GSN announces Pyramid revival

[Lingofan97]

The clip also has the familiar doot-doot--doot flute sound effect for the clock so maybe they also used that (and maybe the cuckoo?).

It says most of the classic sound effects have made their way back to this version. Some of those might be there. I'm hoping the same sound is there for when someone gives an illegal clue in the main game. I'm guessing the buzzer will be there in the Winners Circle if someone gives an illegal clue

[KyleFromDenver]

Since I saw that Pyramid is coming to GSN and I'm a classic Pyramid aficionado I had to create an account and post. I'm excited that Pyramid is coming back and that the set and gameplay is not radically altered.

I'll say this:

To me, the $100000 Pyramid in the 80s was everything a game show is supposed to be (even with a few things I would nitpick about it). First it was a classy show. The tone was set by the ultimate gentleman's gentleman - Dick Clark. His celebrity guests were classy and the contestants were almost without exception classy. It was also a show you could play along with. One had to have at least a modicum of cultural literacy to play well. It had good payouts, getting to the top of the pyramid was difficult but not impossible, and was, ultimately, exciting. I was on the edge of my seat watching that show - especially the tournaments. And while it was classy people there could still let their hair down. On no other show I know of did the entire studio audience flood the stage when the ultimate prize was won. The guests were genuinely excited for the contestants when they won. It was also aesthetically pleasing.

My thoughts on the upcoming version:

- I'm glad the amount up for grabs in the winner's circle is shown above the six subjects. Nice touch.

- Also glad that contestants get rewarded for good play in the "front" game. In the old Pyramid I would often see contestants get a perfect 21 but walk away empty-handed because they didn't win the excruciating tiebreaker. I'm OK with getting a 7 out of 7 adding to your potential winner's circle bank, but that isn't my preference.

- Computerized screens showing the effect of the old trilons is the best way to do it IMO. Also glad that "Tune Up" and many of the old sound effects will be part of it.

- Glad that each WC box is progressively a bigger $ amount - 100-200-300-400-500-750. I don't see the logic of the last box being that amount. $600 sounds more appropriate but I can live with that. I wonder what color the background and dollar amounts will be.

- Question: will the celebrity guests be one male and one female like the past? Will the contestants be one male and one female every time like Donnymid? Will we see something I never saw on any version of the game - two male contestants going head-to-head? If it's one male and one female celeb, will the female always sit at the table closest to the WC like the old days or will it be random like Donnymid?

- I would prefer returning champions and a tournament, but completely understand those two things not being there at the beginning since GSN probably wants to see how people receive it. I hope, though, that if successful, the producers consider incorporating those things.

- For the WC circle, the one thing I liked about the Osmond years was that you had to win the $10k on the first trip to be able to try for $25k if you won the 2nd game. I think that even in 2012, particularly in today's economy, 10 and 25k is not chump change, or as Clark would call it - "chicken feed".

- for tiebreakers I understand the reasoning for the format that will be used but still prefer just a max of 7 with the 2nd team having to beat the 1st team's time. What I would do differently is when the 1st team goes have the clock count up in tenths of seconds. If, for example, they get all 7 in 21.8 seconds, shave off 1/10 of a second, and the 2nd team has to get all 7 in 21.7 seconds.

- Also if a tournament is incorporated count down the WC clock in tenths of seconds, with it just like the 80s - 3 fastest times qualify you for the tournament. I'm ok with $100K but would prefer at least $250k or $500k but I prefer $1 million. One other difference I'd put in: during the tournament the first successful climb to the top gets you $10k, the 2nd successful climb at any point after, no matter how long it takes, gets you the grand tournament prize. If it's say, $1 million, all WC winnings you get during the tourney would be augmented into the grand prize total. Everything else would be like the 80s - if no contestant earns the grand prize, the top WC money winner plays the next day and the loser sits out while the contestant on the "sidelines" plays the next day.

[Lingofan97]

^^^^Without quoting everything, I'll say this much. Dick Clark's version was very classy, and had good, classy guests too. The Pyramid should stick to this classy format, and the celebrity guests should have been told to keep it appropriate.

Next I see your points on getting money in the main game, since its good if a contestant doesn't make it to the Winners Circle they still have a chance at getting money. Then I like the way the Winners Circle amounts are planned out, though it would have been nice if the top one was worth $1,000, but whatever.

For the celebrities, I assume GSN will stick to the one female, one male celebrity format. And if not, be lucky GSN can afford these celebrities.

