The $25,000 Pyramid with Bill Cullen

[torchkit]

"Colored people!"

"People who steal!"

"NO"

"People who rape!"

"NO!"

"People on welfare!"

BUZZZZZZZ

[Dodgerfn5]

Hey Adam, aren't you an author for the Encyclopedia for TV Game Shows? Your name sounds familiar. I've enjoyed game shows since I was 4 (will be 34 Sunday) and since I've been sick this week, I've watched classics on GSN.

[thecrashpit]

OMG Bill Cullen on Pyramid! How great to see this! Bill was quite possibly the most underrated host. I thought he was the epitome of what a gentleman game show host should be. R.I.P.

[bobafruti]

aww it's so charming to see Bill Shatner's shameless self promotion.

[Pyrotech56]

I love the psychadelic zoom in/zoom out and close ups on >:=$25000=:<

[bluesun267]

It's not racist--she didn't say what kind of colored people. Could be clowns, painted ladies, or jaundice sufferers.

[radiospirit]

too much pressure...

too stressful...

[paulpanch]

dis b racist yo

[NSantoro704]

hahahahaha colored people 8:55

[GarfieldnPyramid]

This is so clear. This could be run on tv today if GSN ever gets rights from Viacom.

[Rlotpir1972]

When did Viacom get this show? I thought Viacom had licensed weekly game shows from Goodson/Todman.

[GarfieldnPyramid]

I think they got it once it stopped reruning in the 80s. And they have been holding it sence then.

[ShowoffNYC]

Viacom licensed and distributed properties from many sources. Pyramid was one they distributed from the beginning, in 1974.

[bigweezey]

she won 25,000. we get it already.

[colBoh]

Did you hear? When Joanne was describing "AN EYELASH", she pointed to her eyelash and said, "mine are false..."

[Swordth]

Can you actually point to stuff and make motions to make your point?

[colBoh]

Yep. You can do ANYTHING, save for saying the important part of the answer. For example, if you had to make your partner say "Fourth of July", you'd get disqualified if you said "Fourth" or "July", but not "of".

[torchkit]

Where can I buy William Shatner's live double album? LOL

[guilhugas]

caribean ocean?? omg!

[Rlotpir1972]

I wonder when GSN is going to air the Bill Cullen version of "$25,000 Pyramid".

[colBoh]

The good news is, I hear the entire run is still intact.

The bad news, I hear that Viacom is hoarding it for themselves.

[Hondo20132]

The worse news is, Viacom isn't the meanie anymore!

[gameshowluvr86]

How so?

[Hondo20132]

Have you seen how many songs WMG removed?

[tnawcwvictoria]

That's right

CBS/Paramount now owns this version and the John Davidson Version

[sageofsuccess]

Jonn Davidson version????

[eci4r]

william shatner is a terrible games player

[torchkit]

maybe his wig is too tight.

[eci4r]

I've allways found joanne worley to be very

daffy

[floridapanthersroar]

WHAT'S THE CONTESTANT'S NAME?

[gameshowluvr86]

@floridapanthersroar Joyce Piscotelli?

[sugarbear522]

Adam: in any of the eps you have of this version, did they include the V of Doom sign in the end? And if it did, were you scared to death when you saw it for the first time?

[squaminator]

she totally said colored people

[NorwegicusOnAstick]

@squaminator Is that bad? Are we not supposed to acknowlege different races at all? :p

[kbbcoop]

i didnt realize shatner was so retarded

[gameshowluvr86]

I thought William Shatner's last appearance on Pyramid was in 1977, after his infamous chair throwing incident.

[luckyc120]

racism so sad..."people of color...things with rhythm!!"

[colBoh]

There's a differnce between racism and sterotyping.

[MattTheOak]

well said. anyway, surely this is a case of positive discrimination

[toaster20]

y did Shatner get all the impossible clues?

[BenJabituya]

I remember Dick Clark hosting the $25,000 Pyramid, but I don't remember Bill Cullen hosting this.

[kbirdusa]

In the 70s, there was the weekday version hosted by Dick Clark, and there was also a once-a-week, syndicated nighttime version hosted by Bill Cullen (similar to how Bob Barker hosted the weekday "Price is Right" and Dennis James hosted - at first - the syndicated weekly version).

[300palms]

Bill Cullen is quite possibly the greatest gameshow host in television history. Bill was know as a very kind, intelligent and considerate man. Every gameshow Bill ever hosted, no matter how short lived the show was, Bill always did a superb job as host. Thanks Bill for all the happy memories you left us.

[luckyc120]

he can host any show and make it good ones

[FBCDJ1620am]

I have a request,are you planning on adding anymore of the unearthed episodes?

[AdamNedeff]

I wasn't living in LA at that time, but it's perfectly likely. Reruns of this version aired in daily syndication around, I believe, 1982-84.

[prausch65]

For how long did Bill Cullen ,"The Dean of Game Shows", host Pyramid? Was this a night time version with an alternate host, much like Dennis James on "The Price is Right?"

