1Later that year, Lizzie was allowed to return to the show. When she hit her fourth whammy on her second show, the lights didn't stop when she hit the buzzer, and when it stopped when she pressed it again, she whammied. This usually happened, and contestants who were victims of this returned on another episode.

The show in which she was a returnee was taped on Thursday, September 12. She was seated in the first seat in the contestants' island. Her parents were in attendance. The crowd was then told to applause because the show was about to start, and Rod Roddy said his line after the intros:

"Today, these three players are after high stakes. But they'll have to avoid the Whammy as they play the most exciting game of their lives. From television city in Hollywood, it's time to Press Your Luck! And now here's your host, the star of Press Your Luck, Peter Tomarken!"

With that, Peter walked to his podium.

"I thank you Rod, and welcome to Press Your Luck, where one of these players could walk away with the biggest bucks possible," Peter said to the camera once he got to his podium. "So let's meet our three competitors vying for those bucks, starting with 15-year-old Lizzie McGuire, how are you, Lizzie?"

"Fine, thank you," Lizzie said as the audience welcomed her with applause. She wore a flamboyant blue and pink dress sweater.

"Now, everyone might recognize Lizzie because she is a returnee to Press Your Luck. There was a glitch in the board in her last appearance. So, Lizzie anything big happen in your trip to Calgary that you earlier won?" Peter asked.

"Not much, I went to a championship rodeo in the Calgary Saddledome, and my family and I basically had a lot of fun."

"Well, I'm glad to hear that. Good luck, Lizzie," Peter said. "Now let's talk to our champion, 15-year-old Christine Garrison, with $17,826." The girl sitting next to Lizzie had on a pink dress with a headband brushing her bangs on her long brown hair back. "So, Christine, what's the plan with your $17,826?"

"Well, I might convince my mother to take me to sleep-away camp next summer," she said.

"Good idea," Peter said. "Good luck, Christine. And our third player is 16- year-old Kyle Benson." The crowd applauded Kyle, who was wearing a blue jacket, red tie and had his hair parted in the middle. "So, Kyle, where are you from?"

"I'm from San Diego," he replied.

"And what do you want to be when you grow up?"
"Probably a construction worker. My friends refer to me as an extreme kid."

"Well, good for you and good luck. Okay, players you know the rules. I have questions and hopefully, you will have answers. A correct buzz-in will give you three spins while a multiple-choice answer gives you one. Are you ready?"

"Yes," the contestants said.

"Okay, here we go. France says "Bonjour," Israel says "Shalom," but what we want to know is what does Japan say?"

Christine buzzed in. "Konachawa."

"Is the correct answer Konachawa, Adios, or Guten Tag? Lizzie?" Peter said.

"Konachawa," Lizzie replied.

"Kyle?"

"Konachawa."

"If you meet a person from Japan, they will greet you by saying "konachawa." Lizzie goes to one, Christine buzzed in so she goes to three, and Kyle picks up a spin. Next question. It is the month in which Columbus sailed into San Salvador in 1492, and we celebrate Halloween in this month. Which month is it?"

Lizzie buzzed in just ahead of the other two. "October."

"Okay, is the correct answer October, November or December? Christine?"

"October," Christine said.

"Kyle?"

"October," Kyle said.

"That's right, guys," Peter said. "The month that has those events is October. Lizzie buzzed in so she goes to four. Christine goes to four, and Kyle to two. Third question: Back in 1957, Sputnik was launched by what nation during the Cold War?"

No one knew this one, and the buzzer sounded.

"I'll give it to you in multiple choice, but I'll read the question again to you first," Peter said. "Back in 1957, Sputnik was launched by what nation during the Cold War? Is it the USA, the USSR, or Czechoslovakia? Lizzie?"
"The USA."

"Christine?"

"The USSR."

"Kyle?"

"The USA."

"The USSR launched Sputnik back in 1957. Lizzie stays at four, Christine goes to five, and Kyle stays at two." Peter said. "Last question: Florence Henderson, Eddie Murphy or Tom Cruise. Which of these three celebrities was born on Valentine's Day?" Christine buzzed in.

"Florence Henderson."

"All right. Is the right answer Florence Henderson, Eddie Murphy or Tom Cruise, Lizzie?"

"Tom Cruise."

"Kyle?"

"Tom Cruise."

"Well, guys. Born on February 14, 1934 was Florence Henderson. Lizzie stays at four, Christine buzzed in, so she goes to eight, and Kyle stays at two." Peter then turned to the camera. "And that was the last question, and when we come back, we'll take these spins to the big board and find out who will press their luck the best." The contestants' island turned around to face the board, and the show went into commercial.

Eleven minutes later, the show returned. Peter explained the rules as soon as the music stopped.

