Recently, we lost a very important person to us game show fans.
Peter Tomarken died in a plane crash at the age of 43.
For those of us who remember, he was the star of "Press Your Luck." In the show, contestants attempted to face the whammy at the big board, stopping it randomly and hoping that they would hit anything but a whammy.
People who are young at heart, like some of us, adored the cute animation of the whammy and his attention-getting anecdotes when he declared that a contestant has indeed lost their money.
Tomarken's plane was going to a hospital near Santa Monica, California to deliver a sick patient there. Then, his plane slowly went down and crashed, with the sound of a big splash, into the Santa Monica Bay.
Most of us Aspies probably know to live every day as if it will be our last. Sometimes, people come around who attempt to do the most unintelligent things to themselves in order to get some help, like Will Freund. These people "pressed their luck."
Peter, however, did not press his luck. His death was truly unexpected, and he left a memorable mark in the fond moments of game show history.
Rest in peace, Peter. You will be missed.
14 Mar 2006, 3:53 pm
