Author Topic: The $500,000 Pyramid? (Read 3077 times)

itiparanoid13 · « **on:** May 15, 2011, 09:25:58 PM »

Got a weird email today. There's a guy who occasionally sends me master copies of logos to use for posts I write. He sent me the Million Dollar Mind Game logo, which was cool. But he also sent me this: a logo for The $500,000 Pyramid (click to see it).

Does anyone have any information on this? I know CBS did a pilot for $1M, but I thought the 2nd pilot in 2010 was just for $25K and there was no mention of any form of tournament or increased prize anywhere. I can't imagine this slipping through the cracks without at least one person finding out. I'm asking around and looking stuff up, and I'm stumped. The only thing I know is that after CBS passed on the show again, there was very heavy word that GSN was picking it up, but that fell through. Regardless that wouldn't have been for $500K, obviously.

Jimmy Owen · « **Reply #1 on:** May 15, 2011, 10:34:43 PM »

The problem with the internet is that any 12-year old kid can make a logo that looks just as (if not more) professional as multi-national conglomerates.

clemon79 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 15, 2011, 10:45:06 PM »

Quote from: Jimmy Owen on May 15, 2011, 10:34:43 PM

The problem with the internet is that any 12-year old kid can make a logo that looks just as (if not more) professional as multi-national conglomerates.

Praytell, why is that a problem?

Matt Ottinger · « **Reply #3 on:** May 15, 2011, 10:54:50 PM »

Relevant to THIS situation, it's also very easy for a professional graphic artist to whip up a logo featuring whatever dollar amount he was asked to make, regardless of whether a format with that particular value ever actually went to pilot.

Jeremy Nelson · « **Reply #4 on:** May 15, 2011, 11:01:52 PM »

Now that is a really cool modern take on the classic logo. I don't know if the show is being shopped around this year or not due to everyone wanting a share of the Oprah-less talk show pool, but if they do, I hope they use this logo.

Jimmy Owen · « **Reply #5 on:** May 16, 2011, 10:07:02 AM »

Quote from: Jeremy Nelson on May 15, 2011, 11:01:52 PM

Now that is a really cool modern take on the classic logo. I don't know if the show is being shopped around this year or not due to everyone wanting a share of the Oprah-less talk show pool, but if they do, I hope they use this logo.

That would be cool. Maybe one of the daytime talkers could make it part of their show a la Jimmy Fallon and "Password." A couple minutes of conversation with Dr Phil's daughter/Katie Couric/Wendy Williams/etc. and her guests, and then, all of a sudden, "Okay, is everybody ready to play Pyramid?"

itiparanoid13 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 16, 2011, 10:20:21 AM »

I got word from a source that they tested some dollar amounts for the 2010 pilot, and this looks like one of the logos from it. We just never heard about it.

Neumms · « **Reply #7 on:** May 16, 2011, 04:35:22 PM »

Quote from: itiparanoid13 on May 16, 2011, 10:20:21 AM

I got word from a source that they tested some dollar amounts for the 2010 pilot, and this looks like one of the logos from it. We just never heard about it.

They tested dollar amounts? Like, "how likely are you to watch a program titled The $375,200 Pyramid? 5 means extremely likely, 1 means extremely unlikely"? Then, "how likely are you to watch a program titled The $29,999 Pyramid? Again, 5 means extremely likely, 1 means extremely unlikely." Perhaps even "which do you prefer, dollar amounts ascending in each box, or all boxes on one level with the same dollar amount, ascending only by row?"

clemon79 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 16, 2011, 05:12:27 PM »

Quote from: Neumms on May 16, 2011, 04:35:22 PM

They tested dollar amounts? Like, "how likely are you to watch a program titled The $375,200 Pyramid? 5 means extremely likely, 1 means extremely unlikely"? Then, "how likely are you to watch a program titled The $29,999 Pyramid? Again, 5 means extremely likely, 1 means extremely unlikely." Perhaps even "which do you prefer, dollar amounts ascending in each box, or all boxes on one level with the same dollar amount, ascending only by row?"

You're taking it to pedantic extremes, but yeah, I'm guessing it's pretty likely they did exactly this. Think of the users we have around here who are more interested in seeing wads 'o' cash being given away than they are in seeing a compelling game and it makes a whole lot more sense why they might ask focus groups questions along those lines to try to find the sweet spot of how little money they can give away vs. how viewership is affected.

Tony Peters · « **Reply #9 on:** May 16, 2011, 08:28:24 PM »

Quote from: clemon79 on May 16, 2011, 05:12:27 PM

Think of the users we have around here who are more interested in seeing wads 'o' cash being given away than they are in seeing a compelling game and it makes a whole lot more sense why they might ask focus groups questions along those lines to try to find the sweet spot of how little money they can give away vs. how viewership is affected.

Why not a compelling game that potentially gives away wads 'o' cash?

clemon79 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 16, 2011, 08:54:08 PM »

Quote from: Tony Peters on May 16, 2011, 08:28:24 PM

Why not a compelling game that potentially gives away wads 'o' cash?

Why not, indeed.