Elizabeth Banks Will Host the New Press Your Luck on ABC, Hopefully Sans Effie Wig
Elizabeth Banks.ABC’s found the pitch-perfect person to host its Press Your Luck reboot: Elizabeth Banks. The actor, producer, and director has signed on to front the Alphabet’s new version of the 1980s cult-classic game show, which is slated to begin production shortly ahead of its June 12 return. Banks is the latest addition to ABC’s collection of celebrity quiz hosts, joining Steve Harvey, Alec Baldwin, Anthony Anderson, Joel McHale, and Michael Strahan as emcees of the network’s summer games. She’s stepping into the shoes of the late Peter Tomarken, who hosted PYL during its original 758-episode run on CBS’s daytime lineup from 1983 until 1986. As with the original, ABC’s Fremantle-produced revamp will feature three players duking it out in a trivia challenge, competing for spins on the show’s “Big Board” and a shot at cash and prizes. The twist: Any spin of the board could prompt the appearance of the Whammy, an animated devil who delights in crushing players’ dreams by grabbing all their winnings to date. (Laugh all you want, but is it really any more ridiculous than a show with dragons and zombies?) In addition to hosting, Banks will also serve as an exec producer of the new PYL. She’s also plenty busy with other gigs: She’s currently finishing postproduction on the Charlie’s Angels reboot that she directed, is a producer on Hulu’s just-renewed Shrill, and has a comedy pilot (Patty’s Auto) in contention for next season at Fox.
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Elizabeth Banks to Host Press Your Luck Reboot on ABCncG1vNJzZmivp6x7t8HLrayrnV6YvK57kWlocmdganymuMizmJudpJ16o63NpKpmoJ%2BowW680Z6qrGWppMKzecuumqRlopqvsLvTZpibm16dwa64