Yesterday's Harvey Family Feud

[CaseyAbell]

And I watch numerous other shows that have more "offensive" or "mature" content than Harvey Feud.

Such shows are not hard to find. There may be 800 of them (slight exaggeration).

Anyway, just as Karn Feud has its detractors on this board, Harvey Feud is starting to attract its own naysayers. The criticism will only grow as the show takes over the network, thanks to its good numbers.

But the numbers always win. As long as the Nielsen Company really likes Harvey Feud, it's not going anywhere.

[pzimm7778]

And I (and I'm sure many others) have watched it. But as I already said, I did not like the answers. Just as I didn't like the crassness in what very little but I've seen on the 98 Match Game. There may not be a way to get the masses to watch the show without it and that's fine. But just because a lot of us don't like it doesn't mean it's "because it's not a classic." Generally I dont even get involved in this type of thread unless I see something I feel I need to correct like the person claiming the show shouldn't be called Family Feud because it's not family friendly any longer. I've learned there no sense in arguing with irrationality like what happened with DWTS. That said, as long as the complaints stay reasonable and don't start delving into commercials for the show or anything else kook level that's fine too. My issue here is you dismissing the complaints out of hand as just "older is better" all being masked as something else.

[Lingofan97]

Anyway, just as Karn Feud has its detractors on this board, Harvey Feud is starting to attract its own naysayers. The criticism will only grow as the show takes over the network, thanks to its good numbers.

When you look at GSN's historical numbers, Harvey Feud in its debut two weeks didn't do as fantastic as the premiere of other shows. Obviously, originals like The Newlywed Game and Baggage both attract 500K+ viewership every night a little while ago, then when Karn/O'Hurley, Deal or No Deal and 5th Grader were new they were both getting higher ratings then Harvey. At least the show isn't bombing on GSN, but the "sex sells" mentality will continue on the network.

Harvey Feud increases its airings per week from 10 to 24 starting next week

[matchgame74fan]

When I combine all the other moments that have happened in the past 2 years and the fact that it's gotten to the point that they're actually writing questions like "name a job that requires you to be on their knees", I can only personally come to the idea that they're not even trying to let humor on a show like this to flow organically anymore, not even compared to the recent past. I would say the same thing no matter if this were 1982, 1992, 2002 or 2012.

Sometimes people don't like something on a game show because they just don't like it for whatever reason. Period. It's not fair to always just reduce it to this "LOL classic fans, but you'd like it if it were 1982" argument that a few constantly bring up all the time. Sometimes something just doesn't work for someone anymore or at all. Simple as that.

[pzimm7778]

FWIW, I just watches Mondays Password Plus and one of the Plus's was marijuana. I didn't think that was really necessary either.

[ryan22184]

The point I was trying to make was this: The question asked was bad. The point of "Dawson didn't say this, Dawson didn't say that" came up. Steve Harvey has no control over what the questions are going to be. His job is to read them and check if the answers made the survey. Dawson came right out and made a joke on his own. It wasn't written for him, and he didn't say it because the producers told him to. It wasn't the one and only time he did it, either. Yeah, these questions and answers on the modern version can be risque, but Harvey himself doesn't make the call on what questions are asked. His reactions aren't that racy, either. More often than not, he chastises the players for giving such answers. Yeah, it can get old after a while, but he's certainly not adding more innuendo to what is already there.

I am reminded of the whole "Popsicle Twins" episode of The Gong Show. It raised a ruckus back in 1978, but when GSN re-aired it a few times, not a peep came from anybody about how risque it was. You hear a lot of "inappropriate" things on Feud 2012, but you actually saw the popsicle thing. I've not seen anything visually unappealing since Harvey has taken over. Another incident I can recall is Michelle Lee's failed attempt at drawing "Finger Lickin' Good" on Win, Lose or Draw. Hilarity broke out in the studio, and a number of comments on these boards found it funny, too. Yet not one person said it was disgusting or inappropriate.

I don't argue the point that the producers are going directly for these kinds of things with the show nowadays, but it's also the nature of television these days. It's a popular phrase that "sex sells". I don't necessarily agree with it, but that's the way it is. You can only choose not to watch the show if you don't like what is being brought into your home. One important thing I want to bring up is the whole insinuation that the "classics are better" argument comes up here. I will stand by my comments that Dawson's prostitution joke was not appropriate, nor was the time he called a contestant a "smarta**". What we have been exposed to in regards to television in the last 5 years alone makes it easier for us to tolerate inappropriate things from years ago. I can bet you that Dawson's remark ruffled some feathers back then. It doesn't so much now because we have seen a lot worse on TV.

