Rumor Control: “Pyramid” Revival for CBS Daytime Now Casting
I’m saying this is a rumor but just based on the description from the Craigslist post, I’d be willing to bet that the pilot for the CBS Daytime revival of Pyramid is starting to take shape. Casting is going out. The good news for us east coasters is that since it’s an Embassy Row production, like all their shows it’ll be taking place in New York City. If you’re in the tri-state area and want to be part of the pilot, click here to apply! No pressure, but the fate of daytime game shows rests on you. OK, not really, but still play well.
Again, it doesn’t outright say that it’s a Pyramid pilot, but put it all together. It’s Embassy Row, it’s a revival of a classic hit show, and it’s a major network revival. The only show like that that’s remotely known is Pyramid. There’s a remote chance it could be The Dating Game but that shot a pilot for Lifetime a few months ago so I don’t know if a separate pilot is necessary for a show shot so recently.
Don’t forget that this is one of three potential game shows that CBS is looking for a daytime run to replace Guiding Light. Pyramid is one and the other show are Let’s Make A Deal and The Dating Game. I still don’t know what to think of The Dating Game because that almost seemed like a sidenote on any article published about the whole situation, but Let’s Make A Deal is still searching for a host and will shoot a pilot soon. I talked to Monty Hall on the red carpet of GSN’s 2009 Game Show Awards about it and we’ll have more of that once my brain processes all that happened that day.
If indeed everything does fall into place, “Pyramid” goes back to where it all began. When it started as “The $10,000 Pyramid”, it debuted in NYC.
I received the application and it does say “Pyramid” on it. It asks a bunch of question similar to other contestant applications.
Unfortunately I’ll be out of the tri-state area for most of the summer, but I hope that they can find some use for me… I LOVE “Pyramid!” Good luck to everyone trying out and to Embassy Row in their production of the pilot :)
I’m curious to see how a New York location affects the celebrity roster. In the 1970′s it meant that they had a number of celebs who were better known for the stage than for the screen. In the present day, there aren’t that many stage stars, but a number of mid-level celebrities are enjoying success on Broadway. (Nathan Lane, anyone?)
CBS didn’t mind having stars from other networks in the 1980′s, so we could see people from news divisions, sports or SNL. (Today’s special guests are, from SNL, Kristin Wiig … and, from, Baseball Tonight, John Kruk!)
I did not receive an app, but I did send an email off to them. Michael, how long after you sent in the email, did you receive the app?
If I didn’t already have plans to use what little vacation time I have next month, I’d be seriously considering flying out to New York right now.
The notice says casting for a PILOT–not a “series” or “new show”. This still may not go anywhere, and it may only be looking for people for just what it says, a pilot.
I got the application, yes is it Pyramid.
I still think they should ditch the celebrities and just get teams of two players. You would see better games, and with contracts being what they are these days, the celebrity pool isn’t very deep. There also isn’t the draw like there used to be, as much as people can’t get enough of TMZ, etc., people just don’t tune into a show to “see the stars” like they used to.
Re Aaron: “WHO WOULD BE THE HOST OF THE 25,000 PYRAMID”
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Beside that, does anybody know how much this Pyramid is worth? or are they just going to go the Donny route and simply call it “Pyramid” again?
$25K on Network Daytime TV in this Century seems a little El Cheap-o to me. And if CBS is the #1 Network, I’m sure they can spring a little more than that, right?
No word on host or $ yet, but still in pilot stage, that doesn’t really matter too much. I’m just hoping they get someone decent, not another “hey I remember them” so called celebrity to do it.
The application I have simply says “Pyramid” at the top. I have a feeling when a $ amount is decided, they will use it in the title–Michael Davies does have respect for the original.
$25K may seem cheap these days, but this is a daytime show being used to replace a soap that was too expensive to produce…so it may not get much more than that. Of course, if they use returning champions (which seems rare these days), someone could potentially win much more.
Granted, the budget may not be huge since they are replacing a “soap that was too expensive to produce”. But, there’s also TPIR…they recently increased their $ payouts over the last two years…more money on the Big Wheel bonus spins and “Punch-A-Bunch” (aka The Punchboard) was increased to $25,000. So, why not increase it? $50,000…$100,000 (and PLEASE use the original tournament rules…not the flip-flopping from Donny Osmond’s version)? Granted I don’t know what the budget was like for GL…or what it would be for the new Pyramid…but, why not?
