Cram
GSN Game Show which aired from January to September 2003 in which two teams were sequestered for 24 hours in a storefront at Hollywood and Highland (the "Cramatorium"). There, they were forced to "cram" factoids, jokes and trivia on which they would be quizzed throughout the show while performing various stunts. The game's three rounds included ranting while walking in an oversized hamster wheel, listing 12 items while competing in a sundry stunt round, and having the team members work an exercise bike or rowing machine while answering riddles. Points were awarded for right answers, and deducted for wrong answers or passed questions.
At the end, the winning team members were placed in onstage beds and blindfolded, with the lights dimmed, while "Miss Pickwick" read various facts in a relaxing tone. Upon the return from commercial, the contestants were then awakened and given 60 seconds to stand on a balance beam or peg while answering questions on Miss Pickwick's facts. Correct answers moved the team up a five-step scale; wrong answers moved them down a step, and getting to the top of the scale won $10,000; losers got $100 per step achieved (based on their final score). Win or lose, the winning teams were placed in comfy chairs and given coffee.
The show added a larger variety of stunts in Season 2 (which began June 15, 2003) and changed some rounds' time limits. Other Season 2 changes included a new assistant named "Dr. Damnearkilter" to taunt the contestants, and special celebrity editions every Monday.
- Big Win Sirens: The stock sirens heard on earlier NBC game shows were played if the Bonus Round was won.
- Bonus Round: Mentioned above; $10,000 was on the line.
- Golden Snitch: Because of the pacing and point values, whichever team won the hamster wheel round almost always went on to the bonus round.
- Losing Horns: Type C; the "Pitcher's Got A Big Butt" sound was played immediately upon time expiring in the bonus round.
- Personnel:
- Game Show Host: Graham Elwood.
- Lovely Assistant: Icey. Other assistants included the aforementioned "Miss Pickwick" (played by Andrea Hutchman) and "Dr. Damnearkilter" (played by Arturo Gil).
- Studio Audience: There was none. Not even a Laugh Track.
- April Fools' Day: On April Fools' Day 2003, the hosts of all GSN's original game shows (except Lingo) traded places. hosted each other's shows; Marc Summers (Win Tuition) took that day's Cram. Miss Pickwick was played by Graham Elwood in drag.
- Catch Phrase: Graham had a tendency to say "Aw man, you guys!" after EVERY. SINGLE. FAILED. BONUS. ROUND.
- "You snooze, you lose!"
- Deadpan Snarker: Graham.
- Last-Name Basis: Berglind Icey was known simply as "Icey" on the show.
- Ms. Fanservice: Icey.
- Under Crank: Used at the end of each episode to show the next episode's contestants gathering into the "Cramatorium"...which makes one wonder what they did for the Grand Finale.