GSN Pyramid w/ Mike Richards

[GSNSmashFan3]

I saw a few episodes of the show for the first time tonight, and I really liked it. Mike clearly knows what he's doing as host; he has a likable personality and is into the game. He can crack a joke here and there, but he definitely knows that the show is all about the gameplay and does a good job at straying from becoming the main focus, so kudos to him. It's a shame he can't be nearly as good as Price EP as he is the Pyramid host. The celebrities were great as well. It's nice to see two people who are actually familiar with the show rather than the clueless celebrities on the previous revival from last decade. I also really enjoyed the banking element for the Winner's Circle. It's definitely a unique addition to the show, and it adds a whole new realm of strategy to the game. There were two major gripes that I had with the show, however:

1. The choppy editing. Considering that this has been the norm for GSN originals this decade, I went into the show with full expectation of this. One thing that I enjoy seeing in the 80's Pyramid was the carefree, live flow of the show. I wouldn't mind an edit here or there, but they should do a more sufficient job at retaining this flow.
2. The extremely vague categories in the main game. This is definitely a major problem that the people in charge of writing category titles should kick up a notch. I'm all for puns, but a majority of the categories had little to no connection to what the contestants had to describe (The password is = American history class, seriously?).

If GSN can improve upon the two problems listed above, they could have a gigantic hit resting in their hands.

[rob79]

Finally watched the GSN version of Pyramid tonight and I must say I loved it. I love the updated set, the colors really mesh together. I went into things skeptically but after watching it, i'm hooked. Mike Richards is an excellent host and he does a very good job when they "play it out" at the end of the winner's circle. All in all i'm very pleased and very excited about watching it.

[temptation1979ga]

I'm all for puns, but a majority of the categories had little to no connection to what the contestants had to describe (The password is = American history class, seriously?)

Maybe I misheard it, but I thought that particular category was "The Pastword is..." or something to that effect, so that'd definitely relate to history.

Anyway, after seeing the entire week, I can't remember how long it's been since I've been actually excited about a GSN original, or for that matter, looking forward to a new game show in general.

[FamilyFeud1994]

Maybe I misheard it, but I thought that particular category was "The Pastword is..." or something to that effect, so that'd definitely relate to history.

Nope, you're right, it was "The Past Word Is...".

[MrPlinko]

Who else thinks the celebs this week have been awful?  I forgot the gentlemen they had on, but I saw the episode from a day or so ago, and to put it bluntly, he SUCKED!  I hope that GSN did not save the best for the first airing of episodes!  I even intentionally erased the shows from my DVR, because he was so bad.

Mike Richards is getting better and is a stark contrast to the game-play seen this week.  Still too much pop-culture categories.  I hope we are not disappointed with the quality of the celebrities for the rest of the first season.  Bad Pyramid play in any version is painful to watch.  Good Pyramid play is amazing to see!

What do you guys think?

Joe

[urbanpreppie0004]

LaMorne Morris from New Girl...yeah, he's pretty bad. Megyn Price is REALLY good though.

I must ask...why does the pop culture references bother you?

[temptation1979ga]

LaMorne Morris from New Girl...yeah, he's pretty bad.

I agree. He's been mostly terrible. I am liking this new version, however. I haven't missed an episode yet.

Not too sure about the judging on today's show, especially on the top box in the first winner's circle. I thought they were faaarrrr too lenient with the last clue given. Also, I wish Mike Richards would re-word or just not say "No prepositions" when giving the winner's circle rules, because on many of the categories, prepositions are perfectly acceptable as parts of clues.

[MrPlinko]

LaMorne Morris from New Girl...yeah, he's pretty bad. Megyn Price is REALLY good though.

I must ask...why does the pop culture references bother you?

Oh yes,

Megyn is excellent!  I don't mind the occasional pop-culture categories, but there's far too many of them.  Even some of the celebs and players have had trouble with pop-culture names.  A person could be really book-smart and knowledgeable about many subjects, but not so much on fashion trends and names.  Dick Clark's version had more general knowledge subjects.  Mike Richard's version has about three pop-culture subjects every show!

I agree, why does Mike's version have a no prepositions rule?  Dick Clark's version never had that, or at least it was never stated as a part of the rules.

