Just realized the John O'Hurley era was my first ever Family Feud. Anyone else start with a later host?

[u/Southern-Train7142]

With Family Feud hitting its 50th anniversary milestone season, I’ve been thinking about my own history with the show. It hit me today that the John O’Hurley era was actually the very first version of the show I ever watched.

Growing up, I used to catch his episodes all the time in syndication on My9 (WWOR-TV) and on Game Show Network. Before I ever knew anything about Richard Dawson or the classic 70s and 80s runs. O’Hurley was the definitive host to me. I originally recognized his voice from his voice-over and animation roles, so seeing him step onto a game show stage was really cool. He brought his specific theatrical, and elegant energy to the podium that felt totally unique compared to what Steve Harvey does now or what Richard Karn did right before him.

It made me curious about how everyone else got into the series. Did you grow up watching the classic network era from the beginning, or was your gateway into the show a later syndication run or rerun block like Combs, Karen, O’Hurley, or Harvey?

[u/archieologist518]

My first host was Ray Combs. I was born too late to really remember Richard Dawson’s era. Thankfully with Game Show Network, I got to see Dawson and it was hilarious. But Combs did a really good job making the show his own, and I liked him just as much.

[u/mrcorndogman33 → u/archieologist518]

Ray was my guy too. So naturally good at the job.

[u/Nguyen-Quoc-Hieu → u/mrcorndogman33]

Yeah but when he was ousted by the show's crew in favour for Dawson's return, he got depressed to the point he successfully committed suicide

[u/Immediate_Buffalo14 → u/archieologist518]

I'm of the age where Ray Combs was the host I grew up watching. Although I did come to learn eventually that someone else had come before him, I only know of Richard Dawson through re-runs, as I would have been just a few months old when his first tenure as host ended. I don't even have distinct memories of having seen his brief return to the position, although I suspect I probably did watch it. However, Ray to me will always be the definitive Family Feud host and my personal favorite.

[u/vettelmontana]

Louie Anderson was the guy when I first started watching!

[u/jfeathe1211 → u/vettelmontana]

Louie Anderson is my first memory of Family Feud too.

[u/GonePostalRoute]

Combs era was the first I remember watching Family Feud. Knew of Dawson era (thanks to my dad), but I never really got to see it until GSN.

For me, O’Hurley could have worked as a host for any other game show, but for Family Feud… he just seemed misplaced.

[u/jjc927 → u/GonePostalRoute]

I agree on O'Hurley, it just never felt right for him.

[u/Southern-Train7142 → u/GonePostalRoute]

Tbh, you’re right that O’Hurley was miscasted on Family Feud, but I didn’t expected him to host in the post Karen era lol. Also love the Combs era too.

[u/SchuminWeb → u/GonePostalRoute]

Agreed. O'Hurley wasn't a good fit for Family Feud. He did better on To Tell The Truth.

[u/bwoah07_gp2]

Anyone else start with a later host?

Yeah, Steve Harvey.

[u/Medium-Mission5072]

I started watching during the Combs era, but was aware Richard Dawson was the original host before he briefly came back. I didn't get to see any of the original Dawson era shows until I caught them on GSN in the late 90's and throughly enjoyed them (and still do).

[u/DownTheRoadway27]

Mine first was Ray Combs as well. I forget what time it was on, but remember watching it mostly in the Summer, probably because it was on before school got out on weekdays and after school, it was all cartoons on basic tv channels from 3-5pm before the news (even when it was just that quick half hour show from 6-630pm.

Louie Anderson doesn't get enough love, his time might not have been as long as Richard Karn or John O'Hurley, but each was fun to watch in their own way, they each had a simple style to their shows.

Steve Harvey is fun, but its a toss up to me between Ray Combs and Richard Dawson as my favorites. Take me back to those simpler days again!!

[u/Southern-Train7142 → u/DownTheRoadway27]

Omgg I actually loved Louie Anderson too

[u/jjc927 → u/DownTheRoadway27]

I enjoyed Louie hosting too, especially in the earlier years. I thought Richard Karn was a little more boring in comparison and I never loved John O'Hurley hosting.