I don't stand by the whole "classics are better" thing in any form. I am simply making the argument that TV has changed. I will unashamedly say right now that I thoroughly enjoy Harvey's version. I like cupcakes, I like 70s & 80s music, I don't like cats, I don't like snow, I don't like hangnails and I don't like Richard Dawson. None of this should mean anything to anybody but myself. If somebody really wants to hear why I don't like Richard Dawson, I will gladly explain.

The whole deep down bottom line in this whole thing is that a question was asked on Family Feud that wasn't appropriate. It happens all the time, and not just with game shows. These kinds of things have been said and done in TV since the beginning. Everybody has a different tolerance for this (some no tolerance at all, but I digress). The question was out of line, Dawson's joke from 34 years ago was out of line. All that can be said is don't watch it if you don't like it. There are decades worth of episodes for just this show alone. Watch those or watch something else on TV. The idea that everybody has to defend their position because they feel somebody else is beating up on them is ridiculous. I'm not beating up on anybody for thinking this question was awful. It was, and everybody has their right to complain about it. What bothers me is when somebody else comes along and brings up another instance from another time that was just as tasteless, they get attacked for it.

If anybody feels they need to respond to this, whether in agreement or disagreement, please do. However, don't attack me just because I see things in a different way. I'm certainly not calling anybody else out for their disgust at what they see on Family Feud nowadays. If anything comes out of this, let's just agree to disagree. Thank you.

Ryan

[Xavier1989]

Anyway, just as Karn Feud has its detractors on this board, Harvey Feud is starting to attract its own naysayers. The criticism will only grow as the show takes over the network, thanks to its good numbers.

Karn has them because he was a sucky host. You don't see many people taking shots at O'Hurley Feud, because he was a good host and the show was pretty enjoyable with him. And hey, I do enjoy many of these first season episodes of Harvey Feud. They were not going for the sex joke as much, and they did have some pretty funny answers from this season.

But it's this second season that is really laying it on thick with terms for Genitalia. I'm telling you all, do not be shocked when Steve asks the question "Name another term for a man's privates". It's just a matter of time.

BTW, I did laugh at one of the answers on the board this past week. "Poop Chute", enough said.

[pzimm7778]

The point I was trying to make was this: The question asked was bad. The point of "Dawson didn't say this, Dawson didn't say that" came up. Steve Harvey has no control over what the questions are going to be. His job is to read them and check if the answers made the survey. Dawson came right out and made a joke on his own. It wasn't written for him, and he didn't say it because the producers told him to. It wasn't the one and only time he did it, either. Yeah, these questions and answers on the modern version can be risque, but Harvey himself doesn't make the call on what questions are asked. His reactions aren't that racy, either. More often than not, he chastises the players for giving such answers. Yeah, it can get old after a while, but he's certainly not adding more innuendo to what is already there.

I am reminded of the whole "Popsicle Twins" episode of The Gong Show. It raised a ruckus back in 1978, but when GSN re-aired it a few times, not a peep came from anybody about how risque it was. You hear a lot of "inappropriate" things on Feud 2012, but you actually saw the popsicle thing. I've not seen anything visually unappealing since Harvey has taken over. Another incident I can recall is Michelle Lee's failed attempt at drawing "Finger Lickin' Good" on Win, Lose or Draw. Hilarity broke out in the studio, and a number of comments on these boards found it funny, too. Yet not one person said it was disgusting or inappropriate.

I don't argue the point that the producers are going directly for these kinds of things with the show nowadays, but it's also the nature of television these days. It's a popular phrase that "sex sells". I don't necessarily agree with it, but that's the way it is. You can only choose not to watch the show if you don't like what is being brought into your home. One important thing I want to bring up is the whole insinuation that the "classics are better" argument comes up here. I will stand by my comments that Dawson's prostitution joke was not appropriate, nor was the time he called a contestant a "smarta**". What we have been exposed to in regards to television in the last 5 years alone makes it easier for us to tolerate inappropriate things from years ago. I can bet you that Dawson's remark ruffled some feathers back then. It doesn't so much now because we have seen a lot worse on TV.

I don't stand by the whole "classics are better" thing in any form. I am simply making the argument that TV has changed. I will unashamedly say right now that I thoroughly enjoy Harvey's version. I like cupcakes, I like 70s & 80s music, I don't like cats, I don't like snow, I don't like hangnails and I don't like Richard Dawson. None of this should mean anything to anybody but myself. If somebody really wants to hear why I don't like Richard Dawson, I will gladly explain.

