Stage props from one show to another

[chris319]

I guess this sort-of ties in:  I always wondered about the turntable in studio 33, since at the same time NYSI, MG, and TPIR were all using one and it was always, seemingly, in the same spot.  I always have assumed there was a "turntable mechanism" which was in the set, so it had to be positioned in that location.

When G-T used studio 33 it had a flat floor with no built-in turntable. The turntables for TPIR, NYSI and MG were built into platforms which could be struck when not in use.

[Jeremy Nelson]

The original set was demolished upon the cancellation of the first run. A new, second set was built from the same plans as the first set, which is why it seemed "practically exactly the same". In addition, the show moved from studio 41 to 43 and a new music package was produced.

There was a show where the set was saved after the show was cancelled and reused when the show was brought back. Can you name it?

CBS $25,000 Pyramid?

I think you're on the right track, but I think he's referring to the 1991 John Davidson version reusing the same set from the 82-88 run.

Actually, I think Davidson Pyramid was one of those instances where they rebuilt at least parts of the set using the same plans, if not the whole thing. Case in point? The Winner’s Circle trilons. The Clark version’s set design in the 80s still looks like a fourth row could be added to the Winner’s Circle pyramid. The Davidson version does not.

[JasonA1]

I think Davidson Pyramid was one of those instances where they rebuilt at least parts of the set using the same plans, if not the whole thing.

Agreed. All of the fabric on set looks a little different, and the player tables are lower to the ground than the '80s series, IIRC.

-Jason

[carlisle96]

Nice inside information...this is what I get when I tangle with experts. But didn't the ABC shop have to build a new "$10,000 Pyramid" when the show moved from CBS?

I'm by no means an authority on the subject, and wasn't around, but I'll share what I remember from Usenet days around why Pyramid was an exception:

1) Jim Ryan was an in-house designer at CBS
2) The Sullivan stage was larger in every dimension than the Elysee's, so there was a need to rescale
3) The union blocked the set move from CBS, as building a new set was to their benefit

As an aside, but worth mentioning, there's an episode of Shoot for the Stars floating about that was shot at Sullivan using the NBC set pieces and different staging.  If I'm remembering correctly, 30 Rock was under reconstruction at the time.

and from what I've heard, the plywood covering up what was supposed to be the bottom four Pyramid boxes remained in place during the entire CBS run, necessitating a rebuild anyway. Curious why they schlepped the Shoot for the Stars set all the way to the Ed Sullivan Theater instead of using another studio in 30 Rock. I would find it strange that the entire complex was being rebuilt. Wasn't To Tell the Truth still in production at this time? and certainly SNL was active.

[BrandonFG]

I think Davidson Pyramid was one of those instances where they rebuilt at least parts of the set using the same plans, if not the whole thing.

Agreed. All of the fabric on set looks a little different, and the player tables are lower to the ground than the '80s series, IIRC.

-Jason

The Winner’s Circle light borders were a little thicker as well. The giant pyramid itself looked a little shorter, but that could be because there wasn’t as much space under the bottom row.