Home > 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 shares with Jeopardy! the record for most Daytime Emmys for best game show -- nine.1 Broadcast history
Pyramid was created by Bob Stewart, the quiz-show producer who also invented To Tell the Truth and Password during his years at Goodson-Todman Productions before forming his own company. It went through several name changes over the years, with the title originally reflecting the top prize that contestants can win in that version.
The show debuted as The $10,000 Pyramid on March 26, 1973. It ran for one year on CBS before it was canceled. ABC picked up the show on May 6, 1974, and on January 19, 1976, the show was renamed The $20,000 Pyramid. A once-a-week nighttime syndicated version, called The $25,000 Pyramid, ran from 1974 until 1979. ABC's daytime version ended its run on June 27, 1980.
After a short-lived syndicated revival, known as The $50,000 Pyramid, failed in 1981Events January-February January Sarawak Chamber found January 1 Greece enters the EEC January 1 Palau becomes self-governing January 4 Sheffield police arrests Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper January 16 Protestant gunmen shoot and wound Bernadette D, the show returned to CBS as The New $25,000 Pyramid on September 20September 20 is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years). There are 102 days remaining. Events 451 Atilla, king of the Huns, invades Gaul, but is defeated by Aetius with the help of Roman Foederati in the Battle of Chalons 1378 Papal Schism: Unhapp, 1982Events January January 6 William Bonin is convicted of being the "freeway killer". January 8 AT&T agrees to divest itself of twenty-two subdivisions January 11 Mark Thatcher, son of the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, disappears in the Sahara du (the "New" was eventually dropped from the title). The last episode aired on December 31December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, as the final day of the Gregorian year. Events 406 Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia 1600 British East India Company is ch, 19871987 is a common year starting on Thursday. Events January January 1 Nunavut's capital changes it name to Iqaluit from Frobisher Bay. January 3 Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. January 4 An Amtrak train, but viewer demand caused CBS to bring the show back to its daytime schedule on April 4April 4 is the 94th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (95th in leap years). There are 271 days remaining. Events 1581 Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. 1721 Sir Robert Walpole enters office as, 19881988 is a leap year starting on Friday (click on link for calendar). Events January January 2 Georgia celebrates its bicentennial statehood. January 9 Connecticut celebrates its bicentennial statehood. January 26 Australia celebrates its bicentennial day., after the game show Blackout failed in Pyramid's time slot. The revival only lasted until July 1July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. Events 1097 Battle of Dorylaeum Crusaders under Bohemond of Taranto defeat a Turkish army under Qilich Arslan I. 1690 Battle of the Boyne as reck of that year, as CBS premiered its new version of Family Feud the following week. GSN has aired this version.
Daily syndicated versions aired from 1985 to 1988, and again from 1991 to 1992, as The $100,000 Pyramid (this was the most famous incarnation of all the versions of Pyramid produced).
In the fall of 2002 Pyramid -- without any dollar amount in the title -- returned in syndication. Sony Pictures (the production company that currently owns the format rights) has announced it will not return for its third season, and through 2004-2005, will do reruns of its previous two seasons. PAX has picked up the show and is currently airing reruns.
