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.
Steve Harvey will be good. Did you know he was considered to host the recent incarnation of Pyramid?
NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO REPLACE JOHN! HE IS A FANTASTIC HOST AND IS A
ASSET TO THE SHOW. I WILL NO LONGER BE A FAITHFUL LISTENER.
"For this round, I can will only read the question once to whoever has control. point values remain tripled, we surveyed 100 people the Top 3 answers on board."
What do you guys think, good or what?
I will miss John alot. Every night when I come home from work on turn on the tv to watch Family Feud and it has become a daily part of my life including John being in it! So it will be really sad as he has been a part of my daily routine! Is there an email where fans can send him a message letting him know how we will miss him? Thanks.
i am gonna really miss you on family fued , you were a great host you made me laugh i don’t know how many times but i am glad that the person that is taking your place in hosting the show is steve harvey he is even funnier so i wish you the best of luck in what ever you decide to do after this
We’ll miss John very much and think that Steve will do a good job in keeping us all entertained.
John,good luck in your new adventures.
Will definitely miss John OHurley on Family Feud and loved seeing your family from time to time thanks for the years you kept us entertained on Famiy Feud and hope to see you in your new works Best of luck to you John OHurley.
so sad John is leaving, iwill never watch Family again…………he took me through my illiness and recovery, i will truly miss him Godd Luck to you John and your beautiful family
What a closed minded thing to say that you’ll never watch Family Feud again. Assuming you are old enough to have been alive, imagine if the internet existed 25 years ago and you said that you’d never watch the Family Feud again after it was announced that Ray Combs was replacing Richard Dawson?
If you followed this same line of thinking you would have never watched John O’Hurley’s version. How about you give the new guy a chance? There’s already a bunch of YouTube videos showing that Steve Harvey is gonna be one of the best hosts in the history of the Family Feud and you should give him a chance before saying you’ll never watch again.
If you are a true fan of Family Feud, you’ll watch no matter who the host is….even if it’s Louie Anderson on a really lousy looking set with hideous party music! Maybe your comment makes sense if you ONLY watched the show because of John O’Hurley and you have never watched any previous incarnation of the Family Feud in the past.
Very sad to hear John O’Hurley has left Family Fued. Wishing him the best with his new ventures coming up. Will miss his charm, wit and classiness he brought to the Family Fued. He made the show a “pure joy” to watch. It won’t be the same. Today’s a sad day!!!!!
Darn!!!! Just read that John O’Hurley is leaving the Feud. I love the sense of humor that he brings to the show, his little funny asides are what makes the show so entertaining. Enjoyed him on Pet Star as a judge and on Dancing with the Stars way back .Hope his future includes another show of some kind to keep us entertained with his cool talent.
John O’Hurley is the quinacincle host. He’s handsome, charismatic. He’s has very good comedic timing, he’s smart, witty and damn sexy.
We’ll miss you John. Good luck to you and your little boy is a-dor-a-ble!!
Steve will be good ….BUT JOHN cant be replaced !!!
A white game show host with such CLASS and dignity.
Are there new projects for Mr. Ohurly ?
Am huge fan and avid dog lover like John.
Keith Page
Really Keith, ” white host”? That shouldn’t matter. John is an excellent host regardless. Just didn’t think it was wise to initiate the point that he was white. So what! Not bashing or anything, just thought there was a better way to express your way of being a big fan, missing John being on the show and wishing him the best of luck.
I am truly tryly sad to see John leave Family Fued. I liked Richard Karn but when John took over it was a wonderful replacement decision. I had heard some time ago that John was being asked to take over The Price is Right when Bob Barker retired and would have loved to see that happen. Just anything to keep John out on the tv waves where I can enjoy his humor and his zippy personality. I have liked him since the days of Seinfeld and a golf show he did. Don’t remember the name of it but he was absolutely histerical. LOVE HIM AND WILL SURELY MISS HIM. Wish the best on his new venture but from a strictly personal and selfish point, I hope to see him on tv again soon.
JOHN>>>>WE LOVE YOU
I am so sad to see John go. He was the best host ever on family feud. I have been watching since richard dawson and john is the best host ever. I will miss him.
My husband and I watched Family Feud every day and think he was the best host since Richard Dawson. We are sad to see his time come to an end. We wish him well in all that he aspires to do. You were the best! Good Luck!
Well, I watched Mr. Harvey for the first time today. I have to say that I was really disappointed in the show overall. In my opinion, he will not be able to generate the type of interest needed to keep the show going strong, I am afraid, and I sure hate to see it destroyed. No one has ever compared to Richard Dawson’s humor, but John certainly kept the ladies watching with his classy looks and demeanor. Since ladies are most likely the largest percentage of viewers for the show, they should have hired someone who appeals largely to that group of watchers, and Mr. Harvey hardly has any appeal at all in any of those areas. I doubt that he even has any appeal for the male watchers either. Change should be for the better on television!……..guess they are running out of anyone to host shows anymore that has what it takes (good looks, class and humor) to draw in the viewers……….just look at Drew Carey hosting in Bob Barker’s place. YUCK, what a dud of a replacement he is for that show!
