Family Feud Looking For Former Contestants To Return

A new alumni form recently appeared on Family Feud’s website, which gives former contestants a chance to come back to the show. The form asks contestants to share their Family Feud story, including memorable answers and interesting behind the scenes moments. Buzzr promoted this alumni search on Facebook and Instagram.

Family Feud premiered in 1976, and it’s been running nearly continuously ever since. Thousands upon thousands of families have appeared on the show in the five decades since then, in hopes of winning money by answering survey questions. Contestants from all eras of the show are welcome to apply to reappear.

This isn’t the first time Family Feud has invited old contestants back to play again. In 1994, Richard Dawson returned to host the syndicated version of the show for one season. Most episodes of this version featured three family teams. Two teams would be new to the show, and they would go head to head in the first half of the game. The winners would go on to face a returning family that originally appeared between 1976 and 1985, during Dawson’s initial run as host.

Family Feud’s ratings were slipping noticeably by the time Dawson returned to the show. Ray Combs served as Feud’s host on CBS and in syndication starting in 1988. Viewership hit a low point in 1992, which eventually led to the CBS version being cancelled. The syndicated version remained on the air, but it was also struggling ratings-wise. Combs was replaced with Dawson for the 1994-95 season. Ratings continued to drop despite Dawson’s return, so it was cancelled after just one season with the updated format.

However, Family Feud is doing quite well on this front in the modern day. Steve Harvey has been the host since 2010, and Feud has been one of the top rated syndicated shows ever since. Bringing back alumni for another chance could prove to be a much better move in this day and age.