SPECIAL REPORT: Family Feud

I just returned home after witnessing what I would call television gold.

Family Feud, going into its 8th season in its current incarnation, and 30th year on television, is now under the leadership of John O'Hurley, as well as the continuing announcing of Burton Richardson. Here is my full report after watching three episodes.

THE SET
For those of you that have seen the photo of the new set online, it doesn't do it justice at all. The board has gone back to the original large oval shape with two side spires for the scoreboards. The main survey portion remains a projector screen with 8 (for Rounds 1 & 2) or 6 (for Round 3 on) answer slots. The score displays are now monitors that display the scores in a sort of Times New Roman like font. The "Face-Off" podium has gone back to the days of Dawson, with the classic rectangle shape and the four mini-squares in the corners. The lights are a grid of little light bulbs with a white border, all of which illuminate on a Face-Off buzz in. The contestant tables, again, go back to the original shape, although they are now back lit, with color changing lights. The families also stand in front of their name rear-projected on an archway screen that covers their POSING ROOM! Yes, the families once again pose in the "Family Portrait" style normal to the Dawson/Combs era.

An interesting little wrinkle is a new audience setup. The audience no longer sits only in front of the stage. There are now two additional audience areas on either side of the board, facing out. It's like Family Feud in the round!

THE NEW HOST
What can be said about John O'Hurley that hasn't already been said? He adds so much class to this show that hasn't been there in recent history. It's like watching a true master at work, albeit a bit nervous (at least from what I could tell from the audience). He runs the show with grace, dignity, and a bit of speed and pinache. It was a breath of fresh air after seeing Richard Karn and Louie Anderson have the Feud and not do it justice. O'Hurley makes me want to watch Feud again.

For those interested, I was in the audience for three episodes...#017, #018, and #019. Check the Feud website for the airdates of these episodes. I'm in the audience just offstage from the end of the right-hand family's bench. I won't reveal any details about who won what and how many times...you'll just have to watch for yourself.