I just returned from the Kaufman-Astoria Studios (or as the show said, CBS Studios in New York) me recap my trip to The $1,000,000 Pyramid. I'm just going to start off by saying, Pyramid is Back... forget about Donnymid! Recap and link to set pics follow:
FORMAT:
Intro
Meet contestants
Categories
Round 1
COMMERCIAL
Winner's circle 1
COMMERCIAL
Round 2
COMMERCIAL
Winner's Circle 2
END
Host: Tim Vincent (Access Hollywood/Millionaire guest host)
Did a capable job... relied on prompter a lot; chalk it up to being day one. His British accent caused a couple of pick-ups to be done, a couple in particular included when a category was Mamma Mia (he said Ma-Ma Mia, and the other with a description of a category being homophones (he would say Homo-phones and picked it up as ha-ma-phones).
Announcer: Alan Kalter (just assuming... never heard the announcer, but Tim thanked "Alan" (spelled like that) at the top of each show and since Kalter is based in NYC, I'm taking a logical guess)
Music: Sounded like the classic $100,000 Pyramid theme to me (in the little snippets I heard, plus Susie Essman kept singing it)
Celebs: Susie Essman (both shows), Jessie Metcalf, Ken Jennings - All did a pretty good job. Jessie was a little slow at first, but became better as the game progressed - I had heard that the earlier tapings included Caroline Rahe and Norm McDonald
I'm not sure how to format the rest, so don't mind the jumble.
SET:
It's a lot like it was in the 80s/1990 version. Differences include: Audience is now seated along the sides behind the host and game-play area. Winners Circle and Category board now move in from the side of the stage to center stage when needed. No "Light bulbs" but a lot of neon that sort of reminded me of Super Password; the main colors are white, purple, orange, and blue. During the Winner's Circle, the lights under the actual circle are Red, and comign in from commercial it chases red and white underneath. There are wood tones in the contestant desks and host lecturn. On the host's lecturn, is the $1,000,000 Pyramid logo (take the classic Pyramid logo and put in $1,000,000).
TRILONS for the main pyramid... the category pyramid has just screens in which the categories slide in to. When a category is picked, a stagehand slides the classic yellow pyramid on red background in during game play.
During the show, the stage is pretty bright with blues, purples, and oranges. Lights go down a bit during the Winner's Circle to mostly reds
In the intro, the "wings" from both sides of the pyramid come together to form a door in front of the big pyramid. The winner's circle flies in from off stage, doors open, and celebs walk out from either side (Essman was on the left side each time, and the males came from the right). Vincent came in from either side.
Game Play:
Classic 7 in :30 format. Judging seemed pretty normal. The Coo-Koo sound effect is back. When I was watching the monitors, it looked like a classic episode of Pyramid. Timer at top center in LCD-type and clue in Times font across the desk. The only in game bonus is the 7-11 during the first round. No bonus in the 2nd round. Celeb and contestant alternate in first two turns, then can choose giver/receiver in the last.
Winner's Circle: Nothing crazy... same classic style. Clock at top, category in a box at the bottom. Same classic camera angle too. Contestant and celeb choose who can give or receive.
Dollar Values:
$750
$400 $500
$100 $200 $300
From what I could figure out was that the 1st trip was $25,000.... 2nd was for and additional $50,000. Returning champs - I think - a contestant won both times in taping 1, was back in taping 2 and Tim mentioned she had already taken home a big amount. How to get the million? The players are trying to earn a spot in the "League of Champions" to compete in a million dollar touney.
Notes: This excites me. I expected to see Donnymid Pt. II. This is classic Pyramid folks, right down to the set, music, and logo! I hope CBS picks this up and it enjoys a great run. The tapings ran long... they said arrive at 3:30 and to not be late, at 3:30 there were about 15 people in line... I think production folks had to find people off the street to come in. We didn't get in the studio until about 4:30. When we got in, they reshot a Winner's Circle w/ Caroline Rhea, in which the contestant won. That contestant didn't return for the next "show", which makes me question how long a person stays. But other than that, it was a fantastic afternoon/evening!
See set pics here:
http://s834.photobucket.com/albums/zz265/MJose00/
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