John O’Hurley Leaves “Family Feud”; Steve Harvey New Host in Fall
Sad news to start the day off with. John O’Hurley has announced this is his final season on the popualr syndicated game show Family Feud. Amazingly he follows the line of the previous hosts of this version (Louie Anderson and Richard Karn) of hosting the show for four years before leaving the game. Unlike the others O’Hurley is leaving on his own will.
In a statement, John said, “The time has come to try something new, and while I have prized my time on Family Feud, I’ve decided to set a course for new adventures,” said O’Hurley in a statement. “This includes immediately heading into rehearsals for the U.S. touring show of Chicago, launching my new company Energy-Inc. which focuses on renewable energy solutions, debuting an original golf apparel line in the J. Peterman catalog, and visiting our troops overseas.”
The new host will be comedian Steve Harvey, who actually may be a fantastic fit. Steve had a hit sitcom which ran from 1996 to 2002 and currently hosts his own radio show. He also hosted a short-lived variety show. Steve will begin hosting in Fall 2010 when Family Feud begins its record setting 12th season. It becomes the longest surviving series of the show in the history of the franchise.
“With his talent, authenticity and innate ability to connect with audiences from all walks of life, Steve exemplifies the spirit and appeal of Family Feud,” said Fremantle President Cecile Frot-Coutaz in a statement. Fremantle produces the long-running Family Feud, while Debmar-Mercury distributes the show. This is all according to Broadcasting and Cable.
On a personal note, it’s very sad to see John go. I’ve visited Feud several times and met John often. He’s one of the nicest people in the business and a true pro. He’s without a shadow of a doubt the best host that show has had since Richard Dawson and they are losing a major reason why the show is so enjoyable. He’s been a great friend to the site over the past few years and an integral part of why the show still exists to this day. He will deeply be missed. However, I think Steve may be a fantastic fit. He has the personality to do it, the comedy skills, and the name recognition. Good luck in the Fall. We’ll definitely be on the set for this one.
Drew Carey has nothing to do with the personnel being let go from "The Price Is Right" since he took over – that is Fremantle's doing. There were FAR more personnel let go when Bob 'the ego' Barker was on the show, as he was EP of the show. Let's see – 'the Dob' has been the only big name that has been let go since Drew arrived (as Bart Eskander left by his own free will), but lets see who all Barker fired over the years… directors Marc Breslow and Paul Alter, models Holly Hallstrom, Janice Pennington, Kathleen Bradley, and Claudia Jordan, personal assistant Sherrell Paris, production assistants Sharon Friem and Linda Reigert, made life hell for Rod Roddy, need I go on?
Drew Carey has nothing to do with the personnel being let go from "The Price Is Right" since he took over – that is Fremantle's doing. There were FAR more personnel let go when Bob 'the ego' Barker was on the show, as he was EP of the show. Let's see – 'the Dob' has been the only big name that has been let go since Drew arrived (as Bart Eskander left by his own free will), but lets see who all Barker fired over the years… directors Marc Breslow and Paul Alter, models Holly Hallstrom, Janice Pennington, Kathleen Bradley, and Claudia Jordan, personal assistant Sherrell Paris, production assistants Sharon Friem and Linda Reigert, made life hell for Rod Roddy, need I go on?
About TPIR….. they should give the hosting job to Walberg or Davidson and the announcing job to Bob Hilton. And let's bring Roger back too!
About Family Feud….. Best host they ever had was, IMHO, Ray Combs. OK, maybe I am a bit biased towards Hilton and Combs because they're both Mormon (like me), but still they were good.
About TPIR….. they should give the hosting job to Walberg or Davidson and the announcing job to Bob Hilton. And let's bring Roger back too!
About Family Feud….. Best host they ever had was, IMHO, Ray Combs. OK, maybe I am a bit biased towards Hilton and Combs because they're both Mormon (like me), but still they were good.
