Top 09 of 2009: Number Three, With Guest Blog from Gaby Johnston
We’re winding down on the countdown for the year, and we move to number three. Family Feud hosted by John O’Hurley went through probably the biggest change it’s had in decades, if not ever, the last year. A round called “Bullseye”, allowing teams to play up to $30,000 instead of the old $20,000 top prize, was brought back into the show since it disappeared in 1992. Not only that any team winning five games in a row retires with a brand new car added, something never done before in the format. There were some fears, but at least in my eyes they implemented each of these features just about as well as they could have. This is mostly due to the incredible crew they have over there, including executive producer Gaby Johnston. Instead of me talking on and on about the show as I normally do, Gaby was nice enough to do a guest blog for us about how the changes came about and more information. Be sure to read, it’s really great. Thanks very much to Gaby for doing this for us, and thanks to the entire Feud staff for being so great with us the past few years.
First, as you know, Family Feud has a long history on TV. The format has proven to be a winner over the years. Easy to play along and fun to watch. One thing that never changes is that the key to the show has always been the families. A funny moment with a family member while playing Family Feud is always great TV.
Last year when we looked at what could be done to “freshen” up the show, we focused on the game play. Our goal was to quickly engage the audience in the game. To accomplish this, we brought back a fast paced version of the “Bulls Eye” round to open up the show. It has really worked out well.
Also, we thought it would be fun to have the families introduce themselves rather than have John walk down the line of family members on stage. The families really had fun with this and tended to be a bit more animated without the pressure of being on stage.
And of course, the “CAR.” I guess no game show is complete without giving away a car at some point in its lifetime! This addition gave John the ability to build up the drama during the game and create some new enthusiasm. Again, not a huge change…but a really fun one.
We has some fun over the past summer traveling to various cities and holding live family tryouts. It is great to get a diverse mix of contestants for the show.
As for feedback, there is a risk anytime you change something. But, this year the ratings have shown that viewers like the show even more with the changes we made. In fact, we are picking up a younger demographic…which is very exciting for us.
We look forward to a bright future. We are hopeful we’ll continue to get upgraded time slots, with strong lead-ins, from our stations as they realize what the show can deliver.
Again, thanks for your interest and support. And thank you to all the Family Feud fans.
I had the pleasure of actually seeing a full taping of this season's Feud episodes in person at the KTLA lot (aka the Sunset Bronson Studios, formerly Tribune Studios, the original Hollywood Center Studios, and the original WB lot. Lotta history in that little area) and I can't tell you what an awesome job they did. What really struck me was how hands-on Gaby was, how much it seemed to me that she really enjoys working on this program and helping make it work some 30-plus years after its ABC debut. How many Executive Producers do you know of that actually sit in their own audiences and run their show from there? Gaby did. Heck I even sat across the aisle from her for a couple of shows.
Good on ya, Gaby. Long live the Family Feud!
I had the pleasure of actually seeing a full taping of this season's Feud episodes in person at the KTLA lot (aka the Sunset Bronson Studios, formerly Tribune Studios, the original Hollywood Center Studios, and the original WB lot. Lotta history in that little area) and I can't tell you what an awesome job they did. What really struck me was how hands-on Gaby was, how much it seemed to me that she really enjoys working on this program and helping make it work some 30-plus years after its ABC debut. How many Executive Producers do you know of that actually sit in their own audiences and run their show from there? Gaby did. Heck I even sat across the aisle from her for a couple of shows.
Good on ya, Gaby. Long live the Family Feud!
In addition, I KNEW the car addition would be great! A trip makes a little more sense, but something for 5 days of winning is a classic element that could really work out for "Feud" and I just knew it'd catch on and, again, it has. Those things mixed with O'Hurley's continued greatness as host really has resulted in some great ratings!
Congratulations to the "Feud" team and O'Hurley and Mr. Richardson (who has been the announcer through ALL the changes since '99) and Johnston and everyone! I've been watching and will continue to! CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Kevin $olomon
Thanks for all the kind words!
Really fun for the Feud to be #3 on the Top 9 list!
- Your Friends at Family Feud & Fremantle Media
Glad you enjoyed your day at the studio! Visit us again!! ;-)
There were SO many people that didn't like the changes this season and were absolutely terrified (I'm still one to not like the families introducing themselves and still think the Dawson '94 theme should be used, but hey..it's just me), but I was definitely one of the biggest supporters of using the Bullseye round. I was afraid of the timing, but knew the Bullseye Round itself would be a hit and it's better than ANYONE could've expected! Not only is it the same round, but they've improved on it to make it almost half the time of the Ray Combs round. GREAT job with this crew!
There were SO many people that didn't like the changes this season and were absolutely terrified (I'm still one to not like the families introducing themselves and still think the Dawson '94 theme should be used, but hey..it's just me), but I was definitely one of the biggest supporters of using the Bullseye round. I was afraid of the timing, but knew the Bullseye Round itself would be a hit and it's better than ANYONE could've expected! Not only is it the same round, but they've improved on it to make it almost half the time of the Ray Combs round. GREAT job with this crew!
There were SO many people that didn't like the changes this season and were absolutely terrified (I'm still one to not like the families introducing themselves and still think the Dawson '94 theme should be used, but hey..it's just me), but I was definitely one of the biggest supporters of using the Bullseye round. I was afraid of the timing, but knew the Bullseye Round itself would be a hit and it's better than ANYONE could've expected! Not only is it the same round, but they've improved on it to make it almost half the time of the Ray Combs round. GREAT job with this crew!
