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The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: tpirfan28 on October 17, 2006, 01:18:46 PM

Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: tpirfan28 on October 17, 2006, 01:18:46 PM
In watching the ep. Jamie posted from the $25,000 Pyramid, I was pondering the subject "Sophisticated Things" and how much trouble Betty had getting her partner in saying it.  There's no way I would have come up with it, even with the clues that she was giving.  In your opinion, what are some more really difficult "Pyramid" subjects?
Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: tvmitch on October 17, 2006, 02:42:15 PM
I believe, although maybe not, that I saw "Things That Congeal" once.
Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: clemon79 on October 17, 2006, 03:28:58 PM
[quote name=\'mitchgroff\' post=\'134721\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 11:42 AM\']
I believe, although maybe not, that I saw "Things That Congeal" once.
[/quote]
Spilled blood. Gelatin. Cold gravy.

/when you're writing the check, Lemon has one "M", please
Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: Matt Ottinger on October 17, 2006, 03:35:07 PM
[quote name=\'tpirfan28\' post=\'134718\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 01:18 PM\']
 I was pondering the subject "Sophisticated Things" [/quote]
Duke Ellington's "Ladies".

If Clay Zambo is my partner, I just won $100 large.
Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: clemon79 on October 17, 2006, 03:37:08 PM
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'134737\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 12:35 PM\']
[quote name=\'tpirfan28\' post=\'134718\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 01:18 PM\']
 I was pondering the subject "Sophisticated Things" [/quote]
Duke Ellington's "Ladies".

If Clay Zambo is my partner, I just won $100 large.
[/quote]
Dead Or Alive's "Boom-Boom".

If someone who grew up in the 80's is my....aw, who'm I kidding, I'm still screwed... :)
Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: mmb5 on October 17, 2006, 04:55:45 PM
Paging Mike Klauss in 3...2...1...
Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: MikeK on October 17, 2006, 05:27:44 PM
[quote name=\'mmb5\' post=\'134751\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 04:55 PM\']Paging Mike Klauss in 3...2...1...[/quote]
Oh shut up. :-P

From Mister Burger's Game Show Round at the 4th installment of the Congreff in August of ought-5...

*  Presidents Named Buchanan (Jason Block:  "James...James...James....")
*  Mediocre Foods
*  Things on Neptune (almost got that one; I named every planet but Neptune)
*  7-Digit Prime Numbers

And by not getting that last one, I must forfeit both my math teaching licensure and my degree in mathematics.

There was a fifth oddball category in my photo, but Mr. Block must've given an illegal clue.

For more difficult Pyramid topics, watch the last $20,000 Pyramid.
Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: Robert Hutchinson on October 17, 2006, 07:10:23 PM
I'm still gonna try "1,000,001, 1,000,003 ..." if given 7-DIGIT PRIME NUMBERS. The show never required the list items to be *accurate*, as long as they weren't trying to sneak the answer by in a non-list way.

But yeah, Bob Stewart was undoubtedly watching the budget on Bill's last appearance. Not just SOPHISTICATED THINGS, but THINGS YOU GATHER? Bill didn't have much time, but "(the proverbial) rosebuds" is one of only two I can think of that pinpoint the category at all, the other being "Pete Seeger's stones".

(Never underestimate the usefulness of "the proverbial".)
Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: mcsittel on October 17, 2006, 08:44:57 PM
[quote name=\'Robert Hutchinson\' post=\'134773\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 06:10 PM\']
THINGS YOU GATHER? Bill didn't have much time, but "(the proverbial) rosebuds" is one of only two I can think of that pinpoint the category at all, the other being "Pete Seeger's stones".

(Never underestimate the usefulness of "the proverbial".)
[/quote]

