Can “Pyramid” or “Press Your Luck” Work in 60 Minutes, Hypothetically?
So during the conversation of what could possibly replace CBS’s canceled soap As The World Turns, and I’m pretty sure it’ll end up being a game show, we were talking about shows that could replace it. I mentioned that I’m a bit shocked Fremantle hasn’t gone after CBS hard for Press Your Luck given merchandise comes out for it and they’ve been looking for an outlet since CBS’s Game Show Marathon. It’s also becoming pretty clear that CBS is going to want whatever daytime (game)show that comes into the lineup to be an hour long. After that we start to get concerns of shows stretching from the original 30 minute format to 60 minutes. A lot of us had fears of Let’s Make A Deal going to 60 minutes and that worked out fine.
There’s really only two options. Shows are either going to be double run or the more likely option is just stretching to an hour. I’m a bit amazed at the number of people who think Pyramid, an actual candidate for the slot, or Press Your Luck, a hypothetical not-real-whatsoever show, can’t do it. I mean given how much commercial time we’ve added to shows these days it won’t take that much to bring them to an hour. Just throw in another quick game to Pyramid and that’s not overkill. Throw in a quick bonus round on Press Your Luck and you’ve got an hour without overkill.
So really I want to do one of te fun hypothetical “you are the producer” situations we do every now and then that has no real effect on anything but someone may read it and you’re never really sure. Do you think something like Pyramid can easily be stretched to an hour? How would you do it? I’ve been reading some fake proposals for it and people really want to try to overcomplicate, and that just won’t work. The simplest thing in my mind would to just play two games (plus Winner’s Circle) and have one game between the two winners for the right to play for some larger prize. Throw in Press Your Luck also for shiggles anyway if you want, but again realize that there are no plans for this and I just found the comments that these shows can’t be stretched out to be a bit strange. I can’t figure out if people don’t want them to because they were 30 minute shows in the 80s, or if there’s something else.
And to reiterate we have no idea what will be taking the CBS Daytime slot. All we know is Let’s Make A Deal has gone up a small amount in overall ratings from last year’s occupant Guiding Light and it’s half the cost of a soap opera so the safest bet is we’ll be seeing a game show.
Until this moment, I hadn't given any thought to the hour-long dilemma.
For Pyramid, I think Kevin C. had the best idea. 3 games, the first two games feature two new contestants playing both games, and the player with more WC winnings playing against the reigning champ in Game 3. The 4-player mini-tourney that a lot of people suggested was workable, but the 2-game guarantee has been best for the last 30 years.
The only thing I'd be careful to do is scale down the money ladders:
Preliminary matches: Plays like 80s 25K. Win the first game, you try for $10,000. Win both games, the 2nd try is for $25,000 total.
Championship match: Winner plays for an additional $25,000.
Champs play for up to 5 days. When there is no returning champ (including the first show), the main two players play all 3 games under the same rules, with the overall winner of the first two games getting celebrity choice in the Championship match. And of course, the tournament rules apply from the days of old for the million.
Until this moment, I hadn't given any thought to the hour-long dilemma.
For Pyramid, I think Kevin C. had the best idea. 3 games, the first two games feature two new contestants playing both games, and the player with more WC winnings playing against the reigning champ in Game 3. The 4-player mini-tourney that a lot of people suggested was workable, but the 2-game guarantee has been best for the last 30 years.
The only thing I'd be careful to do is scale down the money ladders:
Preliminary matches: Plays like 80s 25K. Win the first game, you try for $10,000. Win both games, the 2nd try is for $25,000 total.
Championship match: Winner plays for an additional $25,000.
Champs play for up to 5 days. When there is no returning champ (including the first show), the main two players play all 3 games under the same rules, with the overall winner of the first two games getting celebrity choice in the Championship match. And of course, the tournament rules apply from the days of old for the million.
But you see, an hour-long Pyramid is feasible. But Press Your Luck… I've seen what everyone's said, and I can't totally wrap my head around any of it.
In the past year or so, I've done something with my Anime Press Your Luck shows in NY and Otakon where I do minigames between the games with audience members. If they answer a question right, they play one spin on a special board of all $'s and Whammies. Avoid the Whammy, you win a prize.
I imagine that something like that could be adapted into an hour-long PYL where the winner of the first round gets to play up to 2 spins on a bonus board for an extra prize (not counted toward score), and the winner gets a bonus board also, and it's on that board you can win the big stuff, including cars and whatnot. The bonus board, I know a lot of you have said, and that's the easier piece of this puzzle. The minigame after Round 1, there may be something better that this idea, I just haven't found it yet.
Bottom line: PYL is my life, and the world knows it. But in this hour-long argument, it's easier to stretch Pyramid.
But you see, an hour-long Pyramid is feasible. But Press Your Luck… I've seen what everyone's said, and I can't totally wrap my head around any of it.
