Family Feud first aired on ABC in 1976, and it was an immediate hit. The concept was deceptively simple: two families compete to guess the most popular answers to survey questions. But creator Mark Goodson (of Goodson-Todman fame) understood something fundamental about television — audiences love watching real people react to real situations, and nothing creates better TV than families under pressure.

The Richard Dawson Era

Original host Richard Dawson brought an irreplaceable energy to the show. Famous for kissing every female contestant, Dawson's warmth and quick wit made families feel at ease even as they competed for prizes. His run from 1976 to 1985 established the show as a staple of American daytime television.

Cancellations and Comebacks

Like many game shows, Family Feud has been cancelled and revived multiple times. Ray Combs hosted from 1988 to 1994, followed by a parade of hosts including Louie Anderson, Richard Karn, and John O'Hurley. Each version found an audience, but the show truly exploded again with Steve Harvey's arrival in 2010.

Harvey's hosting style — big reactions, playful ribbing, and genuine shock at contestants' answers — turned Family Feud into a social media phenomenon. Clips of Harvey's stunned expressions regularly go viral, introducing the show to entirely new generations of viewers.

What Makes It Work

The genius of Family Feud is that it tests common knowledge rather than specialized expertise. You don't need to know history or science — you need to know how people think. "Name something you'd find in a doctor's office" doesn't have a right or wrong answer; it has popular and unpopular ones. That makes everyone at home feel like they can play, and the survey results often produce genuine surprises.

The family dynamic adds another layer. Watching relatives celebrate, cringe, and occasionally blame each other for bad answers creates authentic human moments that no amount of production can manufacture.

Play It Yourself

Think you know what America is thinking? Play our free Family Feud game — featuring real survey questions, two-team gameplay, the steal mechanic, and all five rounds.

Source: Museum of Play: A Brief History of Game Shows