Family Feud (1976–1985)

Two families compete by trying to outguess the opponents about survey results.

Stars:

Richard Dawson, Gene Wood, Laurie Walters

4 wins & 22 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Richard Dawson	...	Himself - Host (42 episodes, 1978-1985)
Gene Wood	...	Himself - Announcer (33 episodes, 1978-1985)

Storyline

Richard Dawson hosted this TV game-show, which pitted members of two families against each other. Each team tried to guess the results of survey questions faster and more accurately than the other team.

---

Plot Keywords:

money | non fiction

---

Genres:

Game-Show

---

Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 July 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fast Company

Filming Locations:

ABC Television Center - 4151 Prospect Avenue, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

American Broadcasting Company (ABC), Mark Goodson Television Productions, Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min (3529 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono (1976-1983) Stereo (1983-1985)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

There were some objections to Richard kissing strange women on national television. ABC tried to influence the kissing to stop, but Dawson rebelled and said he was going to do it. Mark Goodson asked people to write in and say in favor of kissing or not, the responses were overwhelmingly in favor of keeping the kissing on.

---

Quotes

Richard Dawson: [During a rare sixth round question] Number Four, what do you think? Come on! We've already run into "Love Boat", let's move!

---

Connections

Featured in Greatest Game Show Moments (2007)

---

Soundtracks

"The Feud"
(theme)
Written by Robert Israel (BMI)
Performed by the Score Productions Band
Published by TattleTales Music (BMI)

User Reviews

Took this show for granted;I regret that now

Every evening for much of the late,late seventies into the early chunk of the eighties(aka my childhood years)this show inhabited the 6:30 PM CST slot right before prime time. My family watched it faithfully,and it became sort of a regular to the point of complacency. I didn't watch the ABC daytime version of this show quite as often,since I was usually in school,but I'd catch this semi-routinely on my summer vacations--it didn't seem as fun as,say,"Press Your Luck","Sale of the Century" or "The Price is Right"--and enjoyed it,but when this quietly went off the air in June/July 1985,I don't think I gave it much thought and even kind of felt like it was probably meant to be escorted off the air.

Watching this in reruns on GSN has set me right.

Upon seeing these shows again(and I'm mostly referencing THIS version,though the 1988-94 Ray Combs hosted version was also very strong),I've actually become much more watchful of the style and savvy of host Richard Dawson,from the style of his wardrobe(often three-piece suits,perfectly cut and not a stitch out of place!)to his mannerisms and wit,as well as other elements(i.e. the pacing of the game,the types of survey questions,the answers,the way the contestants dressed,the attitudes toward physical space vis-a-vis the host,among other things).I've come to feel that,as hokey and out-dated that these shows are,there's still a fresh--dare I say---innocence and enthusiasm that seems to be lacking in much of what constitutes un-scripted entertainment,particular game shows.

I intend to enjoy these shows a lot more now in re-runs. The charm and comparative simplicity of this version of the show is priceless. The newer "Feud"s(particualrly much of the Louie Anderson and Richard Karn era)are pale shades of this show's inspiration and fun.