In addition, I KNEW the car addition would be great! A trip makes a little more sense, but something for 5 days of winning is a classic element that could really work out for "Feud" and I just knew it'd catch on and, again, it has. Those things mixed with O'Hurley's continued greatness as host really has resulted in some great ratings!
Congratulations to the "Feud" team and O'Hurley and Mr. Richardson (who has been the announcer through ALL the changes since '99) and Johnston and everyone! I've been watching and will continue to! CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Kevin $olomon
In addition, I KNEW the car addition would be great! A trip makes a little more sense, but something for 5 days of winning is a classic element that could really work out for "Feud" and I just knew it'd catch on and, again, it has. Those things mixed with O'Hurley's continued greatness as host really has resulted in some great ratings!
Congratulations to the "Feud" team and O'Hurley and Mr. Richardson (who has been the announcer through ALL the changes since '99) and Johnston and everyone! I've been watching and will continue to! CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Kevin $olomon
I continue to enjoy all the changes this season! I too think the theme is very much outdated for this series- times change and so has the feud.. the remix theme used in the first O'Hurley season was the best one yet and fits the set.. IMHO
This Is One Of My Favorite Shows Since I Was A Kid Growing Up But My Favorite One Was The Ray Combs Version From Back When I Was A Teenager Louie's Version Was OK Richard Karn's Version Was So So And I Hope It Comes Back For A 12th Season But One Of My Other Favorites Shows Are Jeopardy Which Airs At 4:30 And Wheel Of Fortune Which Airs On KSNW Channel 3 At 6:30 Right After KSN News So I Can Watch Wheel After The News Like My Grandma Did Back In The Late 80s Til About The End Of The 90s I Love Family Fued It's A Great Show And I Also Like Wheel Of Fortune And I Hope This Contiues For Quite Some Time In The Feature Can You Let Me Know When If It Will Return For A 12th Season Thanks And I Will Keep On Watching In The New Year Of 2010 May The Good Lord Bless You And Have A Happy And Safe New Years Day What Ever You Do This New Years Eve And New Years Day Dont Drink And Drive Stay A To J Rock Chalk JayHawk KU And Please Take It Carefully Wherever You Go This Holiday Please Stay Safe Thanks And Good Luck
This Is One Of My Favorite Shows Since I Was A Kid Growing Up But My Favorite One Was The Ray Combs Version From Back When I Was A Teenager Louie's Version Was OK Richard Karn's Version Was So So And I Hope It Comes Back For A 12th Season But One Of My Other Favorites Shows Are Jeopardy Which Airs At 4:30 And Wheel Of Fortune Which Airs On KSNW Channel 3 At 6:30 Right After KSN News So I Can Watch Wheel After The News Like My Grandma Did Back In The Late 80s Til About The End Of The 90s I Love Family Fued It's A Great Show And I Also Like Wheel Of Fortune And I Hope This Contiues For Quite Some Time In The Feature Can You Let Me Know When If It Will Return For A 12th Season Thanks And I Will Keep On Watching In The New Year Of 2010 May The Good Lord Bless You And Have A Happy And Safe New Years Day What Ever You Do This New Years Eve And New Years Day Dont Drink And Drive Stay A To J Rock Chalk JayHawk KU And Please Take It Carefully Wherever You Go This Holiday Please Stay Safe Thanks And Good Luck
I continue to enjoy all the changes this season! I too think the theme is very much outdated for this series- times change and so has the feud.. the remix theme used in the first O'Hurley season was the best one yet and fits the set.. IMHO
I continue to enjoy all the changes this season! I too think the theme is very much outdated for this series- times change and so has the feud.. the remix theme used in the first O'Hurley season was the best one yet and fits the set.. IMHO
I never understood the fears for the changes, the Bullseye round was cool back in the day, and it holds up today. Giving away a car really doesn't change the game.
Really would've been hard to screw this up, unlike Millionaire that did everything it could to screw up the game.
I never understood the fears for the changes, the Bullseye round was cool back in the day, and it holds up today. Giving away a car really doesn't change the game.
Really would've been hard to screw this up, unlike Millionaire that did everything it could to screw up the game.
Actually, Alex, the Bullseye round last appeared in 1994, replaced by Bankroll for the "Dawson's Return" season.
As for the show now, it just feels really bad to have it Single-Double-Triple-Sudden Death instead of Single-Double-Triple-Triple-Triple…it makes the main game itself feel like an afterthought, and removing John's talking to the families really removes any sort of rooting from me. (Unless that's been fixed, of course.)
Actually, Alex, the Bullseye round last appeared in 1994, replaced by Bankroll for the "Dawson's Return" season.
As for the show now, it just feels really bad to have it Single-Double-Triple-Sudden Death instead of Single-Double-Triple-Triple-Triple…it makes the main game itself feel like an afterthought, and removing John's talking to the families really removes any sort of rooting from me. (Unless that's been fixed, of course.)
Take it to the bank, guys.
And huge extra props for embracing new media…especially Twitter…to stay connected with the fans and to help them stay connected with you.
Stay tuned!!! (we are listening)
Andrew,
There's this great new invention. It's call the "period." It'll help make your post actually readable. Give it a try sometime.
Andrew,
There's this great new invention. It's call the "period." It'll help make your post actually readable. Give it a try sometime.
Stay with the current theme, the theme for the first O'Hurley seasons was bad. Please consider doing some auditions in the Northwest. Thank you!
Stay with the current theme, the theme for the first O'Hurley seasons was bad. Please consider doing some auditions in the Northwest. Thank you!