| The History of |
| Timeline 1932 - Richard Dawson is born on November 20. 1953 - Louie Anderson is born on March 24. 1956 - Ray Combs is born on April 5. - Richard Karn is born on February 17. 1965 - Hogan's Heroes debuts. 1973 - Richard Dawson becomes a regular on Mark Goodson's Match Game '73 1975 - A spin-off of "The Audience Match Round" on Match Game, to be named Fast Company goes into production. Richard Dawson is slated to be host. 1976 - Fast Company is renamed "Family Feud" and debuts on ABC, and within a year is the number one show on Daytime Television. 1977 - A syndicated version os Family Feud debuts on an evening timeslot. 1979 - Richard Dawson quits Match Game on very bad terms. 1983 - Celebrity Specials of Family Feud debut on ABC. 1984 - Family Feud is eclisped by Wheel of Fortune. The syndicated version is cancelled. The daytime version is scheduled to be cancelled, but is renewed for a final year. 1985 - Family Feud is cancelled after nine years with Richard Dawson as host. 1986 - Ray Combs blows the audience away on The Tonight Show. - CBS purchases Family Feud from ABC and plans a reactivation. Mark Goodson requests that Richard Dawson not host the new show.. 1988 - Ray Combs is selected as Richard Dawson's successor for the CBS version of Family Feud. - Louie Anderson films "Coming to America", starring Eddie Murphy, and Arsenio Hall. 1990 - Ray Combs begins carrying his famous cordless mic on stae. 1991 - "Home Improvement" -- a sitcom with Richard Karn as a supporting character debuts on ABC. 1992 - CBS expands the show to an hour format and renaming it "The Family Feud Challenge", and changes it by including the introduction of the "Bullseye Round", and the construction of a new set. 1993 - Mark Goodson passes away and ratings begin to slide. The hour version of the show is put into re-runs, and the daytime version is cancelled, leaving only the syndicated version. 1994 - At the end of its sixth season, Family Feud undegoes a series of changes, including the return of Richard Dawson as host, and expaning the daytime version to an hour. Bullseye is renamed "Bankroll Round." Ratings have never been higher for the show. 1995 - Due to the O.J. Simpson trial, Family Feud is often preempted by it, or completely cancelled by local stations. The second season is cancelled before fliming, and Family Feud is put on the shelf. 1996 - At age 40, Ray Combs takes his own life in a Glendale psychiatric war, at 4:10 in the morning on June 2. 1997 - Family Feud is purchased by Pearson Television and it considered for a revial for the fall schedule with Richard Dawson as host, but dosen't surface. 1999 - After a four year hiatus, Family Feud is revived for a fourth run, with comedian Louie Anderson as host. Louie asks Richard Dawson to appear on the debut episode, but Richard declines. - "Home Improvement" ends after a nine year run on ABC. 2000 - After 65 years of Mark Goodson/Bill Todman game shows, Family Feud, and The Price is Right are the only two Mark Goodson game shows left on television. 2001 - In the wake of September 11, Louie Anderson donates $75,000 to "Family Feud" to play for on a week of shows for the Los Angeles Police Department vs. LA Fire and Rescue. 2002 - On May 8, 2002, Louie Anderson is dismissed from "Family Feud" after three years. He is the shortest run "Family Feud" host. Richard Karn replaced him for season 4. 2003 - "Family Feud" is re-newed for season 5 with Richard Karn. |
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