$25,000 Pyramid - Slow Down, Harry! (Sep. 12, 1983)

His first try in the Winner's Circle is going so well, Harry Anderson from Cheers and Night Court gets a little ahead of himself. For the first time, the post-mortem is played with the standard graphics up!

[@christopherslovick9373]

A computer..... Things with wheels

[@richardnewell8478]

I like how you can hear the sound of the mechanical clock in the background

[@Hydroculator]

It's cool. He stole the host's wallet on the way out, and split it with the woman. It's all good.

[@alanhall8864]

They just have taken that show WTF? My favorite game show

[@Pyrotech56]

It wasn't that he was going too fast, although he was probably thinking too fast. He was giving a description rather than a list. He wasn't listing "things with instructions," he was describing instructions. Ironically her guess, "maps," would have been a perfectly acceptable clue. Interesting to see the post-mortem played "for real" like that. Instead of the ominous sound of the bleeping clock, you can hear the clicking of the clock in the studio.

[@scotte4435]

maps come with instructions?

[@Philip027]

@@scotte4435 Maps often have a "key" or "legend" that indicate things such as 1 inch on the map referring to 100 miles in reality, or where highways are and how they are marked, and so on. These would qualify as instructions because they describe how to use/read the map.

[@Jack21Spades]

THAT'S what happened. Ok, now I know.

[@drewconway7135]

Well, no, he wasn’t “describing instructions.” He was describing things you do with instructions, which is not the same thing.

[@TommygunNG]

Yes, Drew Conway. Remember $150 square was “What a ballerina does.” He kind of kept that out of the ordinary, phrasing and the unconventional style of list it enabled on the brain till he got the last one.

[@chapter7thomas]

A pity that Harry had 33 seconds left when the buzzer sounded. What a pity.

[@robertdubs9466]

RIP Harry Anderson (1952-2018)

[@kppd41]

Amen

[@Coco-zu9ob]

That was tough.

[@benkizer9509]

This is why the new version with Michael Strahan makes the civilian contestants give the clues. They don't want a screw up from a celebrity to be the reason a contestant loses the money, though the judging on the new version of Pyramid is far more relaxed.

[@joeorsini6110]

Strahan used to play pro football for the NFL's New York Giants.

[@HipsterDoofus100]

Plus the celebrities are to stupid to give the clues on the new version

[@joconnell8145]

You shouldn't call others stupid @@HipsterDoofus100, when you yourself cannot use proper grammar.

[@drummerbraves]

A map and a movie/TV script would have won $10,000 for her.

[@roachtoasties]

He gave an excellent list of items. Unfortunately he screwed up at the end. I guess it's hard to switch from the main game where you can say almost anything to the winner's circle. That last category was tough, and they probably would have lost even if he didn't mess up.

[@TheKeyboardKing1]

There was another show where the clue was “What a dentist uses” and the clue-giver misread it as “what a dentist SAYS” and said “Open your mouth & I’ll drill your teeth” and was immediately buzzed.

[@chris.twentyeightt]

Two separate Winners circles each had that DQ.

[@michaelewing4515]

It also happened to Rita Moreno where she said "Open wider, please" and "Does this hurt?"

[@FomorViceroy]

Harry was probably just starting to shoot the initial episodes of Night Court during this time.

[@diamonddog13]

It always sucks when the celebrity screws up for the contestant. Ideally, if an illegal clue is given they should immediately throw it out and bring up a new subject in the time remaining. Unfortunately you can't do that with trilons. I guess that's why they give the contestant the option of giving the clues.

[@georgemaster689]

diamonddog13 Wasn't that done on one episode?

[@TommygunNG]

There was one episode where the puzzle or whatever you call them was very oddly phrased. The celebrity - I forget his name, but he was on trapper John MD - thought it would allow for an unconventional manner of listing. The judges decided that while he was wrong, they were more wrong. So 13 seconds was put up on the clock with a new puzzle, and the contestant one.

[@zydration3538]

​@@TommygunNGI'm glad they didn't two!

