Andy Richter is the Host of CBS’s “Pyramid”
Pyramid finally has a host! Andy Richter, the actor/comedian and Conan O’Brien sidekick, is going to host the CBS daytime pilot being produced by Embassy Row and Sony Pictures. This is the second group of pilots for the show. Last year Pyramid was considered for the daytime slot replacing Guiding Light but Let’s Make A Deal was chosen instead. If selected Pyramid will be replacing As The World Turns this Fall.
The show had a long history of host searching. The previous pilot hosts were Tim Vincent and Dean Cain. Since moving the show to Los Angeles the show briefly attempted to get Brad Garrett from Everybody Loves Raymond to host. The one I was waiting to tell you was the show was originally hoping to get Howie Mandel to host, but he declined.
Some extra incentive here for CBS is Andy Richter will be the co-host of Conan O’Brien’s new talk show on TBS, so he has a wide base to possibly discuss it there. Lots of plug potentials. Richter showed his game show skills as a contestant on Jeopardy! this season, crushing Wolf Blitzer, but he hasn’t hosted a game show. I can see him doing very well in this role. There is some big competition, though. The show is going against a talk show fronted by Big Brother host Julie Chen and a cooking game show pilot from Fremantle which is shooting soon.
I don’t think I need to tell you which I’d prefer to see, but I will anyway. The only production company I completely trust to bring back Pyramid well is the incredibly skilled Embassy Row team. They’ve proven themselves repeatedly with very few faults. So fingers crossed for Pyramid. I’d love to see their vision of the show come to life. Good luck to the Embassy Row crew.
Wonderful! I think Andy certainly has proved his worth on Jeopardy and with Conan, as well as with other efforts (his guest spot on 'Arrested Development' comes to mind.) I think this has a real shot against both the cooking game and Chen's talk show. If I recall correctly, last year's pilot shot in NYC (makes sense with ER) – but there was talk about switching to LA. Any word on that?
This is very exciting news, let us hope this get picked up for the new fall season!!!!! I've got my fingers crossed with this one.
Wow Andy is a interesting choice i hope the show gets picked up and stay 30mins
Relieved that "looks like Dick Clark" wasn't at the top of the emcee criteria list, like it evidently was for Donnymid. I was dreading Dean Cain getting the gig.
Have they talked to ANYONE with game show experience?
I'm not sure I like this yet. Pyramid has a gravitas that Clark and Cullen totally got. They new how to create suspense. I liked Andy on Conan and his sitcoms, but I don't know about this. I'll keep an open mind. He did seem to take Jeopardy seriously. And it is encouraging to see some movement here. Good luck, Andy!
I don't mind Andy hosting Pyramid; he did well on Jeopardy, and I think he could do well on Pyramid if he's allowed to grow into his job. I just fear that, since the CBS boss isn't going to reject his girl (securing the talk show's slot) and Fremantle is behind Emeril's show, that Pyramid will likely get passed over. I hope not, but I think that will happen.
WTH? Andy Richter? The man has no game show hosting experience.
I think right now the surest bet, to me, would be Pyramid, classic format, a host who a few months after this debuts would have double exposure. Hopefully he would grow into the role, and I think of the 3 CBS games they would have this one would have less host/contestant reaction, he is really just theming the action moving. The second best of the 3 options is the cooking game show, due to the fact it is a game show, and if it fails it can be replaced with little fanfare. And the third best is the "View/Mommy talk knock-off", if this show fails then its seem as "CBS Prez and wife Fail"… But if they want to force Julie Chen down our throat. Have Pyramid and the "View/Mommy" knock off both 30 minutes
Interesting choice! Hopefully, he will do some tape study of Dick Clark, not to learn how to host, but how to successfully know the game.
True, @palmercomm; the closest experience was pilot host of a TBS Match Game revival (wonder if that was being considered for the spot now occupied by Lopez Tonight)…
I totally agree; I would most definately prefer to see Pyramid and Emeril than that gab fest. I just would find it hard to see the head of CBS telling his girl "Sorry, hun, uh, your prospects suck." even though that would be true. We'll just have to hope they try to syndicate it and go with Pyramid/Emeril. Alas, we have plenty of time to see how it shakes out.
If it was maybe the Hot topic segment then, it might have some, very very little interest, if they mix it up it might have a pulse. If the knock out the pilot quick enough they might have a chance to announce this at the Daytime Emmys next month, were Dick Clark is going to be honored.
I wonder if it the fact that there isn't the classic game show host anymore. Up until the late 80s, if they were rebooting a show like this you would have a list of host to go to, and maybe get a good run out of. I don't know, IMO, if there are too many out there now, that you can bank on (3 or 4 year run plus), I think the comedian route is the one the networks are willing to take.
Andy Richter controls the Pyramid!
I hope this turns out. If Andy Richter can master Celebrity Jeopardy, then he can handle the nuances of Pyramid just fine. Every game show host was a first-time game show host sometime, and I'd love to see Andy in this role.
