The Pyramid is my favorite game show format, and I was exceedingly happy when I learned that it was coming back. But my happiness didn't last long.
There were numerous small problems with the production values of this show; among them were overwrought camera work and sound effects, far-too-frequent audience applause, and an uninspired arrangement of the classic theme song.
But what made this version of Pyramid absolutely unwatchable were the celebrities. I don't know if celebrities have gotten stupider since the '80s or if they just didn't bother testing their choices before allowing them on the air, but some of them could not play the game at all.
The best (rather, worst) example happened during the week that Aida and Nick Turturro were on. On one episode in the first round, Aida was giving clues to the contestant, and the first word was INCH. Aida immediately and furiously scratched her arm, and the contestant quickly said "Itch!" Of course, there was no ding, and the word didn't change. Aida looked back at the monitor, then looked around at the host and the audience with a stupid grin on her face while the clock continued ticking. About ten seconds later she realized her mistake and resumed playing the category.
That is indicative of the whole series. Not all the celebrities were stupid, and no others were THAT stupid, but the overall level of play was simply abominable compared to the old episodes with Dick Clark, or even the Donny Osmond version. There are many game shows that can still be entertaining and fun when they're played poorly. Pyramid is not one of them, and it's unacceptable that the producers hired celebrities that were so very, very subpar.
As for "Unfindable," I'm astonished that the last two versions of Pyramid have not had dollar amounts in their titles. Back when the Osmond version was on, I must have looked past "Pyramid" in the TV guide dozens of times without realizing that it was the game show I loved so much. I guess the producers don't want to have a lower dollar amount in the title than the last Dick Clark version had, but I think "The $50,000 Pyramid" would have drawn more attention and been worth it in the end.
There were numerous small problems with the production values of this show; among them were overwrought camera work and sound effects, far-too-frequent audience applause, and an uninspired arrangement of the classic theme song.
But what made this version of Pyramid absolutely unwatchable were the celebrities. I don't know if celebrities have gotten stupider since the '80s or if they just didn't bother testing their choices before allowing them on the air, but some of them could not play the game at all.
The best (rather, worst) example happened during the week that Aida and Nick Turturro were on. On one episode in the first round, Aida was giving clues to the contestant, and the first word was INCH. Aida immediately and furiously scratched her arm, and the contestant quickly said "Itch!" Of course, there was no ding, and the word didn't change. Aida looked back at the monitor, then looked around at the host and the audience with a stupid grin on her face while the clock continued ticking. About ten seconds later she realized her mistake and resumed playing the category.
That is indicative of the whole series. Not all the celebrities were stupid, and no others were THAT stupid, but the overall level of play was simply abominable compared to the old episodes with Dick Clark, or even the Donny Osmond version. There are many game shows that can still be entertaining and fun when they're played poorly. Pyramid is not one of them, and it's unacceptable that the producers hired celebrities that were so very, very subpar.
As for "Unfindable," I'm astonished that the last two versions of Pyramid have not had dollar amounts in their titles. Back when the Osmond version was on, I must have looked past "Pyramid" in the TV guide dozens of times without realizing that it was the game show I loved so much. I guess the producers don't want to have a lower dollar amount in the title than the last Dick Clark version had, but I think "The $50,000 Pyramid" would have drawn more attention and been worth it in the end.