[storrs19]

This was a weekly syndicated version hosted by Bill. I'm not sure how many episodes were made but they supposedly still exist in the CBS vaults as they have acquired Viacom now. I sure wish GSN would show these episodes. Bill was a fantastic host.

[WhiteHatBobby]

Pyramid is now owned by Sony.

[AdamNedeff]

It ran for five seasons (1974-79), with 30 episodes per season.

[DJ1620AM]

do you plan on adding more of the unearthed episodes?

[spxmet]

@AdamNedeff Sadly, a scarce number still exist.

[spxmet]

@prausch65 Yes, this was the weekly syndicated version. It only paid $5000 more than Dick's daily ABC counterpart for most of its' run.

[storrs19]

This is in excellent condition. This version with Bill Cullen hosting is rarely seen anywhere these days. Thanks for posting this clip.

[PatrioticPirate]

COLORED PEOPLE!!? HA HAAAAAAA HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! (Oh, don't worry- I'm as Black as the Jack of Spades!)

[fromthesidelines]

Viacom merely syndicated the series, 'richie'- they didn't own it. Sony owns the rights to the Bob Stewart's game show archive- and I think they feel game shows aren't profitable enough to be released on DVD....

[richie19190]

Wonder if Viacom will bring this 70's Pyramid series on DVD real soon.

[gameshowluvr86]

That would be so cool.

[rwboa22]

The ultimate challenge: The "Kirk vs. Spock" week.

[SHRINA17]

William Shatner was GORGEOUS!!!!

[AlbieGray]

Say what you will about JoAnne Worley, but she really does know how to make me laugh, she is so silly!

[michaeltstroud]

Did anyone notice the politically incorrect moment in this clip? No hints; watch closely and you'll see it. Of course, we have to remember this was circa 1976.

[tktru]

I saw it too.

[DJLOVETRAIN1620]

I have a request,can you add some more of the unearthed Cullen 25,000 Pyramid? God Bless

[terjer01]

There is a classic $25k Pyramid-Cullen moment with Shatner and Cullen. During a main game, the Shat did not have enough time describing "Picasso". The Shat made a motion towards his nose for "Pic" but the buzzer sounded/the 30 seconds time ran up. The ever-witty Cullen said to the Shat something like "I'm glad you didn't get to the second part of that." Awesome stuff!

[PRMystery87]

Caribbean Ocean?! And what's with the contestant associating Puerto Rico with Mexico... (I'm insulted...JK)

Love this clip. Wish there were more. Booo Viacom is right.

[terjer01]

Adam, thank you sooooooo much, I am reliving my youth! IMHO, the greatest game show of all time: The $25k Pyramid-Cullen! 'Nuf said!

[sugarbear522]

Was there a V of doom sighting on this version?

[richie19190]

matchgame 35 I could not agree with you more. Big 70's Pyramid fan. Adam, thanks for posting this. Brings back memories

[DJLOVETRAIN]

I hope you add some more of these unearthed episodes! HUGE 1970s Pyramid Fan!!

[cgsguy]

Frankly, the contestant's friends/family didn't came out of the audience to hug and scream like regular Winner's Circle wins.

[gameshowluvr86]

I know, right? You'd want your family and friends around to help celebrate your big win, kinda loses a little something when it's only you and the celebrity. :)

[cottagechskitty]

For whatever reason, Viacom has never let the 25K Pyramid into reruns.

[terjer01]

Booooooo Viacom!

[gameshowluvr86]

Viacom is ass.

[gameshowfrk]

Actually, that's not totally true. In the early eighties, an local TV station (KDOC 56-Anaheim) reran several old syndicated game shows, and "$25,000 Pyramid" was one of them (The others, if you're curious, were the Larry Blyden-hosted "What's My Line", the Bob Barker-hosted nighttime "Price is Right", and the "$128,000 Question".

[matchgame35]

GSN should show this version

[gameshowluvr86]

If Viacom permits, you mean. Those jerks.

[hockeybagged]

Fantastic, it's good to see a winners circle victory from any of the 70s' run (that's not in the opening). Wikipedia has no info on Bill's "live" album but I bet it rocked!!!

[KoopaKid17]

"Colored people"!? Never knew how politically incorrect this version of Pyramid was!

[colBoh]

If the clue fits...

[christophlorida]

zing!

[ieeeeeeeeeeeee]

can you post the opening to this episode

[AdamNedeff]

Don't have it actually. The tape only had half an episode.

[gameshowluvr86]

This is very cool! Is this 1977?

[tvpirate05]

Kris Lane's episode guide says February 1978.

[gameshowluvr86]

The big Pyramid was still gold in early 1978? I thought it changed to burnt sienna around that time.

[NEPatriot]

Adam, you'd be right on that Rhythm clue! And did you note after that win how the camera seemed to zoom in on or have a close-up of the $25,000 sign. Wonder if this was a Mike Gargiulo trademark?

[tcidolfan]

Forgive me for asking but who's Mike Gariulo??

[AdamNedeff]

Director.

[hwyfan]

@NEPatriot The closeups after the winners circle was done to allow for Bill Cullen to make it from off stage to the winners circle. He had contracted polio as a child and as such had a noticeable limp he didn't want to be seen limping on camera.