Over the years, the iconic game show Family Feud has seen many changes. One of the more significant and obvious changes over the years was the different hosts to appear on Family Feud. Originally, when the show began in 1976, Richard Dawson was the host, and he maintained his position until 1985. Then the show saw a handful of new hosts, such as Ray Combs, Louie Anderson, Richard Karn, John O’Hurley, and current host Steve Harvey, who’s had his position since 2010.
Not only were the hosts different over the years, but their style and personalities also added to the unique tone of the show. For example, Richard was known for his charming and flirty personality which Steve is best known for his sarcastic humor and dramatic reactions. The show also experienced some set design changes and became noticeably more modern as time passed. From hosts to tone changes, the series has been through a lot in the last 50 years. However, some changes were longer lasting than others, and thanks to an interim comedic host,Family Feud made a major improvement to the prize money on the show.
Louie Anderson’s Time As Family Feud Host
Louie is an American stand-up comedian, actor and television host. He’s best known for his comedic efforts, which generally highlight his self-deprecating humor and his ability to combine emotional honesty with relatable comedy. In the 1980s, Louie rose to fame by appearing on popular shows like The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as well as other comedy specials. The famous comedian is also well-known for being the creator and star of Life with Louie, an animated series based on his childhood experiences. However, Louie was also an interim host on Family Feud for about three years.
In 1995, the show was canceled after struggling with ratings. The show went through several formats and hosts, but ultimately the series fell flat. In 1999, the show was revived, which was when Louie joined as host. Compared to flirtatious hosts like Richard, Louie was better known for his warm personality. He often praised families and offered them compassion when appropriate. His humor was also family-friendly, much different than the sarcastic or edgy tone some hosts have been known to have. Ultimately, the comedian revived Family Feud during a time when its popularity was dwindling.
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While Louie had one of the shorter stints on the show, he certainly had an impact that lasted over the years. He’ll be remembered for his good-hearted style along with his warm and charming personality that ultimately helped the show transition out of the revival stage and into its new path in the early 2000s. However, his short time also led to an even bigger impact. Up until 2001, the Fast Money round was only worth $10,000. However, Louie was a long-term fan of the show and grew up watching Family Feud.
In an interview with The A.V. Club he revealed he understood how fans “live vicariously” through game shows. Therefore, to increase the overall appeal, allowing contestants to walk away with more money would improve ratings. After some discussions with Family Feud producers, in 2001 he was able to convince them to double the cash prize to $20,000.“You’re rooting for those people who are playing, you really are,” Louie said in the interview. “So I feel very proud about my days on the Feud. I took the money and really feel like I talked them into—or had a big part in helping them—make [the grand prize] $20,000 instead of $10,000.”
In the end, while Louie was one of the shorter-lived hosts on the show, it’s clear his legacy still continues on. At a time when the show really needed to overcome some major hurdles, Louie pulled through on many occasions. Between his amiable personality and his unique ideas on how to improve the show, Louie was able to improve the show’s ratings and create the center stage for the series to continue thriving. While iconic hosts like Steve are beyond memorable, hosts like Louie changed the way Family Feud is viewed and played for the better.
