$20,000 Pyramid vs $25,000 Pyramid
Thelma Van Hoosier
>
> I see posts from time to time wanting $20,000 Pyramid brought back on GSN.
> What is better about the $20,000 version than the $25,000 version (Dick Clark
> 1982-88) or is it the more Pyramid on TV the better? :-)
We just miss the older version. It took place in New York, Not
Hollywood. The set is much different. I want it back.
Consigliere
>I see posts from time to time wanting $20,000
>Pyramid brought back on GSN. What is better about
>the $20,000 version than the $25,000 version
>(Dick Clark 1982-88) or is it the more Pyramid on
>TV the better? :-)
In my opinion, we Pyramid fans want to see as much of the Pyramid as
possible. If the $10,000 Pyramid and the pre-1978 $20,000 Pyramid were
available, we'd watch those.
I attended tapings of the $20,000 Pyramid in New York during the last few
years of its run, and I knew several members of the staff. But I would say
that the Dick Clark version of the $25,000 Pyramid from Los Angeles was a
better show than the $20,000 Pyramid or the $10,000 Pyramid.
Visually, it looked better. It was a better game, and CBS's Program
Practices did a better job of supervising than ABC's Broadcast Standards.
Contestants played two games, one with each celebrity. In fact, Dick Clark
used to mention that in the earlier versions, if a contestant lost his/her
one and only front game, the contestant was gone. And in the $20,000
Pyramid, if you won in the Winner's Circle, you lost any bonus money that you
had previously won, and you had to leave the show, even if you were
successful in the Winner's Circle the very first time and won only $10,000.
This happened to a friend of mine.
On the $25,000 Pyramid, the prize money was much larger, and contestants kept
all of the bonus money previously won. And if you won $10,000 or $25,000 in
the Winner's Circle, you continued to play, until you either played for five
days or you won the maximum amount allowed by CBS to be won by a contestant
on a game show, whichever came first.
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popcu...@my-dejanews.com
Consigliere <consi...@my-dejanews.com> wrote:
> dr...@aol.com (DrCBo) asked:
>
> >I see posts from time to time wanting $20,000
> >Pyramid brought back on GSN. What is better about
> >the $20,000 version than the $25,000 version
> >(Dick Clark 1982-88) or is it the more Pyramid on
> >TV the better? :-)
Although the '80s version of the series was probably the best one, I
think people want to see the "$20,000 Pyramid" more is because it's
been rarely seen. The CBS version lasted until 1988, then was repeated
on USA up until around 1995. Now it's playing again on GSN. The
"$20,000" version of the show was only seen in its original ABC days
and for about six months on GSN.
I think it would be a refreshing change to see what's left of the ABC
shows again.
ep99...@oak.cats.ohiou.edu
> But I would say
> that the Dick Clark version of the $25,000 Pyramid from Los Angeles was a
> better show than the $20,000 Pyramid or the $10,000 Pyramid.
>
> Visually, it looked better. It was a better game, and CBS's Program
> Practices did a better job of supervising than ABC's Broadcast Standards.
I actually am among those who disagree on this. While I concede that the
rules were fairer in terms of money a contestant could win, my preference is
the New York version. Not just for superficial reasons (the dark blue and
gold set looked much nicer than the light blue one of California. The old
music, plus Bob Clayton who was head and shoulders above his successors). I
think the aura of one loss and you're out lent an air of underlying tension
to each game that was lacking in the 80s (except for tournaments) and when
you finally hit the big money, there was a bigger sense of accomplishment.
Of course, being from the New York area it's probably just my local prejudice
as well. :)
Eric Paddon
DrCBo
Jax
popcu...@my-dejanews.com wrote in article
<7a9ejd$jq9$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...
> In article <7a96st$dis$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>,
> Consigliere <consi...@my-dejanews.com> wrote:
> > dr...@aol.com (DrCBo) asked:
>
> I think it would be a refreshing change to see what's left of the ABC
> shows again.
I want to second that. The remaining ABC Pyramids are fun to watch, to see
how differently it was done in the 70's... I mean, the score and timer were
both flipcards (sort of like alarm clocks of the time - isn't it funny when
it goes from 20 to 19 [or 10 to 9] when there's a gap between the 0 and the
9?), the categories on the main game board were pull-cards (like Fleming
J!), the set not being darkened when they played the winner's circle, the
boxes not lighting up, hearing the whack of the boxes as they turn, and
most of all: the old music. Personally, I prefer the $10K/$20K/$50K music
myself... I don't know why.