You can't deny that with the buzz that will be surrounding Conan O'Brien's new show on TBS this fall, that some of that would rub off on Pyramid and Andy Richter too. Plus, I imagine there will be some good-natured ribbing on Andy's part bragging that he got a network TV deal.
Arguably the lowest point of Embassy Row's/Michael Davies' producing career was their other Bob Stewart revival, CHain Reaction, whose main problems were the betting round and some of the contestants casted. Bob Stewart tended to care more about choosing contestants based on gameplay over other factors.
I'll agree with you on that one. But, I think they'll get it right with this one. There was a lot of good feedback last year.
This is great news! Admittingly, I never thought of Andy Richter for the job…simply because I hadn't seen him as a host, before. However, I am a fan of his…and he has proven that he can be serious when needed (like he was on Jeopardy).
I will also admit that Howie Mandel turned it down…but, with his new gig on "America's Got Talent", I figure there'd be a conflict on some sort. Besides, maybe he just didn't want to host another game show (being that he's known for being a comedian).
All in all, I think Andy Richter is a good pick.
A surprise, yet, good pick. I'm sure we all agree on that. But here's a suggestion for the first show (should it be greenlit, and it should), have Dick Clark on the show to wish Andy well (preferably on camera since he probably won't commute to L.A. because of his condition). Note to Les Mooves, put this show and Emeril's show on the air in September and tell you wife "Hey, at least you'll still host The Early Show and Big Brother, baby".
Interesting pick, but I can see it work. Richter seems to be a fan of the genre and understands when to play it for laughs and when not to. Curious to see how faithful the pilot is to "classic" Pyramid, and whether the show tapes as a 30-minute or 60-minute program.
I like Andy Richter, but I cant see him as Pyramid Host. Hopefully, it will work, and will keep an open mind. I think Howie Mandel would have been a great fit for Pyramid. It probably wont matter. I still believe that if Julie Chen shoots a good pilot, her show will get the order. I cant see a block of 30 minutes of Pyramid, and 30 minutes of Julie Chen happening. It's not a good pairing. It may be one or the other, though I suppose Emeril's Game Show is still in the mix. 30 minutes of Chen along with Emeril's Game show is a much better pairing. Funny how Embassy Row in NYC based, and is shooting the Pyramid Pilot in LA, and Freemantle is LA based, and shooting Emeril's Pilot in NYC… though I am sure the Hosts have much to do with that result. I have to believe Mr Davies would rather be taping Pyramid in NYC. Still, I think the odds aren't good. If CBS does not buy it, I believe Pyramid eventually finds a home. Perhaps Pyramid winds up in Prime Time, Syndication, or on ABC Daytime, if they cancel a Soap next year. Let's hope CBS finds a way to put it on the daytime schedule. Good luck to everyone at Embassy Row, and please dont change the format. Keep it classic !
I like Andy Richter, but I cant see him as Pyramid Host. Hopefully, it will work. I think Howie Mandel would have been a great fit for Pyramid. It probably wont matter. I still believe that if Julie Chen shoots a good pilot, her show will get the order. I cant see a block of 30 minutes of Pyramid, and 30 minutes of Julie Chen happening. It's not a good pairing. It may be one or the other, though I suppose Emeril's Game Show is still in the mix. 30 minutes of Chen along with Emeril's Game show is a much better pairing. Funny how Embassy Row in NYC based, and is shooting the Pyramid Pilot in LA, and Freemantle is LA based, and shooting Emeril's Pilot in NYC… though I am sure the Hosts have much to do with that result. I have to believe Mr Davies would rather be taping Pyramid in NYC. Still, I think the odds aren't good. If CBS does not buy it, I believe Pyramid eventually finds a home. Perhaps Pyramid winds up in Prime Time, Syndication, or on ABC Daytime, if they cancel a Soap next year. Let's hope CBS finds a way to put it on the daytime schedule. Good luck to everyone at Embassy Row, and please dont change the format. Keep it classic !
Keep your fingers crossed for Andy and the Pyramid!
I have to admit, I like this choice. I think this is a great choice and I think he can pull it off.
I meant that I admit being disappointed that Howie Mandel turned it down.
Two part Question.
1. Will season 2 of LMAD still be a hour show if Pyramid gets the green light?
2. Will we see emeril and pyramid both 1/2 hour shows in the the fall?
Actually, Mike, that was Andy Daly that hosted the Match Game pilot, not Andy Richter.
The only way ABC will air a game show in daytime (and I sound like a broken record when I say it) is if they syndicate The View in 2011, which is still likely. And only then, there's no promise that a game show(s) will air there.
Yes to Pyramid, no the the "View/Mommy" show. I strongly believe that Les Moonves wants his wife to be the female Ryan Seacrest (then again, Ryan Seacrest is the female Ryan Seacrest).
The Emeril/Pyramid would be a much better pairing.