The whole deep down bottom line in this whole thing is that a question was asked on Family Feud that wasn't appropriate. It happens all the time, and not just with game shows. These kinds of things have been said and done in TV since the beginning. Everybody has a different tolerance for this (some no tolerance at all, but I digress). The question was out of line, Dawson's joke from 34 years ago was out of line. All that can be said is don't watch it if you don't like it. There are decades worth of episodes for just this show alone. Watch those or watch something else on TV. The idea that everybody has to defend their position because they feel somebody else is beating up on them is ridiculous. I'm not beating up on anybody for thinking this question was awful. It was, and everybody has their right to complain about it. What bothers me is when somebody else comes along and brings up another instance from another time that was just as tasteless, they get attacked for it.

If anybody feels they need to respond to this, whether in agreement or disagreement, please do. However, don't attack me just because I see things in a different way. I'm certainly not calling anybody else out for their disgust at what they see on Family Feud nowadays. If anything comes out of this, let's just agree to disagree. Thank you.

Ryan

Like I alluded to earlier, for some of this as it pertains to older folks it may be desensitization OR it didn't offend them back them because they were the younger open minded crowd, who knows. In my case, I'm 34. I've never even seen the Gong Show and have never had much interest in seeking it out either. I can't vouch for what happened with popsicle people and all, what happened then, or reactions now. When I was a kid, Michael Jackson's "Thriller" on pop radio had the Vincent Price rap completely taken out presumably because it would offend. I don't begrudge anyone watching Harveys Feud, nor do I think he's "filth", and I don't think GSN made any mistake adding the show. My only issues in this thread are:
-Making Family Feud out to be something it was never expressly stated to be (family friendly)
-Dismissing out of hand those who dont and won't watch because we feel for one reason or another it pushes the envelope too far for us as all masking "older is better" in the shroud of that explanation.

[matchgame74fan]

I can't speak for others' interpretations of this stuff, but my issue is that this kinda stuff on this version is just getting tired for me, honestly. The other stuff mentioned here was risque and happened every so often but didn't happen all the time. As mentioned in a previous post, moments like these are supposed to happen every so often, be off the cuff, and in the the moment and they're at their most amusing when they happen like that. I'm not offended; it's just more like I'm finding it to be *insert risque sounding question here/dirty sounding answer/O_o "say whattttt?"* more often than anything else on the show right now IMO and I just end up saying "blah, this is getting lame now, move on." The first few times it was funny, now it's not so much anymore for me.

Sometimes for some people some things just get old when it's on certain shows after a while.

[espnews26]

I agree with others have said.
I think it's going to be a matter of time before a BLEEP is heard on Feud.

"Name an activity people get sweaty from"

[CaseyAbell]

When you look at GSN's historical numbers, Harvey Feud in its debut two weeks didn't do as fantastic as the premiere of other shows. Obviously, originals like The Newlywed Game and Baggage both attract 500K+ viewership every night a little while ago, then when Karn/O'Hurley, Deal or No Deal and 5th Grader were new they were both getting higher ratings then Harvey. At least the show isn't bombing on GSN, but the "sex sells" mentality will continue on the network.

It's the cancellation bear idea from TV by the Numbers. When you and another guy are running from a hungry bear, you don't have to outrun the bear. You just have to outrun the other guy. As long as Harvey Feud outruns the other shows on GSN, it will take over the network, regardless of the absolute levels of its ratings. And Harvey's top showings in the latest week got over 400K viewers, anyway, which is just fine by any standard on GSN.

Karn has them [detractors] because he was a sucky host.

I think Karn was an excellent host on Feud. Friendly, unpretentious, likable, much wittier than he'll ever get credit for around here. A lot of folks agree with me. That's why his version of Feud continues to get some of GSN's best numbers after years of grinding abuse (five of the network's top twenty slots in the latest week, for instance). Too bad his version doesn't date from before 1990. He'd get a lot more respect on these boards.

If somebody really wants to hear why I don't like Richard Dawson, I will gladly explain.

Dawson's Everest-sized ego was always in evidence. But at the top of his form he had plenty to be egotistical about, because he was a superb host, IMO. He could improvise with the best of them, he interacted very well with contestants, and he effortlessly weaved through gameplay technicalities.

Crossposted to the blog with a screenshot of the non-sucky Richard Karn.

[matchgame74fan]

I liked Richard Karn originally, and he was a step up from Louie. But I pretty much find him kind of average now whenever I compare him to the other two hosts that have come after him.

[gameshowmaniac27330]

I agree with others have said.
I think it's going to be a matter of time before a BLEEP is heard on Feud.

"Name an activity people get sweaty from"

You have heard a bleep from Richard Hatch on Karn. Name something that's better when it's bigger.

[Lingofan97]

I liked Richard Karn originally, and he was a step up from Louie. But I pretty much find him kind of average now whenever I compare him to the other two hosts that have come after him.

Louie Anderson was probably the worst host of Family Feud, yet Karn was a hit