I do like this show, but has anyone else noticed that they hardly ever have straight, white male contestants? That's a bizarre thing to say I know. But it's true. Why? It's up to them what they want to do, but...
9 Reviews
No Straight White Male Contestants
riboflavin-997938 August 2022
What about the other contestant?
harrelldonna19 January 2023
I love this show and I think Michael Strahan is a great host...however, I think too much attention is paid to the contestant that wins in the winner circle! Once the person wins, immediately Michael says they can come back again to play for 100,000, why not mention "or contestant so-n-so will play for 50,000!! That's rarely mentioned!! All the focus is on the first person that wins. Not fair. I think this game show is right up there with Family Feud! These are 2 of the best game shows on TV! I would like to be a contestant but I think I would be too nervous to play. Lol! It's such a fun game!!
Cheating contestants
pricem-965052 September 2021
10/1/21 you have 2 of the dumbest stars on science guy and Godfrey in pajamas . Hell Godfrey couldn't even get a clear thought and science guy wasted time playing charades. You need to have that black lady back on with intelligent people so she has a chance .
Michael Strahan and celebrity guests' competitive attitude make the show
Alfabeta26 July 2018
This show is a nice example of how important it is to pick the right host for your game show to work. Just like Steve Harvey makes the latest incarnation of Celebrity Feud work, Michael Strahan (who looks and sounds like Dr. Jekyll to Mike Tyson's Mr. Hyde) is a very fine fit for the type of show the latest incarnation of The $(xyz) Pyramid is. He's funny when he needs to be, he's quick on his feet, and he makes sure that everyone is having fun despite the huge cash prize that's at stake here.
Every contestant gets his or her celebrity partner, often a comedian, and the more competitive the celeb is, the better the episode turns out. The contestants themselves can also get highly emotional, especially when they lose their money over one dumb word-association question, but then again, there's always the chance of winning the paid 7 days trip to some exotic location as a consolation prize (or an added bonus, if they win both the trip and the money).
The categories that hide the words and phrases the contestants have to guess usually have spectacularly tacky puns or very intentional double entendres for titles (which, ironically, makes this in-theory-family show pretty edgy). As for the words and phrases themselves, they are mostly really simple yet often surprisingly hard to mime or describe. That's one of the things that engages the viewer the most - how will the contestants or the celeb try to explain the word to their game partner, and will the game partner get it? Also, as each game is timed, things really do get pretty tense when there's only 10 seconds left and the celeb guest simply can't figure out what his or her game partner's clues "Attenborough" and "Duchovny" refer to.
At the end of each turn, the contestant and the celeb switch places (the one who was guessing now gets to explain the words and vice versa), at the end of every round, the celebs switch places (each celeb helps one player during the first part of the show, and then goes to assist the other during the second half), and at the end of the game another two teams of celebs and contestants arrive, as each episode actually features two full games.
All in all, it's mostly a tense, fun show with a fitting host that gives you a tiny insight into the ways people associate things both in their minds and under pressure thanks to the show's ticking timer.
Every contestant gets his or her celebrity partner, often a comedian, and the more competitive the celeb is, the better the episode turns out. The contestants themselves can also get highly emotional, especially when they lose their money over one dumb word-association question, but then again, there's always the chance of winning the paid 7 days trip to some exotic location as a consolation prize (or an added bonus, if they win both the trip and the money).
The categories that hide the words and phrases the contestants have to guess usually have spectacularly tacky puns or very intentional double entendres for titles (which, ironically, makes this in-theory-family show pretty edgy). As for the words and phrases themselves, they are mostly really simple yet often surprisingly hard to mime or describe. That's one of the things that engages the viewer the most - how will the contestants or the celeb try to explain the word to their game partner, and will the game partner get it? Also, as each game is timed, things really do get pretty tense when there's only 10 seconds left and the celeb guest simply can't figure out what his or her game partner's clues "Attenborough" and "Duchovny" refer to.
At the end of each turn, the contestant and the celeb switch places (the one who was guessing now gets to explain the words and vice versa), at the end of every round, the celebs switch places (each celeb helps one player during the first part of the show, and then goes to assist the other during the second half), and at the end of the game another two teams of celebs and contestants arrive, as each episode actually features two full games.
All in all, it's mostly a tense, fun show with a fitting host that gives you a tiny insight into the ways people associate things both in their minds and under pressure thanks to the show's ticking timer.
Boring
zigzag-8420015 August 2022
The fact people find this entertaining the the reason we have nothing good to watch anymore. I would much rather do my taxes and mow the lawn then try to watch another episode of this snooze show. Things that are played out and getting dull, Things that need celebs to keep the show afloat? Fails to provide good entertainment unless you are over 70 then go for it.
Great Revival, but Bonus Round is Too Easy
kingbk-220 June 2019
This version of $100,000 Pyramid is the best remake of this show. In the early 2000s, we got the slick Donny Osmond version, which was style over substance. A few years back, we got one on GSN that suffered budget issues, weak contestants and bad celebrities. This one checks off most of the boxes accurately.
