"Family Feud" (1976) TV series 1976-1985

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Paul Alter

Seasons:

unknown

Release Date:

12 July 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Game-Show

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Money | Non Fiction

Awards:

4 wins & 22 nominations

Cast

Richard Dawson	...	Himself - Host (41 episodes, 1976-1985)
Gene Wood	...	Announcer (33 episodes, 1976-1985)

Also Known As:

Family Fortune (UK)
Fast Company (USA) (working title)
The Best of Family Feud (USA) (reissue title)

Runtime:

30 min (3529 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

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

Certification:

USA:TV-G

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

Trivia:

During vacation in Hawaii, Richard's manager called up Howard Felsher and telling him Richard really wants to have his contract reopened and would be mentally incapable from coming back from Hawaii to continue with the show unless the contract would be reopened. Howard advised Mark Goodson to not open the contract and if Dawson decides to quit the show, take the chance and let him quit because the show could stand on its own without Richard Dawson. However, the contract was reopened and Richard received an enormous salary of over $2,000,000 a year. Big bucks for a game show host in the 80's.

Quotes:

[During Fast Money]
Richard Dawson: Name an article of clothing children always lose...
Contestant: Their pants.
Richard Dawson: The price of a dozen roses...
Contestant: $1.75.
Richard Dawson: Besides a bird, name something in a birdcage...
Contestant: Hamster.
[pause]
Richard Dawson: Make a note of this show.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Family Guy: Stewie B. Goode (#4.28)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Family Feud Theme

Forget the game show, let's talk about the hosts.

Family Feud was a favorite of mine growing up in the 1970's and 80's. While the game itself isn't that great, the real reason I liked FF was because of the first two hosts they had, two men who were larger than life in my opinion.

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.