$25,000 Pyramid's Close Win? 

I listened to this about 10 times...she did NOT say "flannel" before the buzzer.

True, however when you look at the video, the trilon between the $50 and $100 subjects turned a whole second slowly between 57 and 56 seconds. That additional technicality helped her win $10,000.

I played this through sound recorder with the speed cut down 200%. The buzzer sounded when she said the words "made of" in "Things that are made of flannel". I had to play it back many times to notice this.

I think she just (and I emphasize just) began to say F for flannel before the buzzer after listening to it multiple times, but I agree with the fact the first and second box changing delay might have caused the judge to affirm his decision to give it to her.

I think that was the idea. Another form of suspense for such a photo and audio finish.

She started her answer a split second before the buzzer. That's how she won.

I would say tie goes to the runner and they gave it to her because of the delay between the first and second clue being given because they are normally flipped simultaneously, however there was a delay costing her approx a full second which was a difference.

She got it. It was veryveryveryveryclose, but she started "flannel" on the buzzer. And no, no DQ if she nodded---if she used her hand or said something, probably, but not for nodding.

They always showed the amount on the $100,000 and $25,000 Pyramids to illustrate the amount of money won. :)

Exactly...I love how he was so deadpan with his announcement.

I agree with you. She started to say it a split second before the buzzer went off.

The way Dick describes it "if you said things made BUZZ of flannel they wouldn't give it to you." Well, that's exactly what happened. The buzzer clearly went off before she said flannel. Oh, well. The show could afford it.

I bet if they had the timer count down to the tenth of a second like a hockey or basketball game in the final minute does, it would have cut down on a lot of the close-calls.

Do yourself a favor and just listen to this clip without watching, and you'll hear more clearly that the buzzer clearly sounds as she's saying "of", and before "flannel". According to the "rules", she should have lost. But it was VERY close, and IMO they did the right thing.

The celebrity's name is Lois Nettleton. I think she did a lot of guest appearances on stuff. I don't know of any actual shows she was on.

I tried to pause it right when she started to say flannel and from what I could tell by doing that, I heard her start to say it at the same time the buzzer sounded. Tie goes to the runner.

What's this, "The Price Is Right" all of a sudden? The buzzer hit first.

Unless that delay was taken into account, watch this clip with a quick finger on the pause button the instant the buzzer goes off. She didn't make it.

No, you actually couldn't tell the contestant "yes or no" to the subject, but I have seen some episodes where the judges actually bend that rule to a point.

Another similar situation aired on GSN which is similar to this clip. This one is "Things With a Strap." with opposite results.

I listened very carefully to the closing seconds and buzzer. She did not say the essence of the subject, which was flannel, in time. However, a minor technicality of the exposing of the 2nd subject cause a 1-2 second delay, therefore, she would have awarded the win anyway.

Very close call (and I'm sure I'll be hated for this), but I don't think she quite got it. It sounds to me like she said "of" as the buzzer started.

Hi! Yes, it was Lois Nettleton giving the clues in that winner's circle round. I don't know who the male celebrity player was, though sitting next to Patty after the judgement call. -Matt

When Dick Clark told her she won, she was so excited that I got teary eyed. I was so happy for her that you'd have thought that I won it! lol

It was very very close, but I think if they start to say the phrase before the buzzer goes off, then they should give it to them. Good call

@thisisrumorcontrol The other celebrity was Michael McKean (Lenny from "Laverne and Shirley")

Also in this episode is a hysterical blooper, the lady that won $10,000 was describing to Michael McKean this word "clue" and she said "I give good...." the crowd just laughed and she passed it

I definitely kept pausing it and clicking at the exact spot it happened. I'm hearing "Things that are made *EEEEHHHHH* of flannel"

Wow... that's a great way of looking at it. I never thought of it that way. The Pyramid background has taken a second or two when it comes to turning those boxes in the board, causing the contestant and celebrity to lose that time. Very good point!

I agree. Maybe it was too close to call. I don't know how good their recording was back then.

Also to add what I commented before, the visual timer means nothing so do not add that to an argument that she didn't beat it, all that counts in the rules is the buzzer so only focus on that. I hear of-flannel right on the buzzer so I think it came in because it could be argued the fffff sound beat the buzzer.

I think the only thing that saved her was that there is a split second difference between the buzzer and when the clock reads zero. If the buzzer sounds right at zero, she doesnt win.

I've watched hundreds of clips from game shows over the last year or so. This one is still my favourite. Wow, that was close.

That's a very good point.... and no, it wouldn't have been a disqualification if she nodded her head.