--
+----------------------------------------------------+
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|"Jaxxy"| studios, please send help." - how Shelley |
|\\\\\\\| Smith introduced herself on "Go" in 1983 |
| AOL: GSNFreak \/ ICQ#: 7300356 \/ GSNF...@aol.com |
| Remove "NOSPAM" to reply |
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Marc Goldberg
I was wondering if anyone knows if the Pyramid (any of the versions) had
some sort of board game or computer game. If so, where can I get it?? I've
checked numerous toy stores, but that was unsuccessful. Any info would be
appreciated. Thanks. You can email me at M...@1stconnect.com.
Marc
PS
I liked the $25000 version better. I'm someone who likes a more modern type
of show.
Cat
to see the word....Cat
--
Gene: "102 year old Mr. Perriwinkle said 'Augggggggghhhh. I must be
getting for-get-ful. I just went on my second honeymoon, but I forgot
______'"
Patti Deutsch: "I said that he went on his second honeymoon and forgot
'why'"
From Match Game PM (1976)
Jason Compton
: I was wondering if anyone knows if the Pyramid (any of the versions) had
: some sort of board game or computer game. If so, where can I get it?? I've
: checked numerous toy stores, but that was unsuccessful. Any info would be
: appreciated. Thanks. You can email me at M...@1stconnect.com.
There's a (fairly lame, in my opinion) $100,000 Pyramid home game that
I've seen for the C64. The only reasonably fun way to play it would be
with four people.
--
Jason Compton jcom...@xnet.com
Stephan Mynarkiewicz
Jax wrote in message <01be58fa$4fc484e0$65299fd0@yakko>...
>
>
>popcu...@my-dejanews.com wrote in article
><7a9ejd$jq9$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...
>> In article <7a96st$dis$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>,
>> Consigliere <consi...@my-dejanews.com> wrote:
>> > dr...@aol.com (DrCBo) asked:
>>
>> I think it would be a refreshing change to see what's left of the ABC
>> shows again.
>
>I want to second that. The remaining ABC Pyramids are fun to watch, to see
>how differently it was done in the 70's... I mean, the score and timer were
>both flipcards (sort of like alarm clocks of the time - isn't it funny when
>it goes from 20 to 19 [or 10 to 9] when there's a gap between the 0 and the
>9?), the categories on the main game board were pull-cards (like Fleming
>J!), the set not being darkened when they played the winner's circle, the
>boxes not lighting up, hearing the whack of the boxes as they turn, and
>most of all: the old music. Personally, I prefer the $10K/$20K/$50K music
>myself... I don't know why.
Ooh, you forgot one thing--that BUZZER! Definitely miles ahead of the wussy
buzzer on the CBS version :)
Jax
Stephan Mynarkiewicz <cats...@desupernet.net> wrote in article
<7aa43p$9...@enews3.newsguy.com>...
> Ooh, you forgot one thing--that BUZZER! Definitely miles ahead of the
wussy
> buzzer on the CBS version :)
>
You know, I have a 1978 episode with Anita Gillette as a celebrity. And
before they start in the winner's circle Dick asks if she's ready and she
says "I just don't want to hear the.." and then BUZZT!!..it still scares me
when it happens.
Charlie Pevey
> One thing still puzzles me about the Pyramid....in the main game, an illegal
> clue resulted in a cuckoo sound, but in the Winner's Circle, such resulted
> in the same buzzer that sounds at :00. It's strange when, say, in the
> Winner's Circle, an illegal clue is committed on the 4th category with :05
> left, the buzzer sounds, they start on the 5th category; same buzzer sounds
> again 5 seconds later to end the round.
> You would think Bob Stewart, great man that he is, would have thought of at
> least a variation on that sound, like two short buzzes.
Actually, he did, though not until the Davidson version $100K.
