9 replies to this topic

[Scotty]

'Pyramid' to Replace 'Light?'

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) -- Only one day after CBS announced that they were cancelling "Guiding Light," the network provides a glimpse at what may take its place on their daytime line-up.

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Discuss article below...

[cct]

So let's replace one dying genre with another? That's brilliant.

[smadleyb]

That's insane... maybe they'll replace ATWT - heck all their soaps with a cheap re-hash of Tattletales, Win Lose or Draw, Beat the clock, Match Game, Let's make a deal... What is CBS thinking? I hope their daytime ratings go down the toilet... I'd love to see them with a 0.4 rating overal and a 0.1 in their 18-49 demo for this nonsense, but in the long run I really think they'll regret casting GL aside for cheaper programs. They'll probably pay more in annual development deals trying to fill that slot than they would if they'd just given GL another year or two.

[Pine Charles]

This is APPALLING!

[RoseVioletDaisy]

Dumbest. Move. Ever.

[CSF]

Wow! Pyramid is totally going to bring in younger viewers! Sike! Are they for real?

For all that, they might as well just give the time to the affiliates and make a syndicated version of Pyramid. If they make a talk show, it would probably do better airing in the morning since there has been talk of making a CBS version of the View.

[smadleyb]

Wow! Pyramid is totally going to bring in younger viewers! Sike! Are they for real?

For all that, they might as well just give the time to the affiliates and make a syndicated version of Pyramid. If they make a talk show, it would probably do better airing in the morning since there has been talk of making a CBS version of the View.

A CBS 'view' chatfest would probably go over like a lead balloon - their "Early Show" is the lowest rated of the 3 morning programs, not even in competition against ABC and NBC - I wonder if that's why GL gets such bad ratings in the areas where they air at 9 or 10 am?... They're following a big old CBS goose egg rated 'morning news' program.

[alphanguy74]

I never watched Guiding Light, and caught EVERY episode of the 25,000$ pyramid through the years, it was always my favorite game show. But do I think it will do better in the ratings than GL? No. If they DO revamp it... it needs ot not be so damn different from the original. You need to change the dollar amount, so people won't think it's a rerun.. if they just call it "Pyramid", then they'll think it's a rerun of the Osmond version, you MIGHT be able to call it the 25,000$ pyramid, but people STILL might think it's repeats from the 80's. Change it to the 500,000 pyramid, and it might fly if you get a good host (Osmond wasn't a bad host, actually) I'd choose Doug Davidson. Some things can change, but producers have a way of trying to "update" things to make it attractive for a new generation, all the while throwing out the most important aspects that made it so good in the first place, and they don't seem to realize that when people tune into a "classic era" show, they tune into see an old friend, not something they don't recognize. Wheel of fortune is a perfect exaple of a show that GETS IT RIGHT... they've changed a little over the years, but not DRASTICALLY. The most important aspects of Pyramid:

1: NO HUMOR... it always a very serious game, and we don't need some mornonic washed up comedian hosting it. (there is levity occasionally)

2: Keep the flippy boxes... I know they seem antiquated in this computer monitor age, but the action of the boxes flipping during the high tension of the winner's circle puts a shot of excitement through you every time one turns. (Use computer monitors for the small pyramid in the first game)

3: Use the old theme song, if possible, or at least make a new theme that's memorable, the Osmond version had something that sounded like a high school student put it together in a couple hours on a synthesizer, and why go to the trouble when full stereo versions of even the original 1973 theme exist.

4: Don't make the game too easy to win... that was part of the undoing of the Osmond version.

5: MOST IMPORTANT, the ticking of the clock in the winner's circle is VITAL to the suspense, the winner's circle is the CLIMAX of the show, and not hearing the ticking of the clock just KILLS it.

So, to wrap up, these producer need to LOOK, REALLY LOOK at the msot successful shows in the soap/game genre, and see what works... three of the most successful, Y&R, Wheel, and TPIR (Drew CArey is killing it right now, however) and see that the shows that have changed the LEAST over the years are the ones that ahve done the best. Don't mess too much with a successful show with a PROVEN track record. See what's happened to TPIR, Drew Carey looks and acts like a corpse up onscreen, I used to tune into TPIR sometimes, but no more, I can't bear to watch it... he's stiffer than Ed Sullivan! Fremantle made the biggest mistake of it's life getting him to host it.

Edited by alphanguy74, 05 April 2009 - 11:59 AM.

[tanyia2]

It doesn't matter what you call it because it will fail. The idiots at CBS have forgotten that we are in a recession. People are losing their homes and their jobs on a daily basis so they do not have time for silly game shows.

If they are not giving money away to people who are out of work then the show will fail.

[tylerbo20]

its that game and MATCH game making a return to fill the void....looks like CBS has found their light...