She did too say "flannel", and right on the buzzer too.

No. Bad call, as I said on another page. She clearly started the phrase before time, but didn't get the key word out before time. The only plausible ruling would've been if the delay between answer 1 and revealing category 2 would have been ruled enough to go through.

I heard the "Fuh" sound come out of her mouth about 1/30 a second before the buzzer. She got it.

I think that's what kungfurabbits meant by "tie goes to the runner," the runner being the contestant.

If the clue-giver had just said "I'm here with Ricky RICARDO" or "I'm here with Desi Arnaz" on the Lucille Ball category, there wouldn't have even been a close call on the last one.

I thought the rule was if she started her answer before the buzzer it counts. Dick said if the ESSENCE of the answer is started before the buzzer it counts. I dunno, but i sounded like the buzzer beat her to the essence of her answer. Anyway, it was a very close call.

Things made of f- "BAAAAAAAA" -lannel!

She did say Things made of flannel but it was still before the buzzer

It was, I honestly think she didn't get it at first.

The clue giver is allowed to nod to let the contestant know s/he is close to guessing the subject.

I am very surprised that win made the flashback intros in the 1985-1986 season.

if the celeb had started nodding her head @ 1:07 (so as to let patti know that she was really close when she said "things that are fl---") would that have been grounds for a disqualification? (i'll tell u, i'm kinda surprised that the celeb didn't do that.) i know if i had been in her shoes, that's probably what i woulda done.)

Actually, disregard the last comment. I slowed the recording way down. And you can hear that Flannel came out after the buzzer had started. Flannel came. The buzzer had actually sounded for about .08 seconds before the F in Flannel even came out. Still, It was way too close to call if played back at normal speed.

"things made (BAAAA) of flannel" ok

"A lumberjack's shirt."

i dont think she made it. she was on the word "that" when it went off. oh well.

She did not beat the buzzer, and she did not beat the timer, and Dick Clark explains precisely why she shouldn't have won the money. However the show was great to give her the money.

I heard her getting the F out in flannel when the buzzer rang. so she made it in my opinion.

@poolboy01 I think poolboy01 is 100% right on the money on this one. Wonder if they gave her the money for the very reason he explains. I've listened to this 100x as if I were the judge and i think the buzzer hit on the word "made" when she said "things made of flannel". So by Dick's explanation she should NOT have won the money. But because of that brief delay it was quite equitable, in my opinion, to give her the $10K. over the years the Pyramid producers have been very fair in their decisions

JEEEZ!!...did you hear those people screaming?..like somebody got shot or somethings..lol..but that lets you know how on edge people mustve been when the last answer was up there....i probably wouldve shouted too..lol...I like how Dick Clark made it seem like it wasnt going to be in her favor...that was good acting as well..lol

Well, the people who reviewed this moved on in their career and reviewed the Oklahoma Oregon football game last year

Look at the comment from "poolboy01". He hit the nail right on the head! Well watched!

I thought I heard FLAN - (Buzzer) - NEL.

2 me, I think she got it JUST in time...... "Things that r made of f (buzzz) lannel!" Buts thats just me.

In this case, maybe even longer than 5 minutes in studio.

No way did she get that. Dick said she had to have started to say the word "flannel" for it to count. She clearly didn't. The chick giving her clues should've said "A lumberjack's shirt". Then she would've gotten it with plenty of time to spare.

Who cares in the end she got the money and that's what matters

My thoughts exactly when I seen this.

Based on their own rule, she said "flannel" after the buzzer. She should not have won

Damn, I love Dick Clark's swagger!

Honestly, I believe the judges made the call to give her the $10,000 so no one won't be upset at the producers... me personally, I believe she started to say "Flannel" before the buzzer.

You weren't paying attention to Dick then-- he said that if you said flannel BEFORE the buzzer, the essence of the answer, you get it. But, if you say "things made of *BBZZZZZZT* flannel, you DON'T get it. I personally believe from a few viewings that she said "Things that are made" BZZZT "of flannel. "She didn't beat neither the buzzer nor the clock.

I agree she should not have won, but she was verrrrry close.

Agreed.

I agree

but actually verbally letting them know is not allowed right?

Well, if you are to slow it down, and look at the tenth second markings on the audio recording. She starts to say "Things" at about 0.35 seconds left. Flannel comes out a split second after the buzzer sounds. So i am guessing that they counted it because she had already started the sentence right before the buzzer sounded. Extremely close regardless.

She just made it! She started to say the first syllable before the buzzer started