September 7th is a date that no fan of Family Feud will want to miss. The long-running syndicated game show begins its eleventh season, the fourth with current host John O’Hurley. If you’ve been following any game show news at all you are most likely aware that the show is adding a lot of fantastic changes which improves the show greatly. First is the new Bullseye round at the start of the game giving families the opportunity to play the Fast Money end game for up to $30,000. The other big change is the car for any family that wins five games. The thing that hasn’t changed is the fantastic hosting by John O’Hurley. I’ve been a vocal fan of Mr. O’Hurley from the first season and he’s greatly improved since. Even more than a Feud fan, I am a gigantic Seinfeld nerd, so when I got the chance to talk to John on the set of the show I had a minor mental meltdown. He’s just as funny, witty, and nice in person as what you see on television daily.
Again, John O’Hurley is on his fourth season and it seems just as fun as it has been since day one for him. “It’s been a wonderful show. It’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen and done in my lifetime and I say that with the full knowledge that I was in Seinfeld.” John continues, “The show feels really comfortable to me, I like the format of the show I like the idea that nothing is scripted. I like the idea to walk on, that trusting the families will be enough to entertain. That’s the learning curve. No preparing time. You have to learn and hope that the funny will appear and it does.”
While it has been a nice run for John, it does take time to get comfortable. During that first season one complaint issued often was his over-reliance on certain comedic elements such as jumping at the buzzer every show which has gone away. But as John O’Hurley explains, it’s definitely a learning experience. “I had to learn not to keep up. It just comes. You don’t have to constantly worry about, “Will I say this?” If it comes, it will. There’s a learning curve. I call it an un-learning curve. Every show has its own curve. I loved doing To Tell The Truth, it had a wonderful ambiance and it was one of the most enjoyable experience I had. Great producers and great celebrity panel, but I don’t have that. I have my families. This is a whole different experience. The show has its own personality.”
He continues, saying that the changes have been fun for him, as a host, to go through. “It’s different for me because you have to develop a different flow. I like it because immediately the families were energized. It starts off on a higher level. [Giving away a car] was a great experience].”
Something I didn’t realize is that John O’Hurley actually did the show back in 1986 as part of a special soap opera edition. He said, “I was doing a show, Men of ABC Daytime VS Women of ABC Daytime. I don’t remember much of the game but all I remember is watching [the host] and remembering, “This is a great gig,” and 20 years later I got it.”
The experience of playing Family Feud makes John really feel for the contestants under the pressure. “I have a lot of compassion, genuine compassion, for the families that come up. First for the compression of time and you’re being asked something so simple that you want to over think it and that’s a problem.” John also gains a relationship with these families in a very short period of time. “I try to instantly find something I like about people, whether something physical or something with their personality. Especially if they’re older females. I try to flirt with them. I try to find something likeable and it’s easy, and they are here to have fun. This isn’t a tense show. This is the joy of answering surveys. I don’t take myself seriously doing this. It’s all for fun.”
The one thing I always love to ask hosts is what their favorite segment of the show, since everyone has something different. John answered, “I really love the game, and I just want them to win. The end, to me is the best. And I don’t know the answers. I know the number one, but I don’t know the rest so I’m playing along with everyone else. I mean in these days it’s just one answer that can change your life. I get really excited. I get really emotional when someone is given 160 points on the first round and the person doesn’t carry it over the line. I remember once one person got 180-185 points on the first round and the 2nd person didn’t get it. I mean I would fall on my sword. I don’t think he can go on living.“
Before leaving, I had to ask John O’Hurley about other shows he’s done and where this stacks up. This isn’t John’s first hosting gig. He’s done several such as the previously mentioned To Tell The Truth, he did a spelling bee game show for FOX, and he was at one time a serious contender to take over The Price is Right. But for John, he can’t think of a better place to be than Family Feud and all its great fans. “I get very nice responses and there are still people who just don’t like me. I have very thick skin. I did a test show for [The Price is Right] but this is my favorite show. I like the survey end of this more than a show about prices, it wasn’t my style. Also I wouldn’t give this show up…for the world. I can’t think of a happier place to be.”
I’ve said from the first season that John O’Hurley is the best host of Family Feud since Richard Dawson without a shadow of a doubt, and with the way things are going he’s looking to be the longest lasting host of this current edition of Feud. It’s a very exciting season for the show. Be sure to watch the season premiere of Family Feud on September 7th on whatever local station near you carries it.