Wayne Brady Helms Let's Make a Deal Pilot

Part of me would like to see CBS pair a classic reboot with a new show. But if they wanted to go with classics, they’ve picked some good ones with LMAD and Pyramid. They could have a familiar lineup of classics that honor their roots, but still bring us (some of us kicking and screaming) into the 21st century. I personally think that The Dating Game isn’t a good fit for “The Tiffany Network.” So a line-up of LMAD, Pyramid and TPIR really works for me…just like when I was growing up.

Did you say “Carbon Copy of the original” that doesn’t sound that good if it means that the money amounts are the same. I seem to remember Monty Hall offering people like 500 dollars or what’s behind a door. 500 dollar WAS a lot of money in the 60s and 70s but in 2009, it’s really not an impressive amount of money to win in a gameshow. Also considering that I saw the huge money amounts being offered in the new 1,000,000 Pyramid (when I went to see the pilot), pairing them side by side would be kind of strange seeing one contestant leave a show with 500 dollars and another leave with 50,000 in Pyramid and Let’s Make a Deal respectivly. Let’s Make a Deal goes well with The Price is Right so If I were the executives I’d put Pyramid on at 10:00, LMAD at 10:30 and 11:00 have TPIR (like it is now). There is no room for the dating game, if they try to put it somewhere I think they’ll be going over board with the game shows.

I’m a big fan of Pyramid and have always enjoyed Let’s Make a Deal. I’m really hoping those two shows get the slots. The Dating Game is not something I would watch.

Well, I’m not sure about the value of the cash prizes. The audience members were told upfront that no one would be able to keep their “prizes” because this was just the pilot. But the big prize for that episode was worth over $28,000 – which isn’t too bad for a daytime show.

What I meant by “carbon copy” was that the setup was the same, including the zonks, and the random prizes for audience members who had certain items on them, and of course the doors, curtains, and boxes.

Myke – I’d love to see a new show as well, but really, the new ones we’ve seen in prime time this past year or so haven’t gone over very well. Might be too risky for the Eye at this point.

I agree, 28,000 dollars is good for a daytime show. This new 1,000,000 Dollar Pyramid is intriging though the money amounts they gave out during the pilot were huge. I’m betting it will have to change before it goes to air.

Personally I really liked the Donny Osmond version of Pyramid: The set was new and cool, 6 clues in 20 seconds was better. I don’t know why that one isn’t still going on. Although there are some things that I wasn’t happy about on that version too: The money amounts could have been higher, the Super Six should have just been cash.

Well, I went to Wed’s taping – flying in from DFW, and we were totally misled. The invitation & tkts said we could poss be elig to win cash or prizes, but on arrival after waiting in line for 3 hrs, we were told we cldn’t win prizes, but could poss win cash. Bummed, but ok w/that. BUT, then ALL of the folks picked by Wayne were PAID actors. Then at the end, he paid a few non-actors for items they had, but the show employees took all the money back from them! What a farce. They wouldn’t let anyone leave either for over 5 hrs!
I do hope the show makes it on air, but we were treated very badly by the producers and folks were really pissed!

Hi Jason.
I don’t think Donny’s version TOTALLY sucked.
Just the set (too much like Millionaire).
The theme noise (I refuse to call that techno-crap “music”).
The “tournament”…such as it was (no guaranteed $100K).
The Ben Stein category names.
No money in the title.

But Donny did a decent job hosting. And 6 in 20 secs is actually more difficult than 7 in 30…it just seemed to go by too fast.

But it looks like they are returning to the feel of Pyramid’s salad days. At first, I thought $1M was a bit much for network daytime, but Pyramid always offered one of the biggest cash prizes on TV. And they won’t be offering that every day, like Millionaire and Wheel. I think the prize structure is good.

I hope CBS announces a pick-up soon.

I really like those things about the Donny Osmond version, the set, the music the funny category names. I guess it’s a matter of taste. And thought simply calling it Pyramid sounded fine.

I’ve been watching reruns of the Dick Clark version and 7 in 30 seconds seems to easy, that’s why I liked the more difficult 6 in 20.

Overall though I really like what they are doing with this 1M Dollar Pyramid, it’s both modern and classic.

First, Don’t Forget The Lyrics and Wayne Brady no longer exist? But that was my new Friday night date. Now tv shows are dumping me. Come on!
Secondly, Let’s Make A Deal was that show with those costumed people, right? I don’t need to see that on my screen, thank you.

According to reliable sources, CBS is announcing “go or no go” on LMAD and Pyramid this coming Wednesday.

I’ve heard the same thing, Myke. And they’ve been reaching out to confirm media contact details, so hopefully that’s a good sign.

I think the way to make this last a long time would be to have Pyramid be an hour long. It would be possible through various means, but I don’t see LMAD succeeding in grabbing viewers no matter how good it is, or at least enough for CBS. Maybe LMAD could work in syndication.

I dunno Brandon…Pyramid works pretty well as a half-hour. They can get in two games per show now. Four games a day might be overkill…not to mention potentially doubling the prize budget for an all-cash show.

I remember that ABC experimented with a week of hour-long LMADs…ironically bumping The $20,000 Pyramid from the schedule for a week.
It didn’t do too well, but I could see an hour-long LMAD working before an hour-long Pyramid. Most merchandise prizes are offered to the show either free or at a drastic discount in exchange for the promotional consideration. Getting twice as many refrigerators is more cost effective than coming up with twice as much money.

That’s why I said it would have to be worked right. Price is Right worked fine when doubled to an hour. I am no position to claim I know how to make the perfect game show, but my idea on how it could work would be to not just add 2 more games—continue it at only 2 games but add another row to the pyramid. No need to increase the top prize either per se, instead make both games worth $50,000 maybe. The pace would be slightly slower as well which I think could help because too many game shows these days are rushed.

Oh, it’s so sad in television land nowadays. Remember when Let’s Make A Deal was revived in 2004 with the arrogant Billy Bush as host? It was on TV and then off in a flash. A major failure. Now CBS thinks they can revive the iconic game show with, give me a break, Wayne Brady as host?! Sorry folks it’ll never float. Another wrecking ball falls on an ill fated attempt to revive LMAD. Now I hear CBS wants to revive the Pyramid? What? Remember the last version and how it failed big time with Donny Osmond as host? The biggest problem is getting a good host for these shows; there just aren’t any great hosts anymore. They’ve either passed on or have long since retired. Any new revival of Pyramid will bomb. Just look at television nowadays and how fouled up it really is. Let’s Make A Deal will always be a tremendously loved classic with the lovable Monty Hall. Monty has all the necessary attributes to be such a fantastic personality, a legendary pro! We don’t see that kind of talent anymore. As for Pyramid, Dick Clark was perfect as the show’s host back in the 70’s and 80’s. Dick is a legend that has more talent in his pinky finger than any of those so-called new breed of show hosts. It really is the host that makes the show and the game show host legends of the past, their talents, looks, and persona will never seen ever again. And that is indeed sad.