Pyramid (game show)

Pyramid was an American television game show where contestants tried to guess a series of words or phrases, based on descriptions that were given to them, in the shortest amount of time. It has won nine Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Game Show, second only to Jeopardy!, which won its 10th in 2005.

Main game

Two teams, consisting of one celebrity player and one contestant, competed against each other. Six categories, each of which had a name pertaining to what that category was about, were placed on the pyramid-shaped game board. A contestant chose one of those categories, and after the host explained the subject of that category, the contestant was given 30 seconds to guess seven words (originally eight), phrases, or names (20 seconds for six in the most recent version of Pyramid) using clues given by his/her celebrity partner. If any descriptions were deemed illegal by the judges -- usually when all or part of the word or phrase was given -- a cuckoo sound was played, the clue was immediately thrown out, and the contestant couldn't earn any points for it. If a word was passed, the giver could not go back to that word, but if the receiver knew the word later on and guessed it, the team still earned a point.

Related Topics:
Celebrity - Pyramid

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Once time had expired or the contestant guessed all of the necessary clues (whichever came first) the opposing team followed the same procedures.

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Three rounds, with two categories per round, were played in the main game. While the celebrity gave the clues and the contestant received them in the first round, the roles were reversed in the second round -- the celebrity received the clues. In the third round the contestant had the option to give or receive, with the team trailing going first. If the score was tied after three rounds, tiebreaker rounds were played using words that begin with a letter of the alphabet. In the event of a 21-21 tie (perfect scores) after three rounds, the winner of the tie-breaker received a bonus cash prize.

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The winner of the game played the Winner's Circle bonus round (see below).

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In the daytime version, when a contestant lost the main game, he/she left with parting gifts. In the syndicated and 1980s version contestants played on the entire show, and in the 1980s version, whoever had the highest score at the Winner's Circle returned on the next show. If both players matched their Winner's Circle totals, both returned the next day.

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Bonuses

One randomly-chosen category in each game contained a hidden bonus, which allowed the contestant to win additional cash or prizes if all of the clues were guessed correctly.

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The 1970s versions featured the "Big 7" where contestants could win $500 for seven correct answers. The 1982-88 versions featured the "7-11" in the first game, where contestants won $1,100 for seven correct answers in that subject, and the "Mystery 7" in the second game, where contestants won a prize (most of the time either a trip or a car) for seven correct answers without receiving the subject of that category from the host. The most recent version of Pyramid featured a "Super Six" in each game where contestants won a prize for guessing all six clues correctly within the 20-second time limit.

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At any time the game ends in a 21-21 tie (perfect scores) the contestant who wins the tie breaker wins a cash bonus. From 1976-80 on the daytime version, it was $1,000. In the 1976-1977 season of the nighttime show, the bonus was $2,100. On the 1980s version starting in 1985 the contestant who wins the tie breaker wins a $5,000 cash bonus. In the $100,000 tournament both the "7-11" and the "Mystery 7" are out of play; only the 21-21 tie breaker is in play.

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