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
True to form, the Phillies swept KC 395-0. Del & Dick played the bonus round, where they reached 222 points with just seven questions. Would they have had any less than a total kickass half-hour?
Highlights included one of the Royals offering Richard Dawson some Skoal chewing tobacco (which he spat out in disgust, but he was a trooper even to try it), the numerous whistles and catcalls for Michael Jack from the presumably female-dominated studio audience, and, oh my, the leisure suits, feathered hair, and bizarre facial growths (and Bowa's funky White Man's Afro deserves special mention). Needless to say, my head was spinning. Bill Simmons (ESPN's "Sports Guy") needs to know about this episode to grade it on his Unintentional Comedy Rating Scale; it'd surely get a perfect score.
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.
Richard Dawson (who I actually thought was from the Southern U.S. as a kid instead of England) is one of the greatest game show hosts ever. The man had tons 'o charm, that great wit, that history of wooing the ladies, and deep respect for all the participants on the show. He was a very easy-going individual who didn't have an ego trip while hosting the show (unlike Bob Barker). It's hard to believe that behind the scenes he was rude to management and the crew.
Dawson's version of the program ran from 1976-85. In 1988, CBS revived it and brought in the equally amazing Ray Combs. Combs, a stand-up comic was perfect for the 1988-94 run. A very positive, happy, and funny host, he brought great flamboyancy to the show. Who couldn't forget the little jig he'd do when he was introduced. Sadly, Ray's private life was pretty brutal and led to his untimely suicide.
The families they brought were always in their Sunday best, but they also brought in some wacky families during the two show's run. Also, you never knew what way-out hilarious responses they'd give out when trying to come up with successful answers to a survey. There was this family called the Picketts who won the right to try and uncover the final survey answer of "Name a famous Rudolf." Rudolph the Reindeer and Rudolf Valentino were uncovered. Their three attempts yielded: Rudolf Jackson, Rudolf Smith, and Rudolf Hitler. The other family got a chance to steal for the win and chose Rudolf Hess. They struck out and the Picketts won despite their hilariously stupid answers. How Richard Dawson kept a straight face was miraculous...
Don't bother with Louie Anderson or Richard Karn's version of FF. Watch the original on The Game Show Network.
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.
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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