Richard Dawson
In its first run, “Family Feud” seemed to have a charmed life. When “Feud” premiered in 1976, host Richard Dawson was known for being the most popular panelist on the then-most popular daytime game show in television history, “Match Game.” By 1977, Family Feud’s ratings surpassed “Match Game.” The nighttime syndicated version was so successful that it became the first American game show to air ten nightly episodes each week.
Not everyone, however, was in love with Richard Dawson and Family Feud. Some critics didn’t appreciate Dawson’s trademark act of kissing every female contestant on the show.
In 1985, the ratings faded, and the daytime and nighttime shows were cancelled.
Ray Combs
In 1988, three years after Feud’s first run, the show was revived with a new host, stand up comic Ray Combs. While Combs didn’t have the personal magnetism of Richard Dawson, his version of Family Feud had a fairly successful five year run. For better or worse, the network even expanded the daytime version into a full hour.
“The Family Feud Curse”
Some critics believe that Feud’s ratings decline coincided with the death of legendary producer and show creator Mark Goodson at the end of 1992.
In 1993, the daytime and nighttime versions of the show were cancelled. At the end of the last episode of the syndicated nighttime version, host Ray Combs simply walked off the set without a word of farewell. And, with Combs’ exit came the beginning of what some have dubbed “the Family Feud curse.”
Two years later, after experiencing marital woes and devastating financial losses, Ray Combs committed suicide in the psychiatric ward of the Glendale Adventist Medical Center.
The Second Coming of Richard Dawson
In 1994, the show’s producers brought back original host Richard Dawson to replace Ray Combs, but it wasn’t the same. At age 62, Dawson had packed on weight since the show’s first run, and he just didn’t have the same level of energy. A very private man, it was obvious that Dawson had only reluctantly returned to the spotlight. This version only lasted a year.
Louie Anderson
In 1999, after four year absence from the air, Family Feud was revived in syndication with a new host, rotund stand up comic Louie Anderson. During Louie’s run as host, the so-called “curse” reared its ugly head once again. In 2000, the police arrested a gay hustler who had tried to extort $250,000 from Anderson. Despite the scandal, the Louie Anderson version of Feud lasted until 2002.
Richard Karn
Popular “Home Improvement” actor Richard Karn replaced Louie Anderson as Family Feud host in 2002. While the “curse” didn’t apply to Karn’s run, the critics weren’t kind. Some called his host persona “uncomfortable” and “humorless.”
John O’Hurley
In 2006, in celebration of Family Feud’s 30th anniversary, the show debuted with a new set and a new host, actor John O’Hurley, best known for his J. Peterman character on “Seinfeld.” The jury is still out on O’Hurley’s job as host and whether Feud will keep reviving itself.
So, what do you think? Is there a Family Feud curse?
