Name a beloved game show that debuted 40 years ago this week, on July 12, 1976. Survey says...Yep, it's "Family Feud," the popular show currently hosted by the easily amused Steve Harvey, though for much of its first two decades, it made Richard Dawson the king of the daytime emcees. (Indeed, Dawson famously spoofed himself in the 1987 movie "The Running Man" as evil game show host Damon Killian.)
After forty years, "Family Feud" viewers still enjoy watching opposing clans face off over poll questions about everyday life. But even longtime "Feud" fans may not know these details about the real-life feuds and family dramas behind the long-running game show.
1. Richard Dawson's real name was Colin Lionel Emm.2. In the early 1970s, "Hogan's Heroes" alum Dawson was one of the most popular regular celebrity panelists on "Match Game." He successfully lobbied "Match" producer and game show pioneer Mark Goodson to create a game show for him to host. "Family Feud" was the result.
3. Within a year, the "Feud" took off in popularity, even spawning a weekly nighttime version.
4. Unfortunately for Dawson, Goodson still insisted that he remain on "Match Game" as well. Feeling burned out, Dawson became surly with the "Match Game" production crew, with his hostility sometimes visible during game play. Eventually, Goodman let him out of his "Match" contract and let him be exclusive to "Feud."5. Dawson took the "Family" part seriously. At various times during his first nine-year run on the show, his sons Gary and Mark -- and Mark's wife, Cathy -- all had production jobs on the show. Gary's job was to tabulate the survey results.
6. The host was notorious for kissing every woman who competed on the show. Dawson claimed that, while the producers tried to get him to stop, none of the women ever objected. Still, he allowed the show to poll viewers by mail on whether he should drop the practice. Survey says... 704 against kissing, 14,600 in favor. The liplocks continued until the show went off the air (for the first time) in 1985.
7. Dawson did more than kiss Gretchen Johnson, a 1981 contestant. He married her in 1991. Together, they had a daughter, Shannon. The marriage lasted until Dawson's death at age 79 in 2012.8. When the Goodson company revived "Feud" in 1988, Mark Goodson was still miffed at Dawson over his behavior toward Goodson staffers, so he hired as emcee Ray Combs, previously known as a warm-up comic for the live audiences at game show tapings.
9. Combs was a hit at first, but after four years, ratings began to slide, and in 1994, producer Jonathan Goodson (son of Mark, who died in 1992) announced he was going to bring back Dawson to replace Combs.
10. On Combs' last episode, his last contestant in the fast money round earned zero points on all five questions, a first. The host marveled, "You know, I've done this show for six years and this [is] the first time I had a person that actually got no points, and I think it's a damn fine way to go out. Thought I was a loser until you walked up here, you made me feel like a man!" When the taping ended, Combs left the studio without saying goodbye to anyone. Two years later, deep in debt, plagued with chronic back pain after a car crash, and separated from his wife, Combs committed suicide.11. Dawson's return couldn't save the "Feud," and the show left the air after just another year. It was revived, however, in 1999, first with comic Louie Anderson hosting, then "Home Improvement" sidekick Richard Karn, then "Seinfeld" regular John O'Hurley, The current host, comedian Steve Harvey, took over the mic in 2010. For his first five years, Harvey's announcer was former 'N Sync member Joey Fatone.
12. "Feud" has won three Daytime Emmys: one for Outstanding Game Show (1977) and two for Outstanding Game Show Host. One of those went to Dawson in 1978, the other to Harvey in 2014.
13. Since Harvey's tenure began, some viewers have grumbled that the questions and answers have become a lot more sexually explicit and less "Family"-friendly (see above). Nonetheless, "Feud" has returned to its former glory as one of the most popular shows in daytime, beating even "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy."from Moviefone News RSS Feed - Moviefone.com http://ift.tt/29D0AAk
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