It’s no surprise that the Family Feud ranks in the top 10 highest rated programs in all of daytime television programming and having hosts like Richard Dawson and Steve Harvey are the driving force behind this successful show. Fans show how much they enjoy Steve Harvey’s wit as host as this February (2014) the show achieved a 6.0 share in the Nielsen ratings with about 8.8 million viewers.
[Updated: See the fun Tonight Show Family Feud With Steve Harvey and Jason Segel Clip below]
The good news for fans is that the show has been renewed through the 2016–17 season.
We got to speak with Steve about the show and were surprised to find out some of the following tidbits:
QUESTION: Family Feud Viral videos… are they staged?
STEVE HARVEY ANSWER: “…first of all there’s not enough for people to come up with answers, they aren’t comedians… When I ask a question you have 3 seconds to answer – they [the contestants] are under the gun the moment I ask the question, they can kill some time, but I don’t see them trying to be funny. They are trying to get their answers in.”
As for the viral success of the videos… the producers “Freemantle are taking advantage and putting them out there…”
(And we love reliving those uh-oh moments, don’t you?)
QUESTION: How does it feel to be considered one of the top hosts of the show?
Factoid: Steve Harvey received two 2014 Daytime Emmy awards – one for best host of an informational show and one for best host of a game show.
STEVE HARVEY ANSWER: “…it’s pretty special for me, when I was younger I marveled at the at his wit and sincerity of Richard Dawson… he really liked people. I’ve always been a good hearted person and where I am today allows me to be genuine with people. I think that my integrity and willingness to be transparent helps me be one of the favorites. It goes along way in TV cause there’s not a lot of integrity on there.”
QUESTION: Have you ever had to “counsel” families that might be turning on each other?
QUESTION: Have you ever had to “counsel” families that might be turning on each other?STEVE HARVEY ANSWER: “… It happens, [Steve chuckles], rarely, every now and then, something internal… you have to understand here is a family out to win $20,000 and when they get close to that and they don’t win because of what one of the members did, sometimes during commercial break… the family coaches [staff who are there to keep the families pumped up and encouraged] sometimes need to get involved… see, some people will change out an alternate and man, it’s pretty good.”
QUESTION: How much input do you have to the questions?
STEVE HARVEY ANSWER: “…I have absolutely zero, i’m reading the questions for the first time when I get the card, I can throw out a question and I have only done that one time, other than that I don’t have any say so.”
QUESTION: Is there any one thing that surprises you?
STEVE HARVEY ANSWER: “…It’s the popularity of my life… since I became the host, it’s incredible, the wide spectrum of people who know who I am. In 2005, I got the game show opportunity, I never wanted to be a host but when it came along and I decided to give it a shot… When I am walking down the street I’m absolutely stunned at the wide range of people from elderly to young people who know me and they invite me into their home… so Uncle Steve comes over.”
QUESTION: Why do you think you’ve made the Family Feud so popular?
STEVE HARVEY ANSWER: “…[Steve laughs] First of all, it’s a show based around a survey – it don’t make no sense, it’s about a basic survey question… it don’t make no sense…
…its a game that everybody can play along, you know the answer, you can play along [at home]. [People are thinking] what did he say that for? You can be right… but when you play on TV with 3 seconds, you don’t get them all and that’s the appeal… and [the producers] allow me to elaborate and get into the interviews with the families, it’s interesting to find out why they say what they say – and that’s my sprinkle on it, it has a lot to do with it [popularity].
Check out this fun clip from The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Steve Harvey hosted a special Tonight Show edition of Family Feud with Jason Segel, Jimmy and Higgins of the Fallon family facing off against Questlove, Tarik and James of The Roots family.
Be sure to watch the new season of Family Feud
Like the Family Feud on Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyFeud
Visit to their website for more info to find out how to audition or more: www.familyfeud.com
Follow on Twitter: www.twitter.com/FamilyFeud @FamilyFeud and @IAmSteveHarvey