/^-^\
|o o| Charlie Pevey (AKA "Giraffe Boy")
| ^ | cpevey at earthlink dot net
|---| (use correct punctuation to reply, please)
\___/ http://members.tripod.com/~CharliePevey/index.html
| |
| |
\ \_________
| o o \---
| o o o | \
|-----------|
| | | |
| | | |
o o o o
Steve
sound.
It really meant something, even when you least expect it.
One thing still puzzles me about the Pyramid....in the main game, an illegal
clue resulted in a cuckoo sound, but in the Winner's Circle, such resulted
in the same buzzer that sounds at :00. It's strange when, say, in the
Winner's Circle, an illegal clue is committed on the 4th category with :05
left, the buzzer sounds, they start on the 5th category; same buzzer sounds
again 5 seconds later to end the round.
You would think Bob Stewart, great man that he is, would have thought of at
least a variation on that sound, like two short buzzes.
C Alliaume
In article <y8Yx2.92$DH....@news7.ispnews.com>, "Marc Goldberg"
<M...@1stconnect.com> writes:
>I was wondering if anyone knows if the Pyramid (any of the versions) had
>some sort of board game or computer game.
Milton Bradley made eight editions of a Pyramid box game in the '70s and '80s.
The first two were $10,000, the next five $20,000 (I think), the last one was
$50,000.
Cardinal Games made one $25,000 Pyramid box game in the '80s; it has Dick Clark
on the box front.
And I'm positive GameTek made an early computer game as well, which wasn't too
bad as those went.
Even though the rules are a bit bastardized, I'd go for the '70s MB games. And
there are usually lots of them on eBay.
Go to Matt Ottinger's Game Show Home Game Home Page for details. You can link
to it off the URL below.
-- Curt Alliaume
-----------------------
Game Shows '75
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Bungalow/2827/gameshow.html
CyberJohns
the "Mystery 7" and "7-11" rounds?), but as long as we're talking about
bringing it back, why not ONE MILLION DOLLARS? (Assuming Sony has it in the
budget...they've been selling enough cheap boom boxes...)
ep99...@oak.cats.ohiou.edu
> I couldn't tell the difference between either of them (er, I assume they have
> the "Mystery 7" and "7-11" rounds?),
Nope. $20K had a "Big 7" in one of the two games only for a $500 bonus. Here
are some of the other differences.
1-Location (New York City)
2-Set (Gold and dark blue; blue monitors, blue carpet)
3-Bob Clayton (the best of the Pyramid announcers)
4-One loss and you're out.
5-You go home if you win the Winners Circle once.
6-You don't keep bonus money or accumulated money after hitting the board.
Dan J. Harrisfield
... but as long as we're talking about
> bringing it back, why not ONE MILLION DOLLARS? (Assuming Sony has it in the
> budget...they've been selling enough cheap boom boxes...)
They gave one of those away on Figure it Out! (Why wa sI watching in
the 1st place?)
I'm afraid if they were to make the Million Dollar Pyramid, three
things would happen...
1)Quality of the other facets of the show would decline since more
money is stressed on the prize budget...
2)It would only be known for "Givin' away a helluva lotta cash," and
die out like Chance of A Lifetime.
3)They wouldn't be able to fit $1,000,000 on the top of the pyramid.
:-)
So if it is revived, do the $25K network and $100K primetime syn.
thing and I will be content.
€Dan J. Harrisfield€
Cat
a quarter mil twice a year using the same format as $100,000
Pyramid....i.e. the fastest times up the Pyramid and the money is
guarenteed....then the main game would be $10,000 and $25,000 just like
before...Cat
Stephan Mynarkiewicz
Cat wrote in message <36CA62D8...@prodigy.net>...
Another idea (hey, we're playing with Sony's money, right?): Go with the
"Million Dollar Pyramid idea", but make the series a limited run (say, three
years tops). At the end of each season, pick the best player, then during
the last week of the series, have a playoff for the million dollars.
sonic...@my-dejanews.com
Consigliere <consi...@my-dejanews.com> wrote:
> dr...@aol.com (DrCBo) asked:
>
> possible. If the $10,000 Pyramid and the pre-1978 $20,000 Pyramid were
> available, we'd watch those.
>
> I attended tapings of the $20,000 Pyramid in New York during the last few
> that the Dick Clark version of the $25,000 Pyramid from Los Angeles was a
> better show than the $20,000 Pyramid or the $10,000 Pyramid.