[@banquetroom]

I would’ve said an owner’s manual.

[@scottmiller6495]

Damn good clues given by a sensational entertainer R I P !

[@63utuber]

Note the lack of canned applause.

[@McRocket]

Wow...that gal was REALLY understanding, considering Harry (inadvertently) cost her $25 grand (which I am guessing is worth about 75G's today)..

[@shotymeisupandcummin]

I wouldn't. I'd rip him a new one on daytime TV. Don't care. I could've used the money to rescue dogs

[@Lava1964]

A recipe book!

[@KennAKALeo]

I can see where Mr. Anderson was off track, describing directions rather than hinting towards things with directions, but what did he say that got him buzzed out? "You read them; you follow them." He didn't say "directions" or "instructions".

[@katymvt]

you're supposed to list things in the category. Not describe the category.

[@suntronch9546]

It's amazing 😍

[@marcpower4167]

too bad, and they were nearly on record pace there.

[@imrustyokay]

Oh yeah, they easily would have beaten Billy Crystal.

[@ArmageddonAngel]

I remember when computers had wheels.

[@thinkbeforyouvote]

an unassembled bike Harry! RIP

[@EL-eo2rj]

That's a good one; would you have thought of it if you were in Harry's spot?

[@RS-tz2zn]

I was thinking of a recipe

[@jeopardy60611]

The subject was not something like "THINGS YOU DO WITH DIRECTIONS." Since it was simply "THINGS WITH DIRECTIONS," that is why the buzz happened.

[@OliveOyl12590]

jeopardy60611 He used the word 'READ'. That's why he was buzzed.

[@m.e.d.7997]

A recipe, unassembled doll house, train set

[@WavemasterAshi]

Well...you're technically both saying the same thing. The problem with "You read them" is that it's not something with directions, so he gets buzzed for leaving the category.

[@crazycappy01]

Board games, card games,

[@guyfierimtwi]

Apparently the () will indicate something.

[@williamarndt9465]

I'm not sure what he did wrong. It's the same yet different from the current version

[@keithmauldin885]

Ok how is this. A Road map. A guide book.

[@Vansbaseball]

R.I.P. Judge Stone...you will be missed

[@kmn9181]

He just always looked so young.... :( and now he is gone :(

[@gracie2298]

Yeah, a stroke at 65. You never know, waste no time especially now with covid!

[@Getrealpeeps]

Sticky things, Syrup, Sugar

[@brockreynolds870]

You can see that he kind of read it as "Things you do with instructions"....and that's why he began to describe. He misread the card and started doing what he did with the "ballerina" card.

[@drewconway7135]

You’re a wizard, Harry

[@SonnyBubba]

“Things with instructions” and he misread it as something like “what you do with instructions”

[@jackplatt2334]

He could have hit a record time if it had not been for that last catagory! WOW!!

[@Logan_Woods-zd2zi]

What I don't get about this older show, is they are lax about the answer - the contestant can just say 'directions', or 'instructions', but they are more strict on the delivery of the question.

[@thisisdvd8094]

This is quite a massive, multi-level mine with extensive tunnels! Context: somebody put this in the wrong playlist

[@keitaalston3757]

Things with directions: up, down, left, right

[@tnate6004]

I think they became a bit more lenient when these situations arose and Dick would say "Read it again". What a shame.

[@bwrpwr]

Does no one ever read comments looking for the answer to their question rather than just posting the same question for the 50th time?

[@Lava1964]

A computer has wheels?

[@GeorgeMaster-xg7lg]

The way that Harry was doing the top one would have been allowed on the old show($20,000 Pyramid).

[@SpiritBear12]

I wonder if she wasn't reading the board on the reflection of his glasses. Even though the words would be backwards, some people have no problem with that. She got them pretty damn quick.

[@darcybrummett7004]

SpiritBear12 I never thought of that. They can’t have the celebrity take his/her glasses off, they might have a harder time reading the board.

[@WillWatchAnything]

OOPS!