In the past year or so, I've done something with my Anime Press Your Luck shows in NY and Otakon where I do minigames between the games with audience members. If they answer a question right, they play one spin on a special board of all $'s and Whammies. Avoid the Whammy, you win a prize.
I imagine that something like that could be adapted into an hour-long PYL where the winner of the first round gets to play up to 2 spins on a bonus board for an extra prize (not counted toward score), and the winner gets a bonus board also, and it's on that board you can win the big stuff, including cars and whatnot. The bonus board, I know a lot of you have said, and that's the easier piece of this puzzle. The minigame after Round 1, there may be something better that this idea, I just haven't found it yet.
Bottom line: PYL is my life, and the world knows it. But in this hour-long argument, it's easier to stretch Pyramid.
1. Intro/Meet the 4 Contestants and the celebs : 6 minutes
2. commercial : 2 minutes
3. contestant A vs. contestant B for one game : 9 minutes
4. commercial: 2 minutes
4. contestant C vs. contestant D for one game: 9 minutes
5. commercial: 2 minutes
6. Winners of previous games– Game #1: 9 minutes
7. commercial: 2 minutes
8. Winner's Circle: 2 minutes
9. Commercial: 2 minutes
10. Game #2: 9 minutes
11. commercial: 2 minutes
12. Winner's Circle: 2 minutes
13. Show wrap-up & credits: 2 minutes
______________________________________________
Total Running Time w/ commercials: 60 minutes
1. Intro/Meet the 4 Contestants and the celebs : 6 minutes
2. commercial : 2 minutes
3. contestant A vs. contestant B for one game : 9 minutes
4. commercial: 2 minutes
4. contestant C vs. contestant D for one game: 9 minutes
5. commercial: 2 minutes
6. Winners of previous games– Game #1: 9 minutes
7. commercial: 2 minutes
8. Winner's Circle: 2 minutes
9. Commercial: 2 minutes
10. Game #2: 9 minutes
11. commercial: 2 minutes
12. Winner's Circle: 2 minutes
13. Show wrap-up & credits: 2 minutes
______________________________________________
Total Running Time w/ commercials: 60 minutes
Wow. That's actually a great idea!
IMO, PYL seemed like the kind of game show that NEEDED a bonus round…
Wow. That's actually a great idea!
IMO, PYL seemed like the kind of game show that NEEDED a bonus round…
It's been a LONG time since I've ever seen Pyramid (reruns of the Dick Clark version on USA in the early 1990's, anyone?), so I wouldn't know how to deal with that.
PYL, on the other hand… While I think they should just simply expand the show to three rounds, I'm surprised that only one other person (I think) has addressed the issue of the Whammy limit. Do you know how easy it was on some episodes for contestants to hit four Whammies? And that was just in a 30-minute block! If the show were expanded to 60 minutes, they would either have to do a round similar to Whammy! The New PYL's first round (only Whammies acquired there wouldn't count towards the total) or simply raise the "glass ceiling" to, say, six Whammies.
Also, they should probably consider having a bonus round. I like the idea that JK The DJ suggested: "Catch the Whammy" (see his comment for more information).
It's been a LONG time since I've ever seen Pyramid (reruns of the Dick Clark version on USA in the early 1990's, anyone?), so I wouldn't know how to deal with that.
PYL, on the other hand… While I think they should just simply expand the show to three rounds, I'm surprised that only one other person (I think) has addressed the issue of the Whammy limit. Do you know how easy it was on some episodes for contestants to hit four Whammies? And that was just in a 30-minute block! If the show were expanded to 60 minutes, they would either have to do a round similar to Whammy! The New PYL's first round (only Whammies acquired there wouldn't count towards the total) or simply raise the "glass ceiling" to, say, six Whammies.
Also, they should probably consider having a bonus round. I like the idea that JK The DJ suggested: "Catch the Whammy" (see his comment for more information).
@ alex_8899: Ahhh, memories, USA ’80s-’90s with Pyramid, Chain Reaction (Canada), Bumper Stumpers, Super Password. Why can’t GSN take note of this?
Pyramid:
The same two contestants for an hour with the same two celebrities. Most of the old 80's rules carry over. Play four games. The person who wins the most in the WC gets to come back as returning champ (limit of 7 days).
WC:
1st trip – $10,000
2nd trip – $25,000
3rd trip – $50,000
4th trip – $100,000
Setup:
$1500
$1250 $1000
$250 $500 $750
If the same person gets to the WC all four times and wins on each trip, they get a luxury automobile/nice expensive prize.
Tournament – Same rules from the 80's version, except this time, it takes 5 wins at the WC to win the $1,000,000. Each WC win would be worth $50,000. The tournament would have 5 players (3 who won the WC in the fastest time, 2 who won the largest amount of money)The tournament would run for a maximum of three weeks; if no one won 5 times at the WC, then the person who won the most games would win $500,000. And for the four games each day, it would be single elimination; if you won the game, you kept playing; if you lost, you were out for the day.
