This is BrainLog, a blog by Dan Sanderson. Older entries, from October 1999 through September 2010, are preserved for posterity, but are no longer maintained. See the front page and newer entries.

September 9, 2010

The story of Michael Larson.

Paul Michael Larson (May 10, 1949 - February 16, 1999) was a contestant on the American television game show Press Your Luck in June 1984. Larson's claim to fame was his winning $110,237 in cash and prizes, which he was able to do by memorizing the patterns used on the Press Your Luck game board.

Yet another epic win for Wikipedia, though admittedly the story was already well-researched by others, including a documentary (not on DVD) and an episode of This American Life. Wikipedia gets full credit for presentation, though. As my wife likes to say, "Where is Britannica's article on Michael Larson?"