How could a show like "Masquerade Party," which most people probably don't even remember, make TV Guide's list of the 50 greatest game shows and this one get overlooked? As everyone knows, "PYL" asks players four questions; a correct buzz-in answer gets the player 3 spins on the big board, while a correct multiple-choice answer gets the player 1 spin. After four questions in each round, they take those spins to the board, hoping to avoid the whammy, an animated gremlin that takes away all their winnings and forces them to start over, if they have any spins left. Four whammies puts a player out of the game, and a player can pass his or her whammies at any point.It's in the second round, when the stakes go as high as $5000+1 spin, that every game becomes a nail-biter; say, for example, that two players have over $10,000. Does the player taking his or her turn gamble on hitting a whammy and losing everything, or pass the remaining spins to the player in second place and hope he or she whammies? And in the event of a pass, the other player has to take the spin(s). Will that player hit a whammy? The suspense literally goes up to the last spin of the game; the outcome is always in doubt until all the spins are used up (unless your name is Michael Larson and you've run up over $110,000 by memorizing the light patterns on the board).I vastly prefer the original over the newer "Whammy!". Todd Newton seems to be a nice-enough guy but he lacks the late, great Peter Tomarken's enthusiasm (he really gets into the game, especially when it's close), and Gary Kroger is no Rod Roddy when it comes to announcing. In fact, given this show's cult status, I can't understand how it managed to last only three years on CBS.But I'm a fanatic about this show; I just wish GSN would air the episodes from 1985 and '86.

I love this show and began to discover just recently after the untimely death of host Peter Tomarken. I really didn't get into the show despite it being very popular. That is until a few months ago. As I really loved the show a lot. It is a great show despite running for three years. It has indeed have a great following. With three players trying to win cash and prizes. But the catch is to avoid the Elmo like devilish Whammy who will jump up and take everything away from them. Peter is a great host. This show fits him like a glove. Rod Roddy was good as the announcer and the sometimes sidekick. Again I can't believe this show lasted for three years. But it really found an audience on the USA Network then and Game Show Network now! Here is for more generations of Whamminites like myself I am calling them. LOL. To see over and over again!

First off, I must say that this is a fun game show. Also, I haven't seen every episode. However, I do know the show very well. Every time I've watched it, I've had a lot of fun playing along and watching. This makes me long to be a contestant. The thing I like most about it is when the contestants spin. I hope the Game Show Netowrk keeps it one the air so I can keep watching and playing along for a long time. If that happens, I will be really happy. Before I wrap this up, I'd like to say that I'll always remember this show in my memory forever. Now, in conclusion, I hope that you catch it one day before it goes off the air for good.

This the THE BEST game show ever. I used to watch this game show as a kid. I fell in love with the show immediately. I liked the little whammy cartoons, my favorite being the bad dance whammy. And I loved the concept of the game. I wish it was this easy to win big bucks.Now that I am an adult, I am still in love with the show becuase of the silly questions, and the crazy, but memorable contestants. I am currently taping all of the episodes on the Game Show Network.To sum it up, this is a game show that people of all ages can enjoy.