>
> Visually, it looked better. It was a better game, and CBS's Program
> Practices did a better job of supervising than ABC's Broadcast Standards.
>
Clark
> used to mention that in the earlier versions, if a contestant lost his/her
> one and only front game, the contestant was gone. And in the $20,000
> Pyramid, if you won in the Winner's Circle, you lost any bonus money that you
> had previously won, and you had to leave the show, even if you were
> successful in the Winner's Circle the very first time and won only $10,000.
> This happened to a friend of mine.
>
> On the $25,000 Pyramid, the prize money was much larger, and contestants kept
> all of the bonus money previously won. And if you won $10,000 or
$25,000 in
> the Winner's Circle, you continued to play, until you either played for five
> days or you won the maximum amount allowed by CBS to be won by a contestant
> on a game show, whichever came first.
>
I agree... the CBS versions are much more aesthetically pleasing. Besides,
there was a better set-up of each day's contestants playing two games
(although whoever returned as the champion still bogles my mind). It made
the game a lot more enjoyable.
Chico (macrosonic)
host, 'net Card Sharks...
Chico: Alright, Kim. Let's play the Pyramid. Rebecca Lobo, Gillian Anderson,
Sporty Spice, Chelsea Clinton, Issac Hanson...
Kim: People I look like?
Chico: Yes!
--Me and Kim in a conversation.
Cat
versions....because of the tie breakers that never ended and also the
people being quickly excused when they lost the one game...Cat
--
Patti: "I couldn't think of another George, so I said 'Monty Hall'"
Gene: "You are going downhill so fast!!!!"
Patti: "Thank You"
MGPM (1975)
ep99...@oak.cats.ohiou.edu
> I found the $20,000 Pyramid as being an inferior cousin to the later
> versions....because of the tie breakers that never ended and also the
> people being quickly excused when they lost the one game...Cat
I see those as assets. They created an underlying tension and a sense of
fight-to-the-death competition that was never there in the 80s. The first
$20K GSN showed in the Dark Period with the 43-42 is one of the most tense
moments I've ever seen in game show playing. Plus the fact that you
sometimes as a result of ties, had to have three WC the next day. Only the
$100K tournaments matched the New York shows for tension and drama.
Stewart should have let the contestants keep their accumulated money in
addition to the big money though. That was just silly.
Eric Paddon
Consigliere
opined:
>Stewart should have let the contestants keep
>their accumulated money in addition to the big
>money though. That was just silly.
No, that was just Bob Stewart being his usual cheap self.
Dan J. Harrisfield
> > Practices did a better job of supervising than ABC's Broadcast Standards.
I like the blue and white and grey walls. They give the show a more,
cozy, New Yorkish feel. (Just like why I like the first TJW set, sans
the NY part.) I also like how the judges were so leniant in the Big
Apple! Those LA guys must've loved that buzzer.
And in the $20,000
> > Pyramid, if you won in the Winner's Circle, you lost any bonus money that you
> > had previously won, and you had to leave the show, even if you were
> > successful in the Winner's Circle the very first time and won only $10,000.
> > This happened to a friend of mine.
There's a downside right there. I'm sure there were contestants who
screwed themselves(bad wording!) on their $10K and $15K shots in hope
for the highest amount. Ironicvally, the players usually got beat at
that point, and the cycle goes on.
And if you won $10,000 or
> $25,000 in
> > the Winner's Circle, you continued to play, until you either played for five
> > days or you won the maximum amount allowed by CBS to be won by a contestant
> > on a game show, whichever came first.
I believe if the maximum set by CBS wasn't in effect, the most a
homemaker from Cincinatti could steal from Bob Stewart is about
$330,500. (Not as if a homemaker from Toledo or Columbus or Cleveland
couldn't do the same!)
>
> I agree... the CBS versions are much more aesthetically pleasing.
I agree. Dark bonus rounds intrigue me! Especially when dark parts
light up. Wow. But I like the $20K's front-end portion!
Besides,
> there was a better set-up of each day's contestants playing two games
> (although whoever returned as the champion still boggles my mind).
Whoever wins more money on the big pyramid, or by winning both games.
€Dan J. Harrisfield€
Got pudding?