** Would "ye rosebuds" have been acceptable?
Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: clemon79 on October 17, 2006, 08:53:36 PM
[quote name=\'mcsittel\' post=\'134786\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 05:44 PM\']
** Would "ye rosebuds" have been acceptable?
[/quote]
Totally.
Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: Robert Hutchinson on October 17, 2006, 09:07:31 PM
Huh. For some reason, I thought "gather ye rosebuds" was "gather you rosebuds", in Yoda-esque subject-verb inversion style, which would (if the judges were awake) invalidate it as a clue. But upon further review, I am so wrong. Yeah, say "ye rosebuds", definitely.
Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: clemon79 on October 17, 2006, 09:13:21 PM
[quote name=\'Robert Hutchinson\' post=\'134791\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 06:07 PM\']
Huh. For some reason, I thought "gather ye rosebuds" was "gather you rosebuds", in Yoda-esque subject-verb inversion style,
[/quote]
"Hmmmmm! Rosebuds ye shall gather, yes!"
Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: mmb5 on October 17, 2006, 09:18:08 PM
[quote name=\'MikeK\' post=\'134757\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 05:27 PM\']
There was a fifth oddball category in my photo, but Mr. Block must've given an illegal clue.
[/quote]
THINGS THAT SOUND EXACTLY LIKE FOUR.  Say four, it's an illegal clue.  Don't say four, it's an illegal clue.


--Mike
Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: Jay Temple on October 17, 2006, 09:48:03 PM
[quote name=\'Robert Hutchinson\' post=\'134773\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 06:10 PM\']
I'm still gonna try "1,000,001, 1,000,003 ..." if given 7-DIGIT PRIME NUMBERS. The show never required the list items to be *accurate*, as long as they weren't trying to sneak the answer by in a non-list way.

But yeah, Bob Stewart was undoubtedly watching the budget on Bill's last appearance. Not just SOPHISTICATED THINGS, but THINGS YOU GATHER? Bill didn't have much time, but "(the proverbial) rosebuds" is one of only two I can think of that pinpoint the category at all, the other being "Pete Seeger's stones".

(Never underestimate the usefulness of "the proverbial".)
[/quote]
I too came up with "Duke Ellington's ladies" immediately.

In the New York era, at least, the list did have to be accurate, because I recall "Randy Newman" being buzzed as a cule for SHORT PEOPLE. (He's six feet tall.) You could also say that buzzing "a diaper" for THINGS YOU PAMPER is a requirement of accuracy.
Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: Robert Hutchinson on October 17, 2006, 09:56:01 PM
[quote name=\'Jay Temple\' post=\'134798\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 09:48 PM\']In the New York era, at least, the list did have to be accurate, because I recall "Randy Newman" being buzzed as a cule for SHORT PEOPLE. (He's six feet tall.) You could also say that buzzing "a diaper" for THINGS YOU PAMPER is a requirement of accuracy.[/quote]

I think you missed part of my description:

"as long as they weren't trying to sneak the answer by in a non-list way"

Saying "Randy Newman" for SHORT PEOPLE is not merely a misunderstanding about the man's height; it's an attempt to communicate the idea of "short people" without listing short people. Same with Vicki Lawrence's "a child's toy bag" for THINGS YOU GRAB. That even meets the accuracy requirement--you can certainly grab a toy bag--but its more direct, obvious intent is to make the receiver think of a "grab bag".

On the other hand, you can see inaccurate list items get accepted all the time, often in geographic categories. Ontario as a Canadian city, penguins living at the North Pole . . .
Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: Robert Hutchinson on October 17, 2006, 09:59:23 PM
[quote name=\'mmb5\' post=\'134794\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 09:18 PM\']THINGS THAT SOUND EXACTLY LIKE FOUR.  Say four, it's an illegal clue.  Don't say four, it's an illegal clue.[/quote]
"Three plus one", "two plus two", and the judges and I can fight about it. Those statements, for a certain definition of "sound", do sound exactly like four.

(Yeah, I know, that was all for fun. But I take this stuff seriously--I can't help it.)
Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: gsfreak82 on October 17, 2006, 10:03:39 PM
[quote name=\'tpirfan28\' post=\'134718\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 01:18 PM\']
In watching the ep. Jamie posted from the $25,000 Pyramid, I was pondering the subject "Sophisticated Things" and how much trouble Betty had getting her partner in saying it.  There's no way I would have come up with it, even with the clues that she was giving.  In your opinion, what are some more really difficult "Pyramid" subjects?
[/quote]


That's not the only time it was used.  The first time I saw Sophisticated Things was the first ever perfect show with two perfect games with Martha Smith and Earl Haloman.  with 9 seconds left Martha gives the clue ladies in elegant gowns and she got buzzed for that.  Dick mentioned he didn't have any ideas for clues on that one.  i don't know what other subjects were difficult except for when John Davidson's version added the Double Trouble category which had a two word thing to describe.
Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: Joe Mello on October 18, 2006, 12:54:40 AM
I cannot think of a time when "Sophiscated Things" came up where Duke Ellington's Ladies wasn't mentioned.  It's THE clue.