Lastly, the tiebreaker round is great, or you can call it the "infinite round". Its not too hard for counting the seconds and how many the team got 7 out of 7 in. Plus, there needed to be some change to The Pyramid from the classic version, so this was it

[KyleFromDenver]

I also appreciate that Richards will remind givers in the WC not to use prepositional phrases, since it was abused on Donnymid. But I have one question: if the subject is "Where you lie down" would clues like "in a hammock", "on the sofa", "in bed" be zapped? Would it be no clues with prepositional words at all or just when it's too wordy, such as on the old 25k when I saw a celeb get zapped for saying "a patch on an eye" for "What a pirate uses" when she could have said "an eye patch"?

[Lingofan97]

But I have one question: if the subject is "Where you lie down" would clues like "in a hammock", "on the sofa", "in bed" be zapped?

I believe not, but we'll see if this version is as tough as Donny's Pyramid. That should be a valid clue

[KyleFromDenver]

And hopefully Richards will be helpful like Clark with constructive advice on how to improve play. Like when he would suggest using a head nod when the contestant was on the right track to getting the subject. Or if the subject is "things a mechanic uses" suggest "his wrench", "his spark plugs", or to suggest to the contestant to visualize the clues, bring them together to paint a picture.

[Lingofan97]

And hopefully Richards will be helpful like Clark with constructive advice on how to improve play. Like when he would suggest using a head nod when the contestant was on the right track to getting the subject. Or if the subject is "things a mechanic uses" suggest "his wrench", "his spark plugs", or to suggest to the contestant to visualize the clues, bring them together to paint a picture.

In the recent commercials Richards resembles Clark, when they're in the Winners' Circle. After the Winners' Circle, I hope Richards will come to the contestants, and as you said help them out with clues like "his wrench" "his tools", instead of what Donny Osmond did, and just told the contestants right away.

[Lingofan97]

Video clip released today on GSN's website and also shownhere. I like the set right there, and how it changes colors. Great new technology, also with the digital clock in the background

[matchgame74fan]

LOL. I see Chandra is going to be just as fun to watch as I thought she would be! Yay.

[Lingofan97]

LOL. I see Chandra is going to be just as fun to watch as I thought she would be! Yay.

Here's how I take that part of the clip. 'Pyramid' has always had a very serious format, and hints like this (Snooki) have made people scream, yell, or just freeze. The celebrity, not knowing who she really is freaked out at the hint, but too much compared to the old version.

Still, with only "16" after three rounds, pretty bad

[matchgame74fan]

Here's how I take that part of the clip. 'Pyramid' has always had a very serious format, and hints like this (Snooki) have made people scream, yell, or just freeze. The celebrity, not knowing who she really is freaked out at the hint, but too much compared to the old version.

But people have always had problems or freeze or "freak out" moments when playing with names famous people. I've noticed this after watching significant amount of episodes of at least 3 generations of the show. Most every other day on $25k reruns people openly side-eye or voice their disdain or have some kind of reaction for stuff like that. This is nothing new. I don't see what the big deal is here.

Not to mention while the game itself has a serious format, there's no reason why there isn't any room for funny moments.

[Lingofan97]

But people have always had problems or freeze or "freak out" moments when playing with names famous people. I've noticed this after watching significant amount of episodes of at least 3 generations of the show. Most every other day on $25k reruns people openly side-eye or voice their disdain for stuff like that. This is nothing new. I don't see what the big deal is here.

Not to mention while the game itself has a serious format, there's no reason why there isn't any room for funny moments.

I completely agree. This has happened, but hopefully in The Pyramid it doesn't happen too much

[pyramidpower15]

Video clip released today on GSN's website and also shownhere. I like the set right there, and how it changes colors. Great new technology, also with the digital clock in the background

Just watched the clip; I have to say I'm very excited about the new version. It looks like it did decent justice to the classic version, and Mike Richards seems like an entirely competent and quick-witted host.

[Lingofan97]

Just watched the clip; I have to say I'm very excited about the new version. It looks like it did decent justice to the classic version, and Mike Richards seems like an entirely competent and quick-witted host.

And this version didn't take too much from the Osmond version, except in the main game where you can return to clues if you pass them. I keep thinking they should have had that in the Clark version

[KyleFromDenver]

It seems that they'll use different camera angles like on Donny's Pyramid, which is fine and I won't beef too much. Just that my personal preference was from the Clark days: fixated on the side view with the receiver on the left, the box between them and below, and the clock between them and above - then panning to the board when a box flips. Nothing huge, again just my preference.