When doing budget calculations, please keep some things in mind:
1. TPIR is AN HOUR LONG! Very critical point here. Pyramid, at this stage, looks to be only a half hour. That’s half the budget then.
2. TPIR HAS BEEN ON A LONG TIME. No show, going in its first season, has an explosive budget, it hasn’t proven itself yet! I’ll use WOF syndie as an example. There was only the 1k space plastered on the first round, and the 5000 space plastered on in R3 when it started. By the end of season 2, you saw 4 or 5 spaces on the R1 Wheel not on the daytime, and duplicates of higher dollar values appearing in R2 and R3. I’ve calculated the difference, and it’s well into the mid-thousands.
3. With Pyramid, I would be very surprised if they did a tournament format. I’m applying the “KISS” idea with this (with other things, taking today’s audiences into account), and that, again, with the show being the first (or one of two) of the new network daytime games in well over a decade, CBS will be very careful with how they work things, including taking measures to ESPECIALLY not go over budget (not JUST try to not go over budget).
Do some math, if anything, I say make the 2nd WC ACTUALLY worth 25k, and not 15k if the first was won. This would mean that $35k potentially could be won in a day by a player, which, outside of hardly being chump change, is about, what I’d think, an average big winner of the day on TPIR would end up with, not counting bonuses Pyramid might throw in *your potential 7-11′s, Mystery 7′s, 21-21 bonuses,etc*, which could put a contestant well over $40k for a day, maybe around $50k. $40k times 5 is $200k, which is about what CBS needs to aim for at first, IMHO. If the ratings are good, only then would I look at some potential inflations (like a tourney), but not until such.
Returning champs I also think are the best way to go. Not having to do as many contestant interviews usually=slightly lower costs, which would not hurt the show at this stage. It does also build some excitement.
Either way, providing the production skills aren’t what Donnymid was, I have great faith in the show, especially since Michael Davies is behind it, who seems to have a good grasp on things. I’m looking forward to seeing how this pilot goes.
I stand corrected on what I said.
@ Wheelloon…I like your ideas. I do have one other thought though…when it was $20,000 (which was done in NYC), they had a rolling jackpot for the champion…yes, it was capped at $20,000…but that was the budget back then.
Here’s a thought…call it “The Pyramid”, bring back the rolling jackpot…and maybe cap it at $100,000…or $200,000…whatever needs to happen. Increment it however the powers that be prefer (maybe $25,000 each time?) and throw in “The Big 7″…or whatever you want to call it.
Also…what about bringing back the original theme music? :)
Personally, your tastes may vary, but the rolling jackpot on $20k Pyramid always seemed flawed to me. I always felt, the first time you were at a winner’s circle, if you managed to get to the top, you should earn more than if it took you 2 or 3 or more times to get up there for the first (and back then, only) time. Not saying it still wasn’t a good show, it was IMHO, but that part has irked me for awhile now. The returning champs, even after winning a WC, and the axing of “one loss and done” made the show work so much better and fairer, IMHO.
To keep with your rolling idea though Jay, I did also consider an idea I’ve had in the past, and was used on the $100k Pyramid computer game released by Sierra some years ago. Each time a person wins the WC, their jackpot for their next WC goes up. The first time, in the PC game, was worth $5k, the 2nd time a person went up was worth $10k (bringing the player’s total to $15k), 3rd $25k, up to $100k (total if you do the math is $190k). It didn’t matter how many times a person lost between wins at the WC, the number win (“N-th”) was what determined the WC jackpot for that person at that time.
It’s a money ladder of sorts, sure, which has been overdone in recent game show times some of us would agree, but it could be an excitement builder, for sure, especially if you’ve had a champ who’s won a number of WC’s. The budget wouldn’t be horrible as you’d initially think, as it would take 3 wins (with the prior money tree) by the SAME person to surpass what they could otherwise win in a single day in the $25k version, and it would take at least 2 days for a skilled player to do that.
