After the hearts of the oldies boards

The previous entry offered a small update that Louie Anderson's Family Feud eps will soon return to Buzzr.

This set off a lively conversation in the comments about various Feud hosts over the years. I defended Ray Combs, who I think is unfairly underrated by a lot of fans because he succeeded (and was succeeded by) the legendary Richard Dawson. Disclosure: I'm not a big Dawson fan, as readers of this blog probably know.

Now along comes another Feud host, John O'Hurley, with a few provocative comments on the show in the latest edition of Closer...

I had a wonderful time. It was time to put it [Family Feud] to bed. When I left the show, I had kind of done my run. It was getting to be like a penis joke. It was no longer becoming "family," it was becoming more about how overt can you be? And I said, "That's not what I want. That's not what I do." So I had my time with it, and it was fun while I did it, but I'll leave that to someone who is more comfortable."

The "someone," of course, is current incumbent Steve Harvey, who is more comfortable with somewhat risque material. First, O'Hurley might as well be a Game Show Forum poster with this remark. Second, his memory is a bit selective. Another factor that was at least as important in his exit was Feud's drooping ratings, to the point where the show's survival was in question.

Whatever else anybody, including O'Hurley, says about Harvey, Family Feud is no longer on the Nielsen critical list.

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