First off, host. Michael Strahan takes over the podium and he does a great job. He's friendly, upbeat and really projects a good Dick Clark vibe but with his own touch. He knows when to crack a joke, he knows when to keep the game moving, he even knows when to give the perfect clue. He doesn't do the back rubs like Clark did, but in 2019, that likely would be frowned upon.
The celebrities are pretty solid. The show moved back to NYC, where it taped in the 70s, and maybe it's just me, but it seems the celebrities from NYC are just a bit more cerebral than the ones in L.A. Not all of them are great, but more of them have been strong players than weak players.
The game goes back to the 7 in 30 format, with a set that harkens to the 80s version but modernized. No 7-11 bonus, but the Mystery 7 remains and the prizes are solid. I wish they would change the tiebreaker rule, I don't like the fastest time gets to go to the Winner's Circle format.
Speaking of the WC, the bonus round is way too easy. One of the things I liked about Pyramid was the bonus round was challenging and rewarded intelligence, similar to Final Jeopardy. This one is way too relaxed on enforcing the rules. I've watched multiple episodes where contestants would have been buzzed in the 80s version for what they say. For the big money this show gives out, we should make it a bit more of a challenge.
Overall though, this is definitely one of the better versions of Pyramid. They did a great job remaking it to follow similar format to the 80s.
First off, host. Michael Strahan takes over the podium and he does a great job. He's friendly, upbeat and really projects a good Dick Clark vibe but with his own touch. He knows when to crack a joke, he knows when to keep the game moving, he even knows when to give the perfect clue. He doesn't do the back rubs like Clark did, but in 2019, that likely would be frowned upon.
The celebrities are pretty solid. The show moved back to NYC, where it taped in the 70s, and maybe it's just me, but it seems the celebrities from NYC are just a bit more cerebral than the ones in L.A. Not all of them are great, but more of them have been strong players than weak players.
The game goes back to the 7 in 30 format, with a set that harkens to the 80s version but modernized. No 7-11 bonus, but the Mystery 7 remains and the prizes are solid. I wish they would change the tiebreaker rule, I don't like the fastest time gets to go to the Winner's Circle format.
Speaking of the WC, the bonus round is way too easy. One of the things I liked about Pyramid was the bonus round was challenging and rewarded intelligence, similar to Final Jeopardy. This one is way too relaxed on enforcing the rules. I've watched multiple episodes where contestants would have been buzzed in the 80s version for what they say. For the big money this show gives out, we should make it a bit more of a challenge.
Overall though, this is definitely one of the better versions of Pyramid. They did a great job remaking it to follow similar format to the 80s.
Strahan is awesome!
lmt_is_me27 August 2018
When he was first selected as a co-host with Kelly Ripa, I was pretty disappointed because I thought others would have been much better. Then, I watched him and he was great.
He is absolutely the perfect person as host of this program. He is witty and really gets into the game as well.
I like some of the guests especially Leslie Jones. I love her on SNL but I watched her help someone win $100,000 and she was so overwhelmed and happy that she was a part of it. Most of the celebrities are huggers especially after helping someone win either 50G or 100G. But watching a celebrity recoil away from a hug didn't make it for me. But I understand everyone is different.
I loved seeing Rita Moreno on and she was great.
He is absolutely the perfect person as host of this program. He is witty and really gets into the game as well.
I like some of the guests especially Leslie Jones. I love her on SNL but I watched her help someone win $100,000 and she was so overwhelmed and happy that she was a part of it. Most of the celebrities are huggers especially after helping someone win either 50G or 100G. But watching a celebrity recoil away from a hug didn't make it for me. But I understand everyone is different.
I loved seeing Rita Moreno on and she was great.
I love this show. I
mcsschwed6 January 2023
I'v been watching since Dick Clark was the host. I love the celebrities on the show, the comedy and Michael is a very good host. I would like to be on the show however, I sometimes get nervous and cannot respond quickly even though I know the answer. I have watched two episodes that have had women on from the real houseguest wives, I do not know what State etc they were from. I was disappointed in the episodes, I felt bad for the contestants because these women did not do a sufficient job. The scores were very low and they did not seem to have a large knowledge base, outside of their own world. I believe my 7 year old grandson could have done better. I understand people can have off days, but two different programs, different times and different women. Both episodes were poor, not entertaining. I wish the show would not use the real house wives for the guest stars.
Disappointing celebrties
melavan7 December 2023
I'm older so I remember how fun, smart and challenging this show was back when. Sometimes watching the supposed celebrities on the show makes me ask, have we really become this stupid? There are some really smart and fun celebs but they are few and far between. Most of the reality show or media "celebs" are plain stupid. They are so self involved they can't get the simplest clues. I feel sorry for the contestants. It's painful and irritating to watch them. Also although it makes the winner's circle game much easier I like the relaxed rules fior what is an acceptable answer. Strahan is good and I'd like to continue to watch but please get better and smarter celebs on. I beg of you!
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