Did Goodson throw-in the towel before they began?

[Rob]

I remember watching this version (only in first-run) on CBS my local affiliate, and certainly hope to grab a few episodes through trades in the forthcoming months. I know one of the major reasons for Richard Dawson's return was to help with the ratings.

But did CBS/Mark Goodson Productions give-up on trying to reach those high ratings before they even began?

Though I enjoyed the set very much, was it wise to use the Opryland set as a basis for anything other than travel-purposes? Would the inclusion of lights in the big board (mixed w/ the glass tiles), the rotating trilon board & introduction sets (for the families to pose in) with sliding name walls have helped to provide a more familiar feel to the show?

Were the small cash payouts a sign of what kind of budget CBS/Mark Goodson Productions put aside for this show?

Was it in their best interest to keep this an hour version, without revisiting the 30 minute format many people were originally familiar with?

Were the cartoon introductions & retooled "Bank Roll" round too "gimmicky" for the loyal viewers/fans who knew what the original Feud was about?

I feel that there were too many factors going against this revival that, though it provided a way to distinguish this version among any other (and not necessarily in a bad way), gradually led to its downfall.

Do you feel Mark Goodson productions & the respective affiliates properly promoted and appropriately supported this revival, or do you think they knew the "end was near" and wanted their "swan song" to be with Richard Dawson at the helm?

[gameshowmaniac]

Well, remember this was during the OJ trail it was never given a chance.

I felt this version was an injustice to Mark Goodson, first off hiring Richard Dawson back, and then doing the toonish open.

[howierules86]

First off, I have to correct you on something. Family Feud 94 was actually a syndicated version (I remember where I lived at that time, it aired on the ABC affiliate at 9:00 AM).

As for my thoughts, I actually remember liking this version. I didn't mind the new set or theme music at all. I especially liked the fact that if a question had 4 answers or less, they would be put in the center of the board. Also, Richard declined to kiss the ladies on this version to make his cute little daughter happy, and also, this was the only version to have only four family members on a team (which I didn't mind given that the Bankroll round was used on this version).

[Rob]

Jul 13, 2010 8:53:58 GMT -5 howierules86 said:

First off, I have to correct you on something. Family Feud 94 was actually a syndicated version (I remember where I lived at that time, it aired on the ABC affiliate at 9:00 AM).

You are correct...that's what I get for posting at work. A big "brain fart". Post has been corrected to reflect this. Thank you howierules86!

[CarpetCrawler]

I've always wondered if the O.J. trial was to blame. As far as I know, the ratings did increase at first when Dawson returned, but then did drop, THEN the O.J. trial came about. I've always wondered if it was just a convenient excuse for them to get rid of the show.

Jul 12, 2010 16:11:43 GMT -5 Rob said:

But did CBS/Mark Goodson Productions give-up on trying to reach those high ratings before they even began?

It wouldn't surprise me.

Was it in their best interest to keep this an hour version, without revisiting the 30 minute format many people were originally familiar with?

I wonder about that, too. Me thinks the original idea they had with the second half hour was to bring back families that were involved in great moments during the original Dawson run, not just families that were on Dawson's show originally. But, once that didn't work out...

Were the cartoon introductions & retooled "Bank Roll" round too "gimmicky" for the loyal viewers/fans who knew what the original Feud was about?

I think the Bank Roll round was absolutely odd. If I remember correctly, wasn't the highest you could earn some kind of odd number? I think it was $12,500, or something like that?

I don't think they expected this version to be the "swan song". I think they just wanted to improve the ratings by getting rid of Combs and hiring back Dawson. At first, ratings improved, but a lot of factors that we'll probably never 100% know were what led to its downfall. A lot of theories are out there, but I guess we'll just have to wonder for ourselves.

[fffan2010]

I believe they shouldn't have used Bankroll at all; rather, go back to the traditional Feud format, just like when the revamped Bullseye didn't return upon Steve Harvey's arrival. By the way, CarpetCrawler, the show did leave the airwaves in response to the O.J. trial, as well as most stations clearing only the second half-hour.

[jonsea31]

I think the O.J. trial killed the second version of Family Feud in 1995. I doubt the Bankroll round had anything to do with its demise. It may have had a small part to play, but the O.J. trial did most of the damage. I guess it was good for G-T/Fremantle to realize that such trial was what led to its demise, and I can see why Family Feud got revived 4 years later with Louie Anderson as host. And look at how far the show has come along on its current run, despite having 4 hosts. Renewed to 2015, meaning that this run will close in on lasting almost twice as long as Richard Dawson's original ABC run. Guess the third time's a charm, huh?

I personally think, had it not been for the O.J. trial, this season probably would have lasted a quarter of a century on the air by now, and probably would have aired during 1996 through 1998.