Pyramid "sneak peek" on GSN

[clemon79]

So, how would you budget for a game show?

God help me, I'm gonna try this.

If you're a producer, your goal is to get as many of your shows greenlit as you can, because that maximizes the amount of money you can make. Speaking purely in prize budgets (a gross simplification, but the concepts that follow can be extrapolated to the entire production, so why not), there are two things that can kill you: a) underbudgeting and then getting canned prematurely when it's discovered that your show costs more than you represented that it does, and b) overbudgeting and therefore b1) your show doesn't get picked up due to whoever balking at the unnecessary extra cost or b2) you are unable to mount another, potentially more successful show because you have too much of your finite budget tied up unnecessary in this one.

You are assuming the maximum payout every single time, which, while safe, is stupid; as such you are doomed to failure; see b) above.

So the trick is in finding that sweet spot between a) and b), and the way you (should) do that is through LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of research and trials. With enough trials, you should be able to get a decent idea of a) the average payout-per-show and b) how that might fluctuate due to a run of good or bad luck. So if it's me, I then set the budget-per-show at (that average payout) + (a reasonable percentage representative of that fluctuation).

Is that 100% safe? No, but no investment is. But (assuming a constant return) minimizing your investment while maintaining a level of comfortable risk is how you maximize your own ROI. The best producers are the ones who can minimize that "comfortable risk" padding without getting bitten by it over the long run.

[jjman920]

*takes notes for future career*

/Could you go back to the 2nd slide, Professor?
//Never mind, I got it.

[Jimmy Owen]

See, as a 14 year old kid, budgeting didn't concern me much.  I thought they had enough to cover it.  I didn't worry that Don Lipp had to pay out $10,000 every couple days on "Money Maze" and only twice during the entire run on TBS, I just thought it was exciting when people won.

[clemon79]

See, as a 14 year old kid, budgeting didn't concern me much.  I thought they had enough to cover it.  I didn't worry that Don Lipp had to pay out $10,000 every couple days on "Money Maze" and only twice during the entire run on TBS, I just thought it was exciting when people won.

Wait, so you ask the question, someone answers it, and then you dismiss the answer with a "Ah, I really don't care about budgeting anyway?"

And this after bitching that nobody wants to have a discussion?

I'm not sure if that's a troll move or a dick move, but I damn well know it's one or the other.

[TLEberle]

So, how would you budget for a game show?

For one I wouldn't be so risk averse to assume that the grand prize is going out the door every day.

Why should I engage you? You've made it clear that you have no interest in actually having a discussion and prefer to inhabit your own plane of reality, since when somebody dares to prick your solipsistic bubble you just brush it away.

[Jimmy Owen]

See, as a 14 year old kid, budgeting didn't concern me much.  I thought they had enough to cover it.  I didn't worry that Don Lipp had to pay out $10,000 every couple days on "Money Maze" and only twice during the entire run on TBS, I just thought it was exciting when people won.

Wait, so you ask the question, someone answers it, and then you dismiss the answer with a "Ah, I really don't care about budgeting anyway?"

And this after bitching that nobody wants to have a discussion?

I'm not sure if that's a troll move or a dick move, but I damn well know it's one or the other.

I answered Nick's question about how I would handle budgeting.  I would start with enough budget to cover costs.  When Travis said that was implausible, I asked how he would do it.  To me, if you're gonna offer a big prize, you better have enough to cover the cost.

[TLEberle]

Jimmy: you were the one who offered One Million Dollars on a single roll of the dice, not us.

[clemon79]

To me, if you're gonna offer a big prize, you better have enough to cover the cost.

Which reinforces Travis's assessment of...

Good thing you're not a producer then.

...because with that mindset you would be exceptionally bad at it.

[stutzunoon]

I don't know if anyone caught this, but while watching the 1st winners circle of the sneak peek episode, I noticed that the contestant was mouthing some of the clues at the same time the celebrity was giving them.

In particular, look at the contestant's mouth during the last 3 subjects...  You can see him mouthing Pretty Woman, sandwich, mayonnaise and bra strap (the latter clue is clearly visible).

Any thoughts about this?

You can take a look at either my WC video on this board or the preview on BuzzerBlog and form your own opinion....

[chad1m]

I noticed that the contestant was mouthing some of the clues at the same time the celebrity was giving them.

I'm pretty sure his lips are just quivering or moving nervously. He does it pretty much the whole round.

[Kevin Prather]

I don't know if anyone caught this, but while watching the 1st winners circle of the sneak peek episode, I noticed that the contestant was mouthing some of the clues at the same time the celebrity was giving them.

After looking at the video, I think you're seeing things. Yes, his lips are quivering, but they don't even come close to mouthing the words you say.

[JMFabiano]

Watched the whole episode finally...another thing I noticed is that Mike does not ask in the 5th and 6th category who wants to give/receive.  Yet they do allow the decision, as they didn't alternate again.  Ditto for the WC.  Nitpicky thing, but hopefully they do address the rule on air so people know what's going on.  Only Pyramid purists would remember that each team has the option choice in their last category.

[clemon79]

Ditto for the WC.

Mike commented on it the second WC, I believe. And it wasn't like it was ever asked specifically on the Clark show either.

Seriously, folks, you guys are reaching.

[Kevin Prather]

Seriously, folks, you guys are reaching.

This. We're searching for things to complain about, and we have only seen one episode.

[TLEberle]

Mike commented on it the second WC, I believe. And it wasn't like it was ever asked specifically on the Clark show either.

Wasn't it always Dick saying "I see Charlie has the screen, do you want to keep it that way?" or a similar ad-lib. It wasn't this big deal of "Now since this is the third category of the round the contestant gets to choose whether to give or receive. Sally, which do you want?"

There are a few directorial/camera work choices to criticize, but the game is there. The people who are picking the scab here are so eager to find something different that they're missing out on a classic game re-imagined for today and it is done fairly well.