The $10,000 Pyramid

"Pyramid" is one of those quiz-show perennials, with a simple format that's held up over time. And its bonus round is one of the most exciting in TV history.

Bob Stewart, creator of the Goodson classics "Password" (as well as "To Tell the Truth" and "The Price Is Right"), reworked his "Password" concept to have celebrities and civilians guess either words or phrases within a preset time limit. In the process, "Pyramid" became one of the few celebrity game shows that didn't dumb down its product -- and has won nine Emmys for Best Game Show as a result.

The basic premise of the game has stayed the same since 1973. The main round prompts one member of a team to have his/her partner guess six words or phrases in a category within a 20-second time limit (the original was eight words in 30 seconds, shrunk to seven in the mid-1970s).

The celebrity/civilian team with the biggest total after six categories heads to the Winner's Circle, where one player has to convey a subject to his/her partner in 60 seconds for his partner to win the jackpot.

Apart from its value as a game, "Pyramid" gave its first and longest-running host, Dick Clark, a new audience beyond his "American Bandstand" constituency. Clark ran the program efficiently and made sure it stayed a serious game show. Bill Cullen, John Davidson and current host Donny Osmond have also been effective emcees of the syndicated edition.

Television has produced many kinds of "The (insert big amount here) Pyramid," but the most notable version of all is the one that had given away $100,000, and that had taken place from 1985 to 1988 with "The $100,000 Pyramid," hosted by Dick Clark (there was also a 1991 version with a different host). Anyways, there were two teams, each consisting of an Average Joe or Plain Jane contestant alongside a celebrity (most of them have already used up their 10 seconds of fame; LOL). It's almost like "Password," except there are six categories, each having word clues that one must read out while the other tries to guess!!!!! The winner with the most points goes on to the "Winner's Circle," for a chance at 100 grand!!!!!

GSN shows this Monday through Friday at 10:30 in the morning. Despite those stupid split screens, you can see the original 10 second commercials retained!!!!! And now, to close, a funny moment from the show:

Dick Clark: "We're playing for a 1958 Chevrolet Chevette!!!!!"

Man in back: "85! 85!"

(Dick Clark dies of laughter) LOL

10/10

First off, I must say that this was a fun game show. Also, I haven't seen every episode. However, I do know the show very well. I still watch it in reruns on the Game Show Network. Every time I've watched it, I had a lot of fun playing along and watching. When I was growing up, this made me long to be a contestant. The thing I like most about it are the questions. Despite the fact that I don't know all the answers, I still have fun playing along. I hope the Game Show Network keeps it on so I can play along and watch for years to come. If that happens, I will be really happy. Before I wrap this up, I'd like to say that I'll always remember this show in my memory forever. Now, in conclusion, I hope that you catch it one day before it goes off the air for good.

This was the perfect type of game show for the person coming home from work at the end of a long day. While it was a challenging game for the contestants, the viewer could just sit & watch & be mind numb when necessary.

Dick Clark made his first move from being America's teenager into being Americas game show host with this show. Actually he is pretty good at it as he would always keep things moving along at a brisk pace.

Each program would have two contestants & two celebrities teamed against each other & competing for the right to get into the winners circle. The team that got to the winners circle (after winning some cash for winning the game) would have a chance to climb a 6 subject pyramid in 60 seconds & win $10,000 (later 20, 25, 50 & then 100). The rules were more stringent on the pyramid than during the regular game.

Certain celebrities were excellent at playing the game. Some were not, which in a way was telling as the celebrities were exactly the same as the contestants. To me, it was always exciting watching a team win the 60 second round. Think the best ever done was around 25 seconds which was amazing.

This game was word association, & actually took the concept from a previous game, Password, only put it into hyper speed by trying to do everything in 30 second or 60 second bites. It worked really well considering it ran non-stop pretty much for 19 seasons & recently has been revived with new syndicated versions again & again.

After 4 seasons of winning $10,000 and the title & the value are both changed & raised into $20,000 for "THE $20,000 PYRAMID!" It debuted on January 19, 1976 and the 2 teams are now playing in 2 parts instead of the full Qualifying Round. The 6 subjects on the "Play-A-long Pyramid" was shown. Each subject contains of 7 things to be describe them and also an question for each of the 6 subjects can be read by the host. The Team has 30 seconds to describe number of things to score. However, When the team scores 7 out of 7 that'll be the perfect score of the same number 7. The 1st team scores the most points wins, Otherwise that'll score 21 wins $1000 and going to "The Winner's Circle" for 2 cash rewards. The 1st tryout is worth $10,000 and the 2nd and last tryout was $15,000 and later tried for $20,000. one of each member of the team has 60 seconds to give a list of things from the related subject that collects the value on the pyramid in the following: 3 subjects worth $50, 2 Subjects worth $100 and 1 subject worth $200. The Possible total was $500 as same as the bonus cash of the new feature card called "The BIG 7!" One Member of the team shouldn't use/give a thing into the description in 2 things (Play-Along Pyramid & The Winner's Circle) will might sound a "Cuckoo" and the thing removed from it in several unoccasional ways. ABC-TV finally cancelled the program in 1980.