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.

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When Pyramid first began in 1973, game play was slow at times, but as the ABC version progressed, the main game play became better. By the middle of the 1980s CBS version, both the civilians and celebs were more comfortable with the game, and the Winner's Circle rounds were won somewhat more often. (A similar phenomenon has been noticed in the NBC versions of the Password franchise, as opposed to the original CBS runs.)

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Still, some of the toughest game play on TV came in the $100,000 versions of the 1980s and 90s, which resulted in the top prize not being won for days, if not weeks.

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Originally, a team had to guess ten subjects in 60 seconds to win the top prize. Realizing that this was not going to work, Bob Stewart requested that the bottom four subjects be covered with plywood, which would hold up for the entire duration of its initial 1973-74 CBS run.

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William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy both guested on the ABC Pyramid in the 1970s, which was billed as Kirk vs. Spock. Shatner became famous in 1977 for throwing a chair across the stage when he misclued on the final clue, which cost his partner $10,000. On one episode two years earlier, in an unusual twist, Shatner played the Winner's Circle by himself (giving the clues in one chair then racing to the other and guessing the subject).

Related Topics:
William Shatner - Leonard Nimoy

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Several game show hosts (mostly those hosting Bob Stewart games) appeared as celebrity guests, most notably Bill Cullen and Geoff Edwards. Nipsey Russell, Betty White and Henry Polic II would eventually host a game show at one point and are also added to this list. Dick Clark himself appeared as a celebrity guest on the syndicated Pyramid on a few occassions, as well as on three episodes of the Donny Osmond-hosted Pyramid.

Related Topics:
Bill Cullen - Geoff Edwards - Nipsey Russell - Betty White - Henry Polic II - Dick Clark

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Celebrity partner Billy Crystal holds the record for the fastest Winner's Circle win at 26 seconds.

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The 1980s CBS and 1985-88 $100,000 versions are often considered the best of the Pyramid franchise, for their production and gameplaying values. Guests like Nipsey Russell, Anita Gillette and Soupy Sales from the 70s versions showed great enthusiasm in resuming their panelist roles. And newer viewers got to see Vicki Lawrence, Markie Post and Henry Polic II shine just as brightly as Russell and the others did during the first runs.

Related Topics:
Nipsey Russell - Soupy Sales - Vicki Lawrence - Markie Post

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Post and Polic were often brought back as panelists during tournament weeks on the mid-80s $100,000 versions.

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Betty White also became a semi-regular during the 80s version, displaying the same word-game proficiency on Pyramid that she did for Stewart on Password. It was on a 1987 week of CBS Pyramid shows playing opposite White that Bill Cullen made his last network TV appearance. Her most recent Pyramid appearance was on November 25, 2002 on a special episode with former Pyramid host Dick Clark as the other celebrity guest.

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Former Concentration announcer and host Bob Clayton handled the announcing chores on the 1970s Pyramid (and other Stewart-produced shows) until his death in 1979 after a heart attack. Other New York-based announcers, including Alan Kalter and Steve O'Brien rotated the announcing duties until its last New York broadcast in 1981.

Related Topics:
Concentration - Bob Clayton - Alan Kalter - Steve O'Brien

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When Pyramid moved back to CBS in 1982 -- relocating at Television City in Los Angeles -- LA-based announcers such as Jack Clark, Rod Roddy, Johnny Gilbert, Bob Hilton and Charlie Tuna rotated, with Clark and Gilbert credited as regular announcers. In 1985, Charlie O'Donnell, Dick Clark's announcer on American Bandstand, worked with Clark again on Pyramid -- mostly on the $100,000 version.

Related Topics:
Jack Clark - Rod Roddy - Johnny Gilbert - Bob Hilton - Charlie Tuna - Charlie O'Donnell - American Bandstand

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