And then Barker was fired himself. People try to show Barker as being a nice, friendly guy — but it's pretty obvious that he never really was. And the ego had started years earlier… (information from William Padron)
Bob hosted the Daytime Emmy Awards in 1976, and the award for Best Game Show went to "The $20,000 Pyramid". When Anne Marie Schmitt (studio producer) accepted the trophy, Barker snatched the award away from her and told her that he would give it back if she guessed its actual retail price. Her husband's name? Bob Stewart.
In 1979, Barker was disqualified from winning Best Game Show Host; he stated this while hosting that year's awards show(!), then said to move forward from it. Mr. Stewart was in the audience, and looked PISSED. Then, when Dick Clark (who was not present) won that Emmy, Barker told Clark to leave the Emmy on his (Barker's) bookshelf and GAVE OUT HIS ADDRESS ON LIVE COAST-TO-COAST TELEVISION.
People think that Barker's downward spiral started when his wife Dorothy Jo died. I think that, considering the above, it was much earlier. Why didn't CBS and Mark Goodson (later All-American/Pearson/Fremantle) see this and get rid of him sooner?
And then Barker was fired himself. People try to show Barker as being a nice, friendly guy — but it's pretty obvious that he never really was. And the ego had started years earlier… (information from William Padron)
Bob hosted the Daytime Emmy Awards in 1976, and the award for Best Game Show went to "The $20,000 Pyramid". When Anne Marie Schmitt (studio producer) accepted the trophy, Barker snatched the award away from her and told her that he would give it back if she guessed its actual retail price. Her husband's name? Bob Stewart.
In 1979, Barker was disqualified from winning Best Game Show Host; he stated this while hosting that year's awards show(!), then said to move forward from it. Mr. Stewart was in the audience, and looked PISSED. Then, when Dick Clark (who was not present) won that Emmy, Barker told Clark to leave the Emmy on his (Barker's) bookshelf and GAVE OUT HIS ADDRESS ON LIVE COAST-TO-COAST TELEVISION.
People think that Barker's downward spiral started when his wife Dorothy Jo died. I think that, considering the above, it was much earlier. Why didn't CBS and Mark Goodson (later All-American/Pearson/Fremantle) see this and get rid of him sooner?
And then Barker was fired himself. People try to show Barker as being a nice, friendly guy — but it's pretty obvious that he never really was. And the ego had started years earlier… (information from William Padron)
Bob hosted the Daytime Emmy Awards in 1976, and the award for Best Game Show went to "The $20,000 Pyramid". When Anne Marie Schmitt (studio producer) accepted the trophy, Barker snatched the award away from her and told her that he would give it back if she guessed its actual retail price. Her husband's name? Bob Stewart.
In 1979, Barker was disqualified from winning Best Game Show Host; he stated this while hosting that year's awards show(!), then said to move forward from it. Mr. Stewart was in the audience, and looked PISSED. Then, when Dick Clark (who was not present) won that Emmy, Barker told Clark to leave the Emmy on his (Barker's) bookshelf and GAVE OUT HIS ADDRESS ON LIVE COAST-TO-COAST TELEVISION.
People think that Barker's downward spiral started when his wife Dorothy Jo died. I think that, considering the above, it was much earlier. Why didn't CBS and Mark Goodson (later All-American/Pearson/Fremantle) see this and get rid of him sooner?
Wasn't O'Hurley's TPIR audition reportedly one of the worst?
Wasn't O'Hurley's TPIR audition reportedly one of the worst?
You mean Bob Barker gave out his address on national TV? Man, I would love to see that on YT.
No more Roger – he was one of Barker's go betweens!
No more Roger – he was one of Barker's go betweens!
I would like to see the game show marathon Feud set used. Good luck John and Steve.
To Daniel B.: And isn’t it ironic that it’s the same Bob Stewart that created The Price Is Right when he was working for Goodson-Todman? If I was him and he did that to my wife, he would’ve been fired right then and there. You shouldn’t get mad because another game show won, congratulate them.
He couldn't have done it. The [New] Price is Right wasn't created by Bob Stewart.
