michael Larson became wrapped up in an infamous “scandal” that rocked the US quiz show world.
The unemployed ice cream truck driver put in a startling performance on CBS’s “Press Your Luck” in 1984, laying claim to an expected prize of £87,000.
However, the US man was so calculated during the show that contestants and hosts later challenged his authenticity.
Janie Litras Dakin, one of the contestants, told New York Post: “Larson just knew the board and when it was happening we were like ‘what the heck is going on’.
“As it went on I was thinking, ‘Is this Candid Camera or something’
“There’s something wrong here, come on.”
Nevertheless, Larson continued on with the quiz and took no prisoners in the process – winning the grand prize.
His victory was a big deal because at the time “The $25,000 Pyramid” was considered TV’s biggest lump sum reward.
Following intense scrutiny, Larson later revealed how he won the show.
He said he had previously been laid off from his job and spent a year of unemployment meticulously studying episodes of the show.
He had a VCR where he was able to watch the episodes on repeat for 12 months straight, memorising the game board’s five cash-winning patterns.
The chiefs at CBS considered holding back the money, however, they later conceded that Larson technically did not break any rules.
His unorthodox win went on to inspire a 2003 documentary called Big Bucks: The Press Your Luck Scandal.
The investigative piece dissected his methodology and revealed how he was able to beat his opponents to the buzzer.
Dakin said she still remembered the fateful day.
She said: “You don’t know who you’re playing against and I thought I could beat this guy easily.
“Here’s this guy who needed grooming and bought a sports coat at a thrift store on his way in [to play the game].
“I just knew I could beat him – I was there to win.”
Despite Larson being labelled a “quiz show genius” he soon lost all his winnings through Ponzi schemes.
He unfortunately lost his battle with cancer in 1999 and died at the age of 49.
Dakin admitted Larson deserved the win.
She said: “When everything came out it made more sense.
“The VCR had pretty much just come out and he just figured it out.
“I guess it shocked the network but it made sense and they honoured [his win] and paid him his money, which was good.”
Another man who won £100,000 on one of the UK’s most popular game shows revealed he still hasn’t been paid a year later.