I remember Vice Presidents appearing once.  This next one may be one of my own, but I would think Things That Are Generated would be an interesting challenge.
Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: clemon79 on October 18, 2006, 12:57:12 AM
[quote name=\'Joe Mello\' post=\'134813\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 09:54 PM\']
This next one may be one of my own, but I would think Things That Are Generated would be an interesting challenge.
[/quote]
"Gas-powered electricity. A random number."

/again, that's one "M"
Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: MrBuddwing on October 18, 2006, 02:09:38 AM
[quote name=\'Robert Hutchinson\' post=\'134799\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 09:56 PM\']
[quote name=\'Jay Temple\' post=\'134798\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 09:48 PM\']In the New York era, at least, the list did have to be accurate, because I recall "Randy Newman" being buzzed as a cule for SHORT PEOPLE. (He's six feet tall.) You could also say that buzzing "a diaper" for THINGS YOU PAMPER is a requirement of accuracy.[/quote]

I think you missed part of my description:

"as long as they weren't trying to sneak the answer by in a non-list way"

Saying "Randy Newman" for SHORT PEOPLE is not merely a misunderstanding about the man's height; it's an attempt to communicate the idea of "short people" without listing short people.[/quote]

From my erratic memory file: Once, McLean Stevenson was in the winner's circle, and the contestant was giving the clues, and one of the board's panels read: "Short People." That was it. The contestant said, "Midgets," and Stevenson said, "Short people," and ding! that was it. After that, I noticed that whenever the subject reappeared, it read, "Names of Short People."
Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: Jimmy Owen on October 18, 2006, 10:11:53 AM
[quote name=\'Robert Hutchinson\' post=\'134801\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 09:59 PM\']
[quote name=\'mmb5\' post=\'134794\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 09:18 PM\']THINGS THAT SOUND EXACTLY LIKE FOUR.  Say four, it's an illegal clue.  Don't say four, it's an illegal clue.[/quote]
"Three plus one", "two plus two", and the judges and I can fight about it. Those statements, for a certain definition of "sound", do sound exactly like four.

(Yeah, I know, that was all for fun. But I take this stuff seriously--I can't help it.)
[/quote]

How about "a golfer's yell."
Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: mmb5 on October 18, 2006, 11:42:29 AM
[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'134846\' date=\'Oct 18 2006, 10:11 AM\']
[quote name=\'Robert Hutchinson\' post=\'134801\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 09:59 PM\']
[quote name=\'mmb5\' post=\'134794\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 09:18 PM\']THINGS THAT SOUND EXACTLY LIKE FOUR.  Say four, it's an illegal clue.  Don't say four, it's an illegal clue.[/quote]
"Three plus one", "two plus two", and the judges and I can fight about it. Those statements, for a certain definition of "sound", do sound exactly like four.

(Yeah, I know, that was all for fun. But I take this stuff seriously--I can't help it.)
[/quote]

How about "a golfer's yell."
[/quote]
No, because "a golfer's yell" sounds like "a golfer's yell".  It doesn't sound exactly like four.


--Mike
Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: SRIV94 on October 18, 2006, 12:07:40 PM
[quote name=\'Joe Mello\' post=\'134813\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 11:54 PM\']
I remember Vice Presidents appearing once.  [/quote]

Not sure I follow why that would be all that challenging.  In the PYRAMID 70s-era alone you had. . .

Nelson Rockefeller
Walter Mondale
Spiro Agnew

What am I missing that would make it all that difficult?

Doug
Title: Difficult 'Pyramid' Subjects
Post by: Robert Hutchinson on October 18, 2006, 06:51:18 PM
[quote name=\'mmb5\' post=\'134849\' date=\'Oct 18 2006, 11:42 AM\']No, because "a golfer's yell" sounds like "a golfer's yell".  It doesn't sound exactly like four.[/quote]

To me, that sounds exactly like limiting one's choice of definitions for "sounds".

All I remember about VICE PRESIDENTS is the time, I think in '82, when a celebrity was complaining about category difficulty in the Winner's Circle post mortem, and wondered aloud what was next: Vice Presidents?

Dick had the panel waiting to show everyone after the commercial, to prove that it was indeed on file.