You're sitting on the couch, craving that specific rush of high-stakes gambling mixed with 1980s nostalgia, and you’re asking yourself: when does Press Your Luck come on? It’s a fair question. Ever since ABC brought this classic back in 2019 with Elizabeth Banks at the helm, the schedule has been a bit of a moving target.
TV scheduling isn't what it used to be. Gone are the days when you could bet your life on a show appearing at 8:00 PM every Thursday for thirty weeks straight. Between mid-season breaks, holiday specials, and the chaos of streaming rights, finding the Whammy can feel like playing the game itself. You might hit a "Big Bucks" or you might hit a "Move One Space" and end up on a local news repeat.
The Current ABC Primetime Slot
Typically, when does Press Your Luck come on for new episodes? During its active summer or fall seasons, ABC generally slots the show into their "Sunday Fun & Games" block or a midweek primetime slot, usually at 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM ET/PT.
Honestly, the summer is when this show truly lives. ABC has carved out a niche for "Summer Fun & Games," pairing Press Your Luck with heavy hitters like Celebrity Family Feud and The $100,000 Pyramid. If it’s June or July, you can almost guarantee it’s airing on Thursday nights. However, TV executives love to tinker. If a strike happens or a high-profile drama gets canceled, Press Your Luck is often the "emergency glass" they break to fill a hole in the Tuesday night lineup.
If you're looking for the newest season—Season 6 or beyond—you need to keep an eye on the ABC press room releases. They usually announce the "premiere wave" about six weeks before the first episode drops. Because it’s an unscripted game show, it’s cheap to produce and easy to move around, which is great for the network but slightly annoying for your DVR.
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Where to Watch if You Missed the Live Airing
Let’s say you missed the 8:00 PM window. You aren't out of luck. Hulu is the primary streaming home for the modern Elizabeth Banks version. New episodes typically drop at 3:01 AM ET / 12:01 AM PT the morning after they air on broadcast television.
It’s a different vibe on streaming. You lose the communal Twitter (X) chatter, but you gain the ability to fast-forward through the "sob story" intros if you're just there for the spins. Hulu usually keeps the most recent season available in its entirety, though older seasons occasionally cycle out to other platforms like Disney+ depending on your region and bundle status.
The 24/7 Whammy: Buzzr and Pluto TV
Maybe you don't want the new flashy version. Maybe you want Peter Tomarken. You want the skinny ties, the grainy film stock, and the contestants who were genuinely thrilled to win a $500 gift certificate to a defunct furniture store.
If you’re wondering when does Press Your Luck come on in its classic form, the answer is "basically all the time." Buzzr, the digital subchannel dedicated to game show history, airs the 1980s episodes multiple times a day. You can find Buzzr over-the-air with a digital antenna in most major US markets, or stream it for free on platforms like Pluto TV or Tubi.
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On Pluto TV specifically, there is often a dedicated "Game Show Central" channel. They don't follow a strict "Tuesday at 8" schedule. Instead, they run blocks. You might get four hours of Press Your Luck starting at noon, followed by a marathon of Card Sharks. It's a goldmine for background noise while you're working from home.
Why the Schedule Shifts So Much
It’s all about the "sweeps" and sports. ABC is a Disney-owned property, which means they are beholden to the NBA Finals and various college football schedules. If there is a Game 7 in June, Press Your Luck is the first thing to get bumped to the following week.
Also, look at the competition. If CBS is airing a massive reality premiere, ABC might hold Press Your Luck back a week to ensure it doesn't get slaughtered in the ratings. It's a tactical game. You have to think of the show not as a permanent fixture, but as a versatile player that the network moves around the board to block the competition.
Understanding the "Big Board" Logic
If you've ever watched the show and thought the "random" light on the board felt a bit too convenient, you aren't the only one. But unlike the infamous 1984 scandal where Michael Larson memorized the patterns, the modern board is truly governed by a Random Number Generator (RNG).
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This complexity is part of why the show stays fresh. Even though the airing schedule is inconsistent, the format is a tank. It survived the 80s, it survived a weird 2000s reboot called Whammy! on GSN, and it’s thriving now.
Watching Internationally
For viewers in Canada, the show usually follows the ABC feed via Citytv or CTV, often in the exact same timeslot to preserve "sim-subbing" (simultaneous substitution) rules. If you’re in the UK or Australia, the modern US version is harder to find on traditional "telly." You’ll likely be looking at YouTube uploads or specific licensing deals on local streamers like 7plus or Global.
Action Steps to Never Miss a Spin
Stop guessing and start tracking. TV schedules change faster than a Whammy can take your money.
- Set a "Series Recording" on your DVR. Even if ABC moves the show from Tuesday to Sunday, your box will usually find it. Set it to "New Episodes Only" to avoid filling your hard drive with repeats from three years ago.
- Use the ABC App. If you have a cable login (or a friend’s), the ABC app lets you watch live from your phone. This is the best way to catch it if you're stuck in an airport or away from your main rig.
- Follow the "Whammy" on Social Media. The official Press Your Luck Instagram and X accounts are surprisingly good at posting "Tune in tonight!" reminders about four hours before airtime.
- Check the "Futon Critic." This is a hardcore industry site. If you search for Press Your Luck there, it will show you the exact status of every episode, including those that have been "pulled" or "rescheduled."
The show remains one of the few pieces of "appointment television" left for families. It’s loud, it’s colorful, and it’s devastating when someone loses $40,000 on a final spin. Just keep your eyes on the Thursday night listings during the summer months—that’s your best bet for catching the action live.