He couldn't have done it. The [New] Price is Right wasn't created by Bob Stewart.
Please, people! Can we save the "Who should host TPIR" thread until the job is actually open? It's been 2.5 seasons. Time to move on to "acceptance", kids!
Please, people! Can we save the "Who should host TPIR" thread until the job is actually open? It's been 2.5 seasons. Time to move on to "acceptance", kids!
Right on, Myke25!
Yes. According to William Padron, that particular Daytime Emmy Awards broadcast is available for viewing at the Paley Center For Media.
Bob Stewart did in fact create "The Price is Right" — he pitched it as "Auction-aire" to Goodson-Todman in 1956. They liked it, and filmed a pilot for NBC. Stewart remained producer of the show for its first four years or so, and was the one responsible for those weird and wacky bonus prizes.
@DeVares: Stewart was working at "The $20,000 Pyramid" at that time. He hadn't worked for Goodson-Todman since around 1965. If Mark Goodson were there, he should have been fired Barker — and if he was there, then he certainly didn't appear to be pissed-off.
…And as for Goodson, I think the poor man was getting senile in his later years — he should have done something to stop Barker…unless, of course, Barker was well out of Goodson's powerful reach by 1991.
Bob Stewart did in fact create "The Price is Right" — he pitched it as "Auction-aire" to Goodson-Todman in 1956. They liked it, and filmed a pilot for NBC. Stewart remained producer of the show for its first four years or so, and was the one responsible for those weird and wacky bonus prizes.
@DeVares: Stewart was working at "The $20,000 Pyramid" at that time. He hadn't worked for Goodson-Todman since around 1965. If Mark Goodson were there, he should have been fired Barker — and if he was there, then he certainly didn't appear to be pissed-off.
…And as for Goodson, I think the poor man was getting senile in his later years — he should have done something to stop Barker…unless, of course, Barker was well out of Goodson's powerful reach by 1991.
I know that. Bob Stewart did not create the current version.
And yet the show isn't the same without him. He did more for TPIR than Bob ever did.
And yet the show isn't the same without him. He did more for TPIR than Bob ever did.
I'm going to call BS on that one, considering that I haven't seen a full episode of it in about a year.
I'm going to call BS on that one, considering that I haven't seen a full episode of it in about a year.
Actually Barker manipulated Mark Goodson in 1986, as one of his conditions for being EP that year (yeah Frank Wayne was EP by name, but with his health in decline, Barker was the one running the show!), was that beloved "TPIR" director Marc Breslow was to be fired. Being the coward he is, Barker wanted Mark to fire Marc instead of him doing the dirty work, and it hurt him deeply doing so, as Marc Breslow was like a son to him! Marc settled for a role as 'creative consultant' for the next 10 years, and Barker was on Mark Goodson's 'shit list' forever until he died in 1992. Yeah, Barker sure made a lot of 'friends' over the years, didn't he?
Actually Barker manipulated Mark Goodson in 1986, as one of his conditions for being EP that year (yeah Frank Wayne was EP by name, but with his health in decline, Barker was the one running the show!), was that beloved "TPIR" director Marc Breslow was to be fired. Being the coward he is, Barker wanted Mark to fire Marc instead of him doing the dirty work, and it hurt him deeply doing so, as Marc Breslow was like a son to him! Marc settled for a role as 'creative consultant' for the next 10 years, and Barker was on Mark Goodson's 'shit list' forever until he died in 1992. Yeah, Barker sure made a lot of 'friends' over the years, didn't he?
Darryl, you stole my suggestion. If "The Price Is Right" producers took a step back and looked at the situation they would see that Drew Carey was never cut out to be the host they need. John O'Hurley on the other hand would be the perfect fit. They should open their bank vault and make him an offer.
Darryl, you stole my suggestion. If "The Price Is Right" producers took a step back and looked at the situation they would see that Drew Carey was never cut out to be the host they need. John O'Hurley on the other hand would be the perfect fit. They should open their bank vault and make him an offer.
He sure did. And do you want to know the sad thing? I have his book.