[@keithmauldin885]

beep beep richie

[@chris.twentyeightt]

I bet he was trying to beat the record of 33 seconds left.

[@I_Love_That_Movie]

Beep-Beep, Richie!

[@HolyShnikeez_1975]

Mel Torme should have been there cheering Harry on

[@scottcochran1848]

I don't see what he said that DQ'd the game... i don't get it..

[@TheKippykangaroo]

Here's a good clue for the last one: recipes, cookbooks, drug labels

[@MountainHawkPYL]

Ikea Furniture

[@GS-fy9mn]

What was the point of making the contestant to go through the category again? It felt like they were rubbing it in.

[@marcpower4167]

my theory: It was secretly a way to stall for time.

[@Philip027]

Dick already explicitly mentioned why afterward; it wasn't for the contestant's sake, it was in hopes that Harry Anderson would fail to properly convey the category in the remaining time anyway, meaning he wouldn't have had to feel bad about giving an illegal clue because they wouldn't have won anyway. It was an attempt to assuage his guilt over costing the contestant a win over a slip up. It's something the celebrities on Pyramid (and other such similar game shows that bring on guests/celebrities to team up with the contestants, such as Password) go through a lot whenever they make such a slip up that potentially costs the contestants a lot of money, and Dick was well aware of how often that happens.

[@2themoon863]

Okay, what did Harry do wrong using the clues “You read them, you follow them”? He didn’t use part of the answer as a clue, and how are the clues he gave “descriptive” instead of a list?

[@HipsterDoofus100]

It was “things with directions”. Not “what you do with directions”. You read them and you follow them are not “things with directions”. They’re not things at all actually

[@nicholasfox966]

The category was asking for a list of things that CONTAIN directions. Owner's manual, map, recipe, etc. Harry was giving a list of things that you DO with directions. He was describing how directions are used. This is a mistake, and a misreading of what the answer was asking for. If the answer had been "Things you do with directions", he would have been cool.

[@Getrealpeeps]

Why did they buzz him?? Please EXPLAIN to me why he got buzzed??

[@rayjohnson7234]

He was giving clues for "Things YOU DO with instructions (directions)" instead of "Things with instructions (directions)."

[@knight2000-NC]

he was giving illegal clues that were not part of a list is why he got buzzed.

[@nicholasfox966]

The answer was things that CONTAIN directions. Owner's manual, recipe, map, etc. He was giving a list of things that you DO with directions. He was describing how directions are used. This was a misreading and a mistake. The only acceptable clues are a list of anything that CONTAINS instructions or directions.

[@guyfierimtwi]

@@nicholasfox966 Oh so I can spew out nonsense completely off-topic and you'll get buzzed?

[@RobertLMorse-vu9dj]

R. I. P. Harry

[@BradJames878]

But she didn't get it. She said 'directions,' not 'instructions.'

[@gregspot]

I apologize for being stupid but could you explain the violation here? I didn't catch it You read them you follow them?

[@thechadmosher]

@@gregspot He was describing what someone does to instructions, instead of giving a list of things that come with instructions.

[@veggieoilerfan2940]

If Harry wouldn’t have committed that error on the final subject he might have been close to matching Billy Crystal’s all time winner’s circle record of 26 seconds. By the way I don’t think he was buzzed for being descriptive. I think he was buzzed for giving clues that didn’t pertain to the subject.

[@thinkbeforyouvote]

yet he was given the full 30 seconds and never came close to coming up with a clue she'd guess correctly with...

[@veggieoilerfan2940]

@@thinkbeforyouvote I should have said that Harry would have potentially had a chance to break Billy Crystal’s record.

[@billdanbury]

Swedish Furniture

[@tomryan914]

Crappy furniture

[@plushbatfan]

Boo hiss on the last clue.

[@paulj.mancil7987]

Can someone explain why they disqualifier some clues? I haven't been able to figure this out yet. An example happens in this game. Thank you.

[@frankcarone6]

why did they disqualify him ? he never gave her the words

[@Agent_86_]

Did he say "ohhhh shit"?