"Okay, gang. There is over $25,000 up on that board there, and some prizes, surprises and some Whammies, so be careful. Player who ends this round in the lead gets to play last in the final round, and as you know, that is an advantage. You can pass your spins during your turn if you have a deadly fear of the Whammy, and four Whammies will put you out in the middle of the ocean, on a boat and desert you and. well, you don't want to be there. You want to be in the game making money. Player with the least amount of spins goes first. That's Kyle with two of them. Ready, Kyle?"

"I sure am!" said Kyle as the board starting spinning, and he said a line. "Okay, now. I want some big bucks, a lot of money! STOP!" The lights stopped at a Whammy. The Whammy cartoon was the Whammy Dixieland Band (my favorite!). His Whammy card popped out.
"Okay, Kyle. It didn't take away any money, just a spin. You want to start again?"

"You betcha," he said before he took his last spin. It was $550.

"Okay, Kyle you have $550," Peter commented. "Let's go to Lizzie with four spins. Ready, Lizzie?"

"Yes I am, Peter," she said excitedly, and said a line. "Come on, Whammies, go away. Big Bucks come my way. STOP!" The indicator stopped at $500+spin. She went again and hit Move One Space to either $200+spin or a portable television. She selected $200+spin. On her next spin, she stopped the board at $1,250. Her total was $1,950, and she had three spins to deal with. She took two more and hit $500+spin and $1,500 respectively, bumping her total to $3,950. With a big lead and two spins, she was afraid to go again since she might hit a Whammy, so she passed her spins to Kyle.

Kyle took the spins and the first was $400, and the second was a Whammy. The cartoon this time was the pizza chef Whammy (a very close second favorite). Kyle's second card popped out.

"Oh, Kyle, two Whammies and no dollars," Peter remarked. "Let's go to Christine, our champion with eight spins. Let's go, Christine."

Christine was pumped and ready. This was her line: "Okay, board, give me all the bucks you have. Don't give me any Whammies. STOP!" Her spin stopped at $600. Her second, third and fourth spins were $1,500, a set of stainless cookware (valued now at $623), and $200. Her total was $2,923, and four spins remaining. She chose to play it cleverly and gave Lizzie her spins.

Lizzie took the challenge, but couldn't make the best of it as she Whammied on her first passed spin. The Whammy cartoon was the skiing Whammy. That put her passed spins into the earned column. She chose to get at least some money and nailed $1,250. Lizzie then passed the two spins to Christine.

Christine took the spins and made Lizzie's plan backfire as she nailed $400 and $200, bringing her total to $3,523.

"That's the end of this round. Kyle has zero, Lizzie at $1,250, and Christine has the advantage with $3,523," Peter said, then faced the camera. "We'll be back for another round of goodies. So come on back because the fun is going to happen soon." The contestants' island turned to face the audience.

Twelve minutes later, the show returned.

"Okay, guys. Round two of questioning. Are you ready?" Peter said as the music stopped.

"Ready," everyone said.

"Here we go," Peter replied as he asked the first question. "According to People magazine, which celebrity's appearance is the least appealing?" Christine buzzed in.

"Michael Jackson," she said.

"Is the correct answer Michael Jackson, Marilyn Manson, or Eminem? Lizzie?"

"Marilyn Manson."

"Kyle?"

"Marilyn Manson."

"Yeah, the guy with the least appealing performance is Marilyn Manson. Lizzie picks up a spin, and Kyle picks up a spin," Peter commented. "Second question. In the movie Beauty and the Beast, under a beautiful enchantress's spell, the prince became a beast, Lumiere became a candelabra and Mrs. Potts became a teapot. Who became a clock?" Christine, a huge Disney animated feature fan, buzzed in.

"Cogsworth!" she triumphantly said.

"Is the correct answer Cogsworth, Chip, or Gaston? Lizzie?"

"Cogsworth."

"Kyle?"

"Girls seem to know their movies, so I'll go along with them and say Cogsworth."

"That's right. Cogsworth was the clock. Lizzie goes to two, Christine buzzed in so she goes to three, and Kyle goes to two. Third question. According to a recent survey, what fraction of American kids hates doing their homework?" Kyle buzzed.

"3/4."

"Is the correct answer ¾, ½, or ¼? Lizzie?"

"1/2."

"Christine?"

"1/2."

"Well, three quarters of American kids hate doing their homework. Kyle buzzed in and goes to five. Last question. The new movie Ftormy is due in theaters in February. In what year does the movie take place?" Lizzie buzzed in.
"1952."

"Okay, is the right answer 1952, 1951, or 1956? Christine?"

"1951."

"Kyle?"

"1956."

"Well, the movie Ftormy takes place in 1952. Lizzie goes to five, Christine stays at three, and Kyle stays at five," Peter said before turning to the camera. "When we come back, we will take these spins to the board and find out who today's winner will be." The contestants' table spun around to face the board.

Thirteen minutes later, the show came back, and the contestants were more than ready.

"Big bucks, guys" Peter said once the applause subsided. "Over $80,000 in cash and prizes up on that board, and there are the Whammies who want the money as badly as you do, so be careful. Let's look at dollar totals. Kyle has nothing, Lizzie at $1,250, and Christine, our champion with $3,523. You have earned the right to play last in this round, so you can sit back and relax. Let's go to Kyle with the least amount of money. well he doesn't have anything, so let's go Kyle. Make some money with your five spins."