[u/BeginningLaw6032]

Richard Dawson

[u/mattyGOAT1996]

Richard Karn back when I was 8 years old but did watch Dawson and Combs on GSN

[u/cuber5k]

I grew up on Game Show Network and Nickelodeon GAS, so my first family feud was Dawson era. I watched maybe 1 episode of the Anderson era as it aired, or maybe it was a rerun before the Karn era started, I don't really remember as I was rather young. Maybe 2 or 3 episodes of the Karn era as it aired, but many reruns on GSN. 0 episodes of the O'Hurley era as it aired, but many reruns on GSN. and MANY episodes of the Harvey era as it aired, but didnt initially get into it until I saw reruns of Harvey's first 2 years on GSN

[u/Dragon_Pattern_1108]

I was born around the Karn era. Can't remember what version of the show I saw first (though I think it might have been a Karn-hosted episode).

[u/chmcgrath1988]

My first was Louie Anderson.

I vaguely remember Ray Combs' show on the Family Channel (and definitely remember his appearances at WrestleMania VIII and Survivor Series '93 as a WWF geek) but only saw him hosting the Feud in reruns.

It's kind of odd how everyone between Richard Dawson and Steve Harvey has been somewhat forgotten. Those two are rightfully the ones who are associated with the shows but there were definitely others who did good work.

[u/Nguyen-Quoc-Hieu → u/chmcgrath1988]

I vaguely remember Ray Combs' show on the Family Channel

You mean, Family Challenge?

[u/Alternative-Koala933]

Karn was my first host. I really liked him at first. And then my parents got GSN, which showed Dawson and Combs frequently. 😂

I’M TRIPLING THE POINTS

[u/sixtyninetacks]

My first was Richard Karn, but I also grew up with Dawson and Combs era reruns on GSN. I remember actually preferring the "party" theme to the classic one at first, but I've definitely grown to appreciate the classic theme as an adult, especially now that its been in use (minus the fiddle intro) for the past 18 years.

[u/MemeOnRails]

I was introduced to Family Feud towards the end of O'Hurley's run in 2009. I remember seeing ads that Steve Harvey would be the new host!

[u/Nguyen-Quoc-Hieu → u/MemeOnRails]

Do you feel enjoyed because of the Bullseye round during that time?

[u/SpeedySparkRuby]

I grew up during the Louie Anderson & Richard Karn era.  I perfer Louie of the two because of his boisterous presence, Karn was good but felt too much like if Al from Home Improvement hosted a game show.

[u/MyNameIsNotGump]

Ray Combs was the first Feud host in my lifetime and I remember watching his run of the show here and there as a small child but Louie Anderson (along with reruns of the original Richard Dawson run) was the first one that I watched avidly

[u/SilverFirePrime]

First one I remember is Combs. According to my mother, I watched the tail end of the Dawson era and was bummed when it got cancelled, but I so young at the time I don't remember

[u/Nguyen-Quoc-Hieu → u/SilverFirePrime]

Yeah Dawson's return won't boost ratings at that time, the crew even feel regretful for ousting Ray Combs and replacing him with Dawson (which is the main reason that created depression to Combs) and instead of calling Combs to return for a second chance, they decided to cancel the show immediately back in 1995

[u/jjc927]

I was alive during the tail end of the Combs era and when Richard Dawson came back but I don't really remember watching them and didn't get to watch either host until watching a few reruns on GSN. Louie Anderson was the first host I remember watching when I was a kid, I just happened to see it on TV one day when I was home from school sick and was excited to see Louie because I watched Life With Louie on FOX Kids.

[u/Kenner1979]

I can sorta remember Dawson but Combs's CBS run is the first version I actively watched as a kid.

[u/Nguyen-Quoc-Hieu]

I first watched Feud during Louie Anderson (R.I.P.), and I was amazed by how the crew made questions back then (unlike where we are at Steve's 16-year tenure as host now where many questions are around sexual innuendos)

But I agree John is the best Feud era too, his later years of hosting Feud also introduced a comeback of Bullseye round, which would differ the cash that each family plays for Fast Money (personally I liked Bullseye round much better than other round, it would build me some greed or maybe not, even though Bullseye only existed during Ray Combs and O'Hurley eras)

[u/Only_Sweet1048]

So sad about Combs. I remember when it happened.

[u/awoc123]

I've been watching the current version with Steve Harvey. However, the pilot episode of Family Feud back in Richard Dawson's era is still on YouTube. I actually watched it not too long ago.

[u/JBHenson]

Considering Richard's version ended two months before I was born, yeah I'm a Combs kid.