A lot of times with game shows though, as I’ve seen in recent years, it’s not so much what a person could and would likely win, but what POTENTIALLY a person could win if they “go all the way” in some form. The money tree could put out the idea a person could walk out with $XXX,000 (or more) from one winner’s circle if they win it N times before, but the actual payout won’t happen often, if even regularly, and thus won’t be overkill.
Theme music should have some sort of update though. I’d say take the route Trebek’s Jeopardy did with their theme over the years and still have it be based on the originals, but your opinions may vary again. It’d be like if WOF still used the original Big Wheels today if Pyramid’s went back to the 70′s or even the 80′s, in that it wouldn’t fit and sound awkward against everything else including a likely neon-induced set.
And if you want a summary of these transcripts, just remember “Update but do not needlessly fix” and “Your mileage may vary.” :D
I was never a big fan the “augmented to” $25k win. A dismal $50 win in the first trip would make the second trip worth $24,950, while a win in the first trip makes the second worth only (by comparison) $15K. Whatever value they “brand” the show with (if any), it should be the actual grand prize value.
I think the one-win-and-done format from the ’70s Pyramid should be revived only for tournament play. Since the tournament players actually aren’t eliminated, it would not be as much a penalty, but it keeps all 3 players in each episode of the tournament. (I think they did this on the $50K version.)
Hopefully, the set will have a warmer look. The darkly lit, steely, theatre-in-the-round motif works for Millionaire, not for every game show that debuts after Millionaire. That said, we don’t need a return to earth-tone shag carpeting, but some color other than black and metal would be nice.
I would like to hear the ’70s theme song return. It will likely need to be re-recorded, but hopefully it will resemble the original theme and not the 2000 version resembling some MIDI file cobbled together by a computer programmer.
OK…after reading the new replies, I have new thoughts.
I am not saying “one win and your done” should be the rule…just the rolling jackpot…a la Password Plus or Super Password. Also…I have come to dislike money trees of any sort…just my opinion. I saw the Sierra version that Wheelloon spoke of. My personal opinion…I didn’t want to touch it after seeing that…again, just my opinion.
As for the theme music…yes, I agree…an update is in order…but, my preference would be an updated version of the original theme. A perfect example can be found on GSN’s (Game Show Network’s) 2nd CD. The original theme is on there…and I think it’s a re-do…and I think it sounds great!
Cool news…I sent off an e-mail and will now play the waiting game for a reply. Being a holiday, I’m sure they probably won’t reply until tomorrow or so, but I’d love to take a trip back to NYC, and love word games.
I heard back today @ about 430pm, they are having tryouts scheduled this week and next. Mine is on June 3rd @ 1pm. It is actually at Embassy Row in SoHo, so they don’t have any studio space.
I was told I would be playing mock games and I’m sure there’s a little interviewing in there, but no test as there was with the Donny version.
So it wasn’t a dream……Pyramid’s coming back. Good news for game show fans like myself and for CBS. And the show’s going back to its New York roots seeing as Mike Davies is producing this version (so I’ll expect a dark set a’la the updated versions of The Newlywed Game and Chain Reaction).
To Ben: I agree, they should use the theme from the $10/20k or at least the $25/100k versions only slightly remixed. I hated the theme from the Osmond version, it was too techno for Pyramid (I also hated the theme from the updated version of Chain Reaction, they should’ve used the original theme).
To Jay: Your idea of a rolling jackpot is good, but I like the idea of using money increment in the title (e.g. $25,000 Pyramid).
OK, I didn’t want to jump into the money conversation, but since that seems to be so important to so many here…
First, I don’t think the money is that important, it’s the game that matters. Before anyone goes nuts on that statement I mean it’s not important as long as the game isn’t too cheap as so many were in the late 80s (anyone remember how many shows had $1000 top prizes…). Yes, $25K doesn’t seem right since we’ve had $100K in the title already, and that was 20 years ago, but look at the times and the game is really what matters here.
Second, if there is to be a structure…and if they do have returning champions and not a tournament format (which I never liked because it seemed so random as to when they really had their tournaments)…
How about an increasing dollar amount for each time a contestant makes it to the top in the bonus round. We could conceivably have $1,000,000 Pyramid. Let’s face it, very few contestants will win that many bonus rounds, so it can really be the unattainable carrot that everyone loves so much.