Pyramid:
The same two contestants for an hour with the same two celebrities. Most of the old 80's rules carry over. Play four games. The person who wins the most in the WC gets to come back as returning champ (limit of 7 days).
WC:
1st trip – $10,000
2nd trip – $25,000
3rd trip – $50,000
4th trip – $100,000
Setup:
$1500
$1250 $1000
$250 $500 $750
If the same person gets to the WC all four times and wins on each trip, they get a luxury automobile/nice expensive prize.
Tournament – Same rules from the 80's version, except this time, it takes 5 wins at the WC to win the $1,000,000. Each WC win would be worth $50,000. The tournament would have 5 players (3 who won the WC in the fastest time, 2 who won the largest amount of money)The tournament would run for a maximum of three weeks; if no one won 5 times at the WC, then the person who won the most games would win $500,000. And for the four games each day, it would be single elimination; if you won the game, you kept playing; if you lost, you were out for the day.
Pyramid:
The same two contestants for an hour with the same two celebrities. Most of the old 80's rules carry over. Play four games. The person who wins the most in the WC gets to come back as returning champ (limit of 7 days).
WC:
1st trip – $10,000
2nd trip – $25,000
3rd trip – $50,000
4th trip – $100,000
Setup:
$1500
$1250 $1000
$250 $500 $750
If the same person gets to the WC all four times and wins on each trip, they get a luxury automobile/nice expensive prize.
Tournament – Same rules from the 80's version, except this time, it takes 5 wins at the WC to win the $1,000,000. Each WC win would be worth $50,000. The tournament would have 5 players (3 who won the WC in the fastest time, 2 who won the largest amount of money)The tournament would run for a maximum of three weeks; if no one won 5 times at the WC, then the person who won the most games would win $500,000. And for the four games each day, it would be single elimination; if you won the game, you kept playing; if you lost, you were out for the day.
I wasn't going to jump into this one, seeing the inevitable rollout of complex reworks that was destined for this thread. While I don't know if this would be enough to fill a potential hour of Pyramid, these are some things I would consider if I were in a position to make decisions:
* Play something early. There was a long delay before the first game was played. When, for time constraints, the old Pyramid would hold over the Winners Circle for the next episode, that was a strong lead-in. Not saying an early WC is the answer, but there needs to be something up front to hold the viewer.
* 3 full games per episode sounds good. Not sure its enough. Four seems to be a lot, and might not fit with more commercials. (Isn't that why the 2000s Pyramid shaved 120 seconds out of the front game? That's 4 commercials.)
* To fill time towards the middle of the episode, why not show clips of whatever show/movie the celebrities are plugging? Couple of roadblocks: not everyone has something to plug, a clip is not available at taping or even before air, some things don't have a clip (new book, stage show).
* Show some vintage Pyramid clip that might be related to the guests, or just something quirky or interesting.
Also not mentioned in the discussion of Pyramid/Press Your Luck: what about a dark horse of a new, ORIGINAL show? ANYTHING could be paired with Pyramid or whatever to fill the hour.
I wasn't going to jump into this one, seeing the inevitable rollout of complex reworks that was destined for this thread. While I don't know if this would be enough to fill a potential hour of Pyramid, these are some things I would consider if I were in a position to make decisions:
* Play something early. There was a long delay before the first game was played. When, for time constraints, the old Pyramid would hold over the Winners Circle for the next episode, that was a strong lead-in. Not saying an early WC is the answer, but there needs to be something up front to hold the viewer.
* 3 full games per episode sounds good. Not sure its enough. Four seems to be a lot, and might not fit with more commercials. (Isn't that why the 2000s Pyramid shaved 120 seconds out of the front game? That's 4 commercials.)
* To fill time towards the middle of the episode, why not show clips of whatever show/movie the celebrities are plugging? Couple of roadblocks: not everyone has something to plug, a clip is not available at taping or even before air, some things don't have a clip (new book, stage show).
* Show some vintage Pyramid clip that might be related to the guests, or just something quirky or interesting.
Also not mentioned in the discussion of Pyramid/Press Your Luck: what about a dark horse of a new, ORIGINAL show? ANYTHING could be paired with Pyramid or whatever to fill the hour.
And MGHSH.
For the tournament, K.I.S.S. One win at the WC, one million dollars. Would be a lot more exciting. Remember the Osmond version required you to win both WCs to qualify into the tournament and to win both WCs to get $100,000.
The version of Pyramid I did for conventions was an hour long, and it was pretty simple: Three rounds, four contestants. First two games were for 10,000, third game was for 25,000 and featured the winners of the first two games playing against each other. If there was time afterward, we pulled contestants out of the audience to play each other with any unused tiebreaker rounds we had left, fastest time or highest score won a prize.
CBS should to try to keep The World Turns on and try to air the new Password if they chose to pick it up