The “Pyramid of Fun” returns

ABC’s acquisition of $100,000 Pyramid for primetime  brings game show back to network and New York for the first time in 36 years 

Plus, other TCA news of note

ABC has added another classic game show to its summer lineup.

Ten episodes of The $100,000 Pyramid from Sony Pictures Television has been ordered by the network for a prime-time slot. The announcement was made during ABC’s portion of the TCA Winter Press Tour.

Former New York Giants great Michael Strahan, of Live With Kelly and Michael, has been named host of the show and is co-executive producer. It also marks Pyramid’s return to ABC – and taping in New York City for the first time in 36 years.

Dick Clark has hosted most versions of Pyramid, starting on CBS daytime in 1973 as the $10,000 Pyramid moved to ABC in 1974, becoming the $20,000 Pyramid shortly thereafter. After cancellation in 1980, the program returned to CBS as the $25,000 Pyramid in 1982, taping at Television City in Los Angeles, running until 1988.

In syndication, Bill Cullen hosted a weekly nighttime version (The $25,000 Pyramid) from 1974-79 and Dick Clark hosted a daily version in 1981 ($50,000.) A nightly version with the $100,000 name ran for three seasons (1985-88) also with Clark as host. John Davidson helmed the 1991-92 revival with the same name.

Recent attempts to revive Pyramid by hosts Donny Osmond (2002-04) and Mike Richards for GSN (2012) were not successful.

Meanwhile, ABC announced a second season renewal for Celebrity Family Feud with host Steve Harvey for a second season, also this summer. Both programs could be paired up.

In other ABC news, the network is retooling The Muppets after a disastrous start. ABC Entertainment President Paul Lee said The Muppets “Didn’t have the joy the network anticipated”. Showrunner Bob Kushnell was replaced by Kris Newman late last year. Despite a warm reception by fans at Comic-Con, the show fell flat in the ratings. Yours truly ranked The Muppets as one of the worst shows of 2015.

Lee also said fans of long-running dramas Nashville and Castle have nothing to worry about – their series are sticking around. Lee also addressed Scandal’s controversial abortion storyline, which drew a lot of fans’ ire.