Author Topic: $100,000 Pyramid Question (Read 4500 times)

chad1m · « **on:** December 31, 2008, 05:46:03 PM »

This is probably me just being dense, but I've got a question. Watching the $100,000 Pyramid marathon today, I noticed something on the desks by the LED score readout. There is a rounded grey thing on either side of the score. I've taken two caps of the show pointing to what I'm talking about.

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/1130/pyr1ws7.jpg

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/9084/pyr2dr4.jpg

Anyone have any idea? My biggest fear is that this is blatantly obvious and I'll look like a fool. =P Thanks to anyone who can help.

golden-road · « **Reply #1 on:** December 31, 2008, 05:49:50 PM »

[quote name=\'chad1m\' post=\'205220\' date=\'Dec 31 2008, 06:46 PM\']
This is probably me just being dense, but I've got a question. Watching the $100,000 Pyramid marathon today, I noticed something on the desks by the LED score readout. There is a rounded grey thing on either side of the score. I've taken two caps of the show pointing to what I'm talking about.

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/1130/pyr1ws7.jpg

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/9084/pyr2dr4.jpg

Anyone have any idea? My biggest fear is that this is blatantly obvious and I'll look like a fool. =P Thanks to anyone who can help.
[/quote]

IMO, $25,000 on Password don't make you look like a fool. Anyway, I assume they're where the mic stands were before they switched to clip-ons.

BrandonFG · « **Reply #2 on:** December 31, 2008, 06:21:32 PM »

I always thought they were mics as well. I know early in the CBS run, they used to long silver mics, which the small gray things replaced. Later in the 100K run, they switched to small skinny black mics, like ones used on Contestants Row, and I believe currently on Feud.

Casey · « **Reply #3 on:** December 31, 2008, 07:29:49 PM »

Funny - I always thought those were the stoppers for the screen so it wouldn't turn too far in one direction or the other. (honest!)

geno57 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 01, 2009, 02:14:44 AM »

I'm thinking they're PZMs (pressure zone microphones) -- a flat type of mic that can be placed on a tabletop, stage floor, piano, or other flat surface.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PZM_(microphone) ...

clemon79 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 01, 2009, 06:05:25 AM »

[quote name=\'geno57\' post=\'205251\' date=\'Dec 31 2008, 11:14 PM\']
I'm thinking they're PZMs (pressure zone microphones) -- a flat type of mic that can be placed on a tabletop, stage floor, piano, or other flat surface.[/quote]
I think you're right, but I'm surprised that a mic that sits that far away from the talent picks up their speech without getting a lot of the rest of the studio, too. That's impressively directional.

narzo · « **Reply #6 on:** January 01, 2009, 02:48:33 PM »

[quote name=\'geno57\' post=\'205251\' date=\'Jan 1 2009, 01:14 AM\']
I'm thinking they're PZMs (pressure zone microphones) -- a flat type of mic that can be placed on a tabletop, stage floor, piano, or other flat surface.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PZM_(microphone) ...
[/quote]

right you are, and from what I'm told they're expensive little buggers too but worth it for the quality you get.

chad1m · « **Reply #7 on:** January 01, 2009, 03:01:27 PM »

Well, cool. Thanks a lot for the help, gang!

JayDLewis · « **Reply #8 on:** January 02, 2009, 09:44:07 AM »

[quote name=\'geno57\' post=\'205251\' date=\'Jan 1 2009, 03:14 AM\']
I'm thinking they're PZMs
[/quote]

Approves

/Wondered the same thing...also thought they stopped the video screens

Clay Zambo · « **Reply #9 on:** January 02, 2009, 11:24:15 AM »

[quote name=\'JayDLewis\' post=\'205362\' date=\'Jan 2 2009, 09:44 AM\']
[quote name=\'geno57\' post=\'205251\' date=\'Jan 1 2009, 03:14 AM\']
I'm thinking they're PZMs
[/quote]
/Wondered the same thing...also thought they stopped the video screens
[/quote]

Gots to be one or the other, but not both. Ever whacked a video screen into a PZM? And lived to tell about it once the sound-op came after you?

/me either.

clemon79 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 02, 2009, 11:32:24 AM »

I would think that the fact that the monitor was mounted at least in part beneath the surface of the desk, and therefore would stop itself when it reached the end of the cutout for it, would nip this silly "they were monitor-stoppers" theory in the bud.