Like you, I haven’t been impressed by Steve H…but I’ll give it a few shows and see if it gets better. AND like you, I have given up on Drew Carey…he acts like he is either bored or totally annoyed with the contestants. I rarely watch PIR anymore. Hope I don’t give up on FF….time will tell.
GY, I think that you are spot in with all your remarks…..”Feud” will not continue with this Steve fellow. He just doesn’t cut it…..miss John terribly.
How very true – i say the same thing – Harvey is awful.
I agree with you about Steve Harvey. I watched Kings of Comedy a few years ago and it was hysterical and I laughed almost the entire time. The only time I didn’t laugh was when Steve Harvey came out. His humor is dry and tasteless. However, I do like Drew Carey…I have always liked him and his humor, so I think The Price is Right won with decision. But, change is change. Things happen and there’s nothing we can do about it. I have watched so many shows that I love come and go and change. And all you people on here (whether you are black or white) need to quit bashing on each other. Its counter productive and only proves that you are ignorant about each other. Lets not make this about color because its people like you who create and spread hate.
I watched today’s FAMILY FEUD show too, GY. It was a profound disappointment. I didn’t even know that John O’Hurley was leaving the show!
Today’s show was HORRIBLE. Steve Harvey isn’t funny. Mr. Harvey seems like he struggles to come up with anything to say…and he looks like he is just reading cue cards. The new set is also unattractive and quite impersonal.
Needless to say, I am highly disappointed.
I just wish that they would have done something to make John O’Hurley remain with the show! I mean — they could have rearranged the shooting schedule, right?
I would have liked the host of the Latin American Family Feud show (the former host of “Que Dice La Gente,” Marco Antonio Regil). Regil can speak good English (better than Steve Harvey) and has the humor, good looks and personality to boot. He was the runner up for replacing Bob Barker on THE PRICE IS RIGHT, but the producers gave the job to Drew Carey. Regil is a much better host!
This is a sad day for Family Feud lovers! I don’t know if I will continue to watch it anymore. It just isn’t as entertaining as it used to be.
:-(
I have LOVED John on Feud and will miss him and his family terribly. Have never been a fan of Steve…but will give this new format a chance. John brought so much class and fun to the show, he will sorely be missed. Hope we see him SOON in some new venture…would think he will be GREAT!!! in Chicago. Good luck to you!!!
This is a horrible disappointment!!! We love John O’Hurley!!!
John is just naturally funny. You could tell he loves all people, no matter what race, looks, or size. He is real people. So much pure class for this day and age. God bless him always
Maybe they need a black family feud show for Steve Harvey to host, and he can be himself, This show is a big change for him to, If you ever seen his stand up shows you know what i’m talking about. This might be hard to believe but every one can be replace, you, me, game show host, everyone, There have been changes made to some tv game shows where I don’t care for the host but I by pass that and keep watching, if they were to pull Steve Harvey away from the show right now, It won’t put a dent in his millions at all.
I have been watching family feud for years. I save them saved on my TV to watch as many a day as I can, given the poor selection of shows on the primetime TV. Different roles on different shows require a skill that some just do not have. Steve does not appear, to me, as a good game show host.
Steve and Richard is currently hosting the Fued as I type this comment. Richard Karn and Steve are on at the same time. Steve might be a great comedian, but he does not cut it as a game show host. He appears stressed to laugh, looks mad, and needs a makeover. I realize people are resistant to change. I would like to give it a try but, I get board easily watching him. Richard is always smiling and laughing. Since I have a choice to watch the fued at the same time, Richard will be prefeered and saved. However, if I have a choice between Richard and John, John would be my choice. He displays humor w/ words and expression, and has a high class style that is great to watch. Richard Dawson was a talented game show host but, he locked lips too much. I liked Ray also. It was a sad day when he had to be replaced.
John has a sincere look of admiration for people and voiced his opnion for canines. When he included his family, this added an extra charm he has, a love of family.
Jonn is a hard act to follow. No Family Feud host was or will be, as good as him. Maybe the next game show host will be female. Give it a try and chance if it would happen. Still, I will miss John.
Have a great day everyone!
Well, I now have an extra half an hour per day, because I certainly will not watch the egotistical Steve Harvey. The show is about the players, not the host!
you all are a big disappointment to me. its ridicules how you all are judging Steve Harvey for being black. this is the 21 century get over it. the show is about the contestants and the surveys not about the host being black or white. by the way there are plenty of people in American to replace those of you how “refuse” to watch it.
He had a POLYP IN HIS DUODENUM.
Steve is good – - John was great!!
Steve Harvey is TRULY AWFUL. We can’t even understand him all of the time. He is not a good fit for this show at all. John was fantastic and spoke clearly – but this guy is terrible. Get a new host. We won’t be watching it until they do.
We will miss O’HURLEY but wish you would bring back louie he was a very good host Steve sucks he is awful not watching until he is off
I really enjoyed John O’Hurely on the game show Family Freud.Steve Harvey is not good as its new host. He is loud and and to animated to the guest.I’m sorry but this is not the show for Harvey’s personality. I particularily dislike the ebonic language he uses on the shows.
Sooooo disappointed that John O’Hurley is gone from Family Feud !! We miss him !!!!!!!
I think Steve Haarvey is awful and I will not longer watch the show
all the best in you new venture.