Joe

[MrPlinko]

1. The choppy editing. Considering that this has been the norm for GSN originals this decade, I went into the show with full expectation of this. One thing that I enjoy seeing in the 80's Pyramid was the carefree, live flow of the show. I wouldn't mind an edit here or there, but they should do a more sufficient job at retaining this flow.
2. The extremely vague categories in the main game. This is definitely a major problem that the people in charge of writing category titles should kick up a notch. I'm all for puns, but a majority of the categories had little to no connection to what the contestants had to describe (The password is = American history class, seriously?).

If GSN can improve upon the two problems listed above, they could have a gigantic hit resting in their hands.

+1!

Joe

[someguy23475]

Prepositional phrases (except of) were always illegal when describing something like Things that are... for example. They were acceptable when describing phrases like Why you... or What a _____ might say.

[temptation1979ga]

Prepositional phrases (except of) were always illegal when describing something like Things that are... for example. They were acceptable when describing phrases like Why you... or What a _____ might say.

Right, I'm aware of that and take no issues with it. What I don't understand is why Mike gives the blanket instruction, "No prepositions," when that's clearly not the case. Winner's circle clues have included words that are prepositions and have not been buzzed (take last night for example--"for" ((which is a preposition and a conjunction)) was included in the celebrity's clue that won the contestant $20,000). Even for Mike to say "No prepositional phrases" would not be accurate since there are indeed occasions where they are acceptable, which you pointed out.

Don't get me wrong. I love the show overall, and I think Mike is doing a very good job so far, and it's probably not even he who came up with the wording of the rules. I just don't get why, on this version, they felt the need to say "no prepositions," when none of the previous versions have, especially since it's not true in a good number of categories we see. 

And yes, for everyone who's thinking "this is a miniscule point in the grand scheme of things," I agree; but that's what some of us like to do here--discuss these little intricacies that come up from time to time. 

[ILoveBonusGame]

I feel like he says "no prepositions" because someone probably told him to say that after watching the old Pyramid shows and seeing that most of the clues that were zapped contained prepositions. Clues such as "Pile of Coal" or "Pile of Gravel" for "Things you Shovel" have definitely been allowed in the past as the way the prepositional phrases are structured do not locate the coal or gravel. However, if someone said "Coal in a mine", then that would most definitely get zapped because the coal has been described as located in a mine. I wish someone would make this point clear to Mike because the "no prepositions" instruction may cause some perfectly legal clues to become omitted from the show (and perhaps lessen the likelihood of a win).

[JohnHolder]

I wish someone would make this point clear to Mike because the "no prepositions" instruction may cause some perfectly legal clues to become omitted from the show (and perhaps lessen the likelihood of a win).

It's more likely that the rules have changed than that the host doesn't understand them. The Osmond show was very specific - if the category was "Things that Beep," simply answering "Beep" wouldn't get it - the receiver actually had to say "Things that Beep," whereas on the original show the key word was all you needed to give to get credit. So maybe they've adopted a "no prepositions" rule on this one.

[temptation1979ga]

So maybe they've adopted a "no prepositions" rule on this one.

That's kind of what our discussion is about, though. Richards says "No prepositions" before every Winner's Circle round, yet many times on this version, prepositions have been allowed, as in the instances we've already mentioned.

[GuyWithFace]

I wish someone would make this point clear to Mike because the "no prepositions" instruction may cause some perfectly legal clues to become omitted from the show (and perhaps lessen the likelihood of a win).

Well, "less likelihood of winning" = "less likelihood of GSN paying out money", so I shall bet it stays regardless.

The Osmond show was very specific - if the category was "Things that Beep," simply answering "Beep" wouldn't get it - the receiver actually had to say "Things that Beep," whereas on the original show the key word was all you needed to give to get credit.

This was one of the major criticisms of that version, and those at contestant tryouts were told by staff that they had to say the category exactly as they had it written out. This is why "Mick Jagger" was not accepted for "Things Mick Jagger Would Say" or "Things in The Wizard of Oz" was not accepted for "Characters in The Wizard of Oz", or "Things In a Toolbox" was not accepted for "Tools", or "Paula" was not accepted for "Famous Paulas", or (in the 1996 pilot which had the same producer) "Babysitter" was not accepted for "Things a Babysitter Says".

Thankfully, the GSN version has avoided having exceedingly-anal judges.