Two families compete by trying to outguess the opponents about survey results.Two families compete by trying to outguess the opponents about survey results.Two families compete by trying to outguess the opponents about survey results.
- Awards
- 4 wins & 22 nominations total
Featured reviews
In addition to the nine year ABC run, there was a syndicated version that began as a once a week show, expanded to twice a week and eventually Monday through Friday. Also, there were celebrity prime time specials.
As for the Ray Combs version, it went very well until the producers added the Bullseye round, tampering with a great format. Also, the death of creator Mark Goodson and his son Jonathan hiring a consultant to improve the show's ratings by bringing back Dawson didn't do any good. Ray Combs was an outstanding host and he shouldn't have been let go.
The current version fortunately stuck to the basic game but Louie Anderson was terrible as a host, despite his sign off "Be good to your family!" Richard Karn was an improvement over Anderson, despite his inexperience and John O'Hurley is a much better host, keeping the game moving and bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm. Through all the hosting changes, there has been one constant, the show's announcer, who is one of the best, Burton Richardson.
Hopefully the O'Hurley version will keep the classic game on the air for more years to come.
Take 2 families, give them each a chance to score points by guessing how people answered a survey about something. Sometimes, sex would get thrown into the question mix to keep things hopping. The most points by the winning family, the losing family get consolation prizes. The winners go into the bonus round with a chance to win $5,000 dollars (inflation really started later than this show in prize money).
It would add up to a lot of fun. It's the Hatfields versus the McCoys & to quote my favorite phrase used by Richard Dawson so often "And the survey says..." a winner.
In short, Dawson had the common touch despite his celebrity status, and I just know he was really rooting for the contestants, just as Groucho ribbed his contestants but was always happy to see them win the big money in the quiz on "You Bet Your Life" (BTW, Dawson hosted a pilot for "YBYL" in 1988; it didn't get on the air but he would have been perfect for that show).
Gene Wood proved he was a better announcer than host; I remember that on "Beat the Clock" he would get as silly as the contestants. That, to me, is the ultimate sin of the game-show host.
Steve Harvey has done extremely well with the show and I wish him many more years, but Dawson is "Family Feud" to me.
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.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaOn Monday, April 6th, 1981, Richard Dawson met a contestant and after the taping, he invited her to his house for a home cooked meal. Shortly after this event, began their long term romance.
- Quotes
[Richard Dawson's farewell speech on the June 14, 1985 finale]
Richard Dawson: So, the Mackins were our final winning family, and they've won $5,504, and I'm proud of 'em. I've had the most incredible luck in my career. I've done lots and lots of jobs, and I've never, ever had a job like "Family Feud." I've never DREAMED I would ever have a job where so many people could touch me and I could touch them. And it was... there was a great magic about this show that I've never seen on any other show. I want to publicly acknowledge Howard Felsher, who is our Executive Producer. He was a producer in the beginning of the show, and he helped steer and guide the way that we went. And he and I fall a lot of times, but I tell you that he is important and I should acknowledge him, because he was the one, with me, that, we said, "Let ANYBODY come on this show, anyone that can play this game, no matter what color or creed, no matter if they're in a wheelchair or they have no sight." And we've HAD everybody on this show, and he was very, very important in that and I acknowledge and thank him for it. I thank my crew, and I thanked my director already. I have the best staff you've ever dreamed of. You can't... but you don't have to dream of them, 'cause I'm gonna take them with me. Even if I never work again, they'll just be near me. They are so special and wonderful. ABC - Jackie Smith, Wally Weltman, Joe C. Albott - they kept us on the air probably a year more than they should have, 'cause we weren't really helping them. You know, our ratings weren't that good. They were *so* great. They buried themselves carrying us, and I love them for that, not that I wanted to hurt 'em, but I... because I love 'em. They were good people. There were people I know that got upset that I kissed people; I kissed them for luck and love, that's all. That's what my mother did to me. There were people upset that I would embrace or hug someone of another color. The first time I ever saw people of any color was when D-Day left from my hometown in England, to go and free Europe from the war. And there was every color you could imagine, and I'd not seen that in England. And I asked my mother about it; I said, "Is there something wrong?" She said, "God... God makes people. You understand that, don't you?" And I said, "Yeah!" She said, "Who makes a rainbow?" I said, "God." She said, "I never presumed to tell anyone who could make a rainbow what color to make children." And she changed my whole life with that statement. All I can tell you is, this has been a very special 9 years of my life! If I never do another thing, I've met the good, sweet people of the world. So I leave you, with love, and for the little girl that, nine years ago, I first signed to - I guess she's 13, now - I'll think of you every day. God bless all the little children in the world. Thank you.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Going Ape! (1981)
- SoundtracksThe Feud
(theme)
Written by Robert Israel (BMI)
Performed by the Score Productions Band
Published by TattleTales Music (BMI)
- How many seasons does Family Feud have?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime30 minutes
- Color
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