The Pyramid (Croatian TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Pyramid is a weekly Croatian television series, co-produced by Croatian Radiotelevision
(HRT) and Castor Multimedia. Essentially a talk show
, it also has a competitive element. In each 60 minute episode, three prominent public figures from different walks of life give their views and debate on five issues arising from the top news stories of the previous week. The program is broadcast live before a studio audience, with the viewers at home voting by telephone for the winning speaker. The results of the tele-voting are displayed throughout the show, and one caller is randomly selected each week to receive a cash prize.
(head of Castor Multimedia) conceived the format. The first episode was broadcast on 31 October 2004 with opera singer Sandra Bagarić, sociologist Aleksandar Štulhofer and politician Dragan Primorac
announced as the contestants. According to HRT
's statistics the first season averaged 61,539 callers per episode. The Pyramid won a 2007 Rose d'Or
award for Best Live Show, and has inspired several localized versions in the region including those in Serbia
(started in 2005), Bosnia and Herzegovina
(started in 2007), Bulgaria
(started in 2007), Macedonia
(started in 2007), and Montenegro
(started in 2007). The Slovenia
n version, which started in 2006, is presented by Erika Žnidaršič and broadcast on RTV Slovenija. There was also a Canadian
version, La joute (The Joust), presented by Stéphan Bureau
and broadcast by Télé-Québec
. La joute ran for two seasons but was discontinued after the 2009/2010 season when the ratings had dropped 40% from the previous season.
The debates in each episode are tightly structured. Each of the news issues is introduced by a thirty-second video followed by a nine-minute discussion. One guest starts the discussion and has one minute to introduce the debate, with no one allowed to interrupt. Then each of the remaining two guests gives their one-minute take on the issue. After the first speaker, each guest also has one "right of rebuttal", allowing them to interrupt the current speaker with an interjection lasting at most 30 seconds. When a speaker is interrupted, they have a further 60 seconds to respond. Once each speaker has been able to speak for 60 seconds without interruption, the discussion continues with the presenter asking questions of the three guests. The first speaker in the first three issues under debate is chosen by the order in which they signed for the show. The first speaker in the fourth debate is the one currently placed second in the tele-voting, while the first speaker in the fifth debate is the one currently placed last.
Croatian Radiotelevision
Croatian Radiotelevision is a Croatian public broadcasting company. It operates several radio and television channels, over a domestic transmitter network as well as satellite...
(HRT) and Castor Multimedia. Essentially a talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
, it also has a competitive element. In each 60 minute episode, three prominent public figures from different walks of life give their views and debate on five issues arising from the top news stories of the previous week. The program is broadcast live before a studio audience, with the viewers at home voting by telephone for the winning speaker. The results of the tele-voting are displayed throughout the show, and one caller is randomly selected each week to receive a cash prize.
History
The show is written and presented by the well-known Croatian television personality, Željka Ogresta, whose husband, Dubravko MerlićDubravko Merlić
Dubravko Merlić is a Croatian television journalist, producer and author, known for his work as a reporter, editor and anchor on Croatian national television...
(head of Castor Multimedia) conceived the format. The first episode was broadcast on 31 October 2004 with opera singer Sandra Bagarić, sociologist Aleksandar Štulhofer and politician Dragan Primorac
Dragan Primorac
Dragan Primorac is a university professor, pediatrician, geneticist and forensic science expert who became a politician as a member of Croatian Government, serving as the Minister of Science, Education and Sports between 2003 and 2009. He completed his first term without any party affiliation...
announced as the contestants. According to HRT
Croatian Radiotelevision
Croatian Radiotelevision is a Croatian public broadcasting company. It operates several radio and television channels, over a domestic transmitter network as well as satellite...
's statistics the first season averaged 61,539 callers per episode. The Pyramid won a 2007 Rose d'Or
Rose d'Or
The Rose d’Or is one of the most important international festivals in entertainment television. It was founded in Montreux in 1961 and has taken place in Lucerne since 2004. Producers, executives from independent and public service broadcasters and heads of production companies from over 40...
award for Best Live Show, and has inspired several localized versions in the region including those in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
(started in 2005), Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
(started in 2007), Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
(started in 2007), Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
(started in 2007), and Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
(started in 2007). The Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n version, which started in 2006, is presented by Erika Žnidaršič and broadcast on RTV Slovenija. There was also a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
version, La joute (The Joust), presented by Stéphan Bureau
Stéphan Bureau
Stéphan Bureau is a journalist, TV interviewer and producer of TV shows and documentary series.- Life and career :...
and broadcast by Télé-Québec
Télé-Québec
Télé-Québec is a French language public educational television network in the Canadian province of Quebec. Known legally as Société de télédiffusion du Québec , it is a provincial crown corporation owned by the Government of Quebec...
. La joute ran for two seasons but was discontinued after the 2009/2010 season when the ratings had dropped 40% from the previous season.
Format
Each season consists of three cycles. In each cycle, the winning speakers from each of the first 9 rounds move to the second level of the pyramid. Those winners then compete at the third and top level which determines the champion of that cycle. The champions of each of the three cycles then compete in the 40th and final episode of the season, the "Super Pyramid".The debates in each episode are tightly structured. Each of the news issues is introduced by a thirty-second video followed by a nine-minute discussion. One guest starts the discussion and has one minute to introduce the debate, with no one allowed to interrupt. Then each of the remaining two guests gives their one-minute take on the issue. After the first speaker, each guest also has one "right of rebuttal", allowing them to interrupt the current speaker with an interjection lasting at most 30 seconds. When a speaker is interrupted, they have a further 60 seconds to respond. Once each speaker has been able to speak for 60 seconds without interruption, the discussion continues with the presenter asking questions of the three guests. The first speaker in the first three issues under debate is chosen by the order in which they signed for the show. The first speaker in the fourth debate is the one currently placed second in the tele-voting, while the first speaker in the fifth debate is the one currently placed last.
Original production team
- Writer/Presenter: Željka Ogresta
- Co-writer: Željko Matić
- Director: Danko Volarić
- Set design: Dragutin Broz
- Lighting design: Ana Matičević
- Graphic design: Nedjeljko Špoljar, Sensus Design Factory
- Music: Tomislav Modrić