Using the 6 block structure from the bonus round, a contestant could get $10K, $25K, $50K, $100K, $250K and $1M. Of course, there would still have to be maybe $1000 for winning each game, plus whatever else might be won in the bonus round for failing, and add in Mystery 7 prizes and stuff like that…but it could be done and stay in the budget.
As for the music, I never would’ve thought that’d be such a big deal, but since it is, it should stay true to the classic music, but be updated for today’s tastes. Just please not another game show with no real music just a lousy thump, thump, thump drum beat.
Finally, for the set–this is Embassy Row, do you really think it’s not gonna be dark with blue lights?
Actually Wayne, the $100,000 tournaments on the Dick Clark and John Davidson versions usually occurred during sweeps months so they’d be every November, February and May. The show went into reruns in the summer, so three tournaments a year about 9 weeks apart.
I’m not a big fan of money trees, either, but I really liked the fact that the amount of money you played for on The $20,000 Pyramid was based on how many main games you won…not how many times you got to the top in the winner’s circle. I really didn’t like the fact that you had to win $10,000 on Donny’s version before you could play for $25,000. I think it should be based on how many opponents you defeat. So, I kinda like Wayne’s money tree…six levels works great for Pyramid. Not very many players won six straight games.
The $10,000 Pyramid had the best game show theme ever…it sounds like victory. The 80s versions had a variation of that theme music. So I’d love to hear a new arrangement of the original.
I still hope they do away with celebrities, though. I know in the 80s, I got tired of seeing the same third or fourth bananas cycle through about once a month. (Notice how many clips on YouTube have Henry Polic II.) Even though many of them were great game players, there was a pretty short list. All-civilian teams will be more invested…and will rehearse much more…they’ll just be better game players. But since the audition notice said nothing about “you and a friend”, I sense we’ll see the entire Food Network lineup…and Melody Thomas Scott.
No response from Embassy Row yet, but I probably couldn’t do next week, so it’s all good I suppose. As for the show, I say make the first Winner’s Circle $20,000, then the second attempt is $30,000, regardless of whether you win or lose the first time around. That way, you could technically have a “$50,000 Pyramid” which, with inflation, falls in line with just about every other version.
As for the show, I like what Davies did with “Newlywed”. Although “Chain Reaction” left a lot to be desired, I think he could make this version work. Would love to hear a rearranged 80s theme, the way they did with GSN “Newlywed”…
I had an audition on Tue June 2. I think it went VERY well and I'm waiting on a callback to be on the pilot.
I, too, auditioned this week. Took about 20 minutes and I thought I nailed it. Perhaps Dan and I will face off in about a week. (Pilot shoots 6/16 and 6/17.)
were there "flippy boxes"
No, just color-coded index cards at a conference room table for the audition.
Anonymous, it was fun wasn't it? I too hope we get a chance to play together. One of the girls there said I won the Winner's Circle round in record time!
And sorry I'm keeping my name out of here. I'm just a little paranoid that I'll be disqualified. I know I'm probably overreacting, though.
Yes, Dan, it was fun to play. The problem I ran into was that I was matched up with a production assistant who had an unfortunate habit of giving me illegal clues. I haven't heard back yet if I was chosen — then again, I had less than 48 hours notice for the audition. I just hope that I don't get called for the Tuesday 5:00 pilot, because I am starting a new job assignment that night. No way for me to call that off.
I have obtained some of the new sound effects for Pyramid.
Sounds interesting. No music, just sound effects!
They have been produced by one of my favorite composers!
Well, according to reviews from those who attended tapings, this looks like it's been done very well. The set pictures alone blew me away.
http://www.golden-road.net/index.php/topic,11679….
I am so disappointed that I had a schedule quirk that did not resolve itself in time to get tickets. I tried on Tuesday morning to get tickets for Wednesday, but by then they already had a Craigslist post paying (bribing) people $20 to sit in the audience. Once they did that the seats filled up quickly, I guess.
From the photos above, this is exactly what hoped for this pilot.
And, for the record, I am the "anonymous" poster who went to the audition … no chance in wrecking my opportunity now.