"You bet I will, Peter," he said. His first spin landed on $2,500. His second and third gave him $600 and a set of golf clubs, now valued at $647. He had a total of $3,747. That was only $224 behind Christine. He chose to take the rest of his spins. The first landed on Pick A Corner. He had the option of $1,750, $1,000+spin or a trip to Chicago. He took $1,750, but his last spin was a Whammy. The cartoon was the Whammy trying to hold onto his dog Fang as he chased a cat.

"Okay, three Whammies, no dollars, no spins, but it's not over, Kyle. You're still in the game. We're going to go to Lizzie with $1,250 and five spins. Ready, Lizzie."

"Yes I am, Peter!" she said as she began. Her first spin landed on Big Bucks, which brought the indicator up to $5,000+spin. The lights on her next spin stopped at a windjammer cruise, valued at $4,826. She decided to take one more spin and hit Pick A Corner, choosing a trip to New Orleans over a Whammy and $1,500+spin. The trip to New Orleans had a value of $2,433. Her total was $13,509. She had three spins remaining, which she passed to Christine, who was up next.

"Christine you have some catching up to do. You have three spins which you have to take first," Peter reminded her.

She took her first spin, which was a Whammy. The cartoon was the Whammy running for Mayor. Her passed spins got moved over to the earned column. She now had five spins to either play or pass. She took at least one and hit $700+spin. With strategy, she handed her five remaining spins to Lizzie.

Lizzie returned the favor by hitting her first four passed spins for $2,000, $4,000+spin, $2,500, and $1,250, bumping her total to $23,259. She had one more passed spin to take, which resulted in $2,000. Her total was now $25,259. She had one spin in the earned column, and if you thought she would take that spin, you would be out of your mind. So she passed it.

"Christine it goes to you," Peter commented. "In order to stay in the game, you are going to have to pick up something that will give you an extra spin. If you don't it's Lizzie with all that dough. Ready, girls?"

"Ready," they both said. Christine was nervous, and took the spin, which gave her $1,500+spin, taking the pressure off her, but it was back on Lizzie because the spin was passed to her.

All Lizzie had to do to win was to not hit a Whammy. So to cap off her championship, she nailed $1,400, making her the winner with $26,659.

"Lizzie, you're the big winner and we'll be right back to find out what you've won right after this," Peter said.

Lizzie hopped around, and was congratulated by Christine and Kyle.

Lizzie was in her seat clapping endlessly as the show returned.

"We're back with Lizzie, our champion today with $26,659," Peter said. "And Lizzie, sit back and listen to Rod describe the prizes you've won."

Rod Roddy spoke: "I sure will, Peter. Lizzie, we'll fly you and your family from Los Angeles to New Orleans, Louisiana. You'll stay at the Queen and Crescent hotel located in downtown New Orleans, which has the pre-Civil War feeling, and you will be tour guided around the city and will tour beautiful New Orleans. And then, Lizzie, we'll fly you round trip coast from Los Angeles to the Caribbean for a six-night stay for two aboard the Windjammer barefoot cruises. A casual sailing adventure in the exotic Caribbean from a gold vaults and land lovers. Take off your shoes and sail away to paradise with Windjammer barefoot cruises. Those prizes totaling $7,259, combined with the $19,400 in cash you've won gives you a grand total Lizzie of $26,659! Congratulations!"

"Lizzie, you've done it again," Peter commented. "We won't add the amount you won in your win back in February, but your total has exceeded our limit of $25,000. We will have to retire you, but you keep all of your money, everything. Spend it well, have a great time."

"Thank you, Peter," Lizzie said sweetly.

"Christine is smiling for all kinds of reasons because she is leaving with $17,826. Have a great time, Christine," Peter said.
"Thank you," she said as she cracked a big smile.

"Kyle, you are leaving with our admiration and some nice parting gifts. You will not be leaving empty-handed. Thank you for being on, you were an absolute pleasure."

"Thank you," he responded.

"All right, we will see three new contestants next show. Until then, this is Peter Tomarken saying thanks for pressing your luck." He saluted, as usual, and then the show went into the credits.

A week later, the show was shown on television, and everyone, including Matt, praised Lizzie for her performance.

(A/N: Yes, I do know that there is going to be an updated version of Press Your Luck debuting soon, but I decided to stick with the original. Sorry that there was no Miranda or Gordo in this chapter. We can live without them just this once. Can't we?)

P.S.: This fic is dedicated to the memory of Rod Roddy (9/28/37-10/27/03) and Peter Tomarken (12/7/42-3/13/06). Although both men left us far too soon, they will forever be the heart and soul of "Press Your Luck," and I hope everyone will agree with me that wherever they are now, they are happy and in a better place. They are, nevertheless, very deeply missed.