[@brucekulickfan4206]

What did he do wrong??

[@Jopo1226]

It was things with instructions. He was describing what instructions are. The rules state that the clues MUST fit the category.

[@nicholasfox966]

The answer was things that CONTAIN directions. Owner's manual, recipe, map, etc. He was giving a list of things that you DO with directions. He was describing how directions are used. This was a misreading and a mistake. The only acceptable clues are a list of anything that CONTAINS instructions or directions.

[@NMC21887]

Wait, why did he get buzzed on that one?

[@michaelsshawn1604]

Because harry gave an incorrect clue that did not match the subject for example if he would have said an unassembled bike that would have been acceptable but he did the complete opposite of what matches things with instructions like naming objects that do have them

[@dpf5939]

I'm confused about this. Didn't she get it?

[@bwrpwr]

No. When they put the time up again at the end, it was to see if she would have been able to get had Harry not got buzzed. It was actually kind of mean if you ask me, or at least I'd be more frustrated if they did me that way.

[@rickyhiebert2766]

What was the mistake?

[@Getrealpeeps]

Follow the instructions..

[@untexan]

That last one wasn’t *that* hard. A recipe, unbuilt furniture, a medicine label, a model airplane

[@diamonddog13]

An IKEA manual

[@Wolfinger1935]

I was thinking the same thing... but IKEA wouldn't come to the U.S. for another couple of years. And is there some rule against using brand names?

[@suelee3391]

Why illegal clue on last clue?

[@thechadmosher]

Sue Lee "You read them" and "You follow them" is not a list of Things With Instructions or Directions. He's describing what you do to directions and that is illegal.

[@obiedrier4841]

Ridiculous

[@GamingFanactic911]

Yeah he said too many words on that last one

[@Wheeloffortunefan999]

post-mortem? what the heck does that mean.

[@newstarcadefan]

What happens after an event. For example, an election would have a post mortem on exactly what happened through the day. Or a TV show like Dragnet for example would have what happened to the suspects, or cops. Even Joe Friday was a subject of these.

[@darcybrummett7004]

I thought post-mortem meant “after death.”

[@Milesco]

It's an autopsy. Or more generally, an examination or analysis of what went wrong after the fact.

[@Milesco]

@ Darcy: It does. That's when an autopsy is performed, is it not?

[@TStephens-w7j]

Could DC be more condescending? Creepy, as well....he needed to keep his hands to himself.

[@jasonking6366]

He only touched her shoulders! Gee, get a life!

[@TStephens-w7j]

@@jasonking6366 Key word: HER shoulders.

[@grantnoroyan4083]

HE DIDNT SAY ANYTHING WRONG THAT WAS CRAP!

[@JoeyT1]

What a stupid rule in this game

[@MicahThomason]

What rule? what did he do wrong?

[@larry930legend]

She was robbed, he never mentioned things with directions, of all the game shows pyramid had the worst judges.

[@thechadmosher]

"You read them" and "You follow them" is not a list of Things With Instructions or Directions. He's describing what you do to directions and that is illegal. No one was "robbed."

[@Milesco]

Have to agree with Chad on this one.

[@newstarcadefan]

Yeah They had a 50 card with "the Ten Commandments" and they wanted the 10 commandments. Moses got buzzed because that's not what they wanted.

[@thinkbeforyouvote]

Buzzz. Wrong answer. He read the clue wrong and gave examples of what to DO with Directions. Not things that HAVE directions.

[@nicholasfox966]

The answer was things that CONTAIN directions. Owner's manual, recipe, map, etc. He was giving a list of things that you DO with directions. He was describing how directions are used. This was a misreading and a mistake. The only acceptable clues are a list of anything that CONTAINS instructions or directions.

[@jackgibsxxx0750]

That is a dang young looking HA. And with Harry that's saying something. He never looked over 30 on Night Court.

[@keithmauldin885]

beep beep richie

[@nickhill8612]

Keith Mauldin Haha good one