The Game Show Forum

The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: chad1m on December 31, 2008, 05:46:03 PM

Title: $100,000 Pyramid Question
Post by: 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://\"http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/1130/pyr1ws7.jpg\")

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/9084/pyr2dr4.jpg (http://\"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.
Title: $100,000 Pyramid Question
Post by: golden-road 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://\"http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/1130/pyr1ws7.jpg\")

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/9084/pyr2dr4.jpg (http://\"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.
Title: $100,000 Pyramid Question
Post by: BrandonFG 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.
Title: $100,000 Pyramid Question
Post by: Casey 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!)
Title: $100,000 Pyramid Question
Post by: geno57 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) (http://\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PZM_(microphone)\") ...
Title: $100,000 Pyramid Question
Post by: clemon79 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.
Title: $100,000 Pyramid Question
Post by: narzo 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) (http://\"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.
Title: $100,000 Pyramid Question
Post by: chad1m on January 01, 2009, 03:01:27 PM
Well, cool. Thanks a lot for the help, gang!
Title: $100,000 Pyramid Question
Post by: JayDLewis 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 (http://\"http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6210/05lv9.jpg\")

/Wondered the same thing...also thought they stopped the video screens
Title: $100,000 Pyramid Question
Post by: Clay Zambo 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.
Title: $100,000 Pyramid Question
Post by: clemon79 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.