Steve Harvey previews new season of ‘Family Feud’
Steve Harvey previews new season of ‘Family Feud,’ coming to WJCL 22 in September.
After 50 seasons, “Family Feud” has proven there is no such thing as a predictable family answer.
With a new season coming to WJCL 22, we sat down with host Steve Harvey to discuss bigger prizes, viral moments and a frightening experience in Savannah that he still remembers.
Harvey recently finished filming 160 episodes for the upcoming season. He said the families and their unscripted reactions are what have kept the long-running game show fresh. “The questions change. The reactions are pure,” Harvey said. “Nobody can duplicate a week from the week before. Every single show, something happens that hasn’t happened before.”
Families usually compete for a $20,000 prize, but the show is increasing the stakes in celebration of its 50th season. Harvey said contestants will choose from five envelopes, each containing a potential prize amount. One of the envelopes could give a family the chance to play for $50,000.
The families’ answers can be just as unpredictable as the prizes. After 17 years as the show’s host, Harvey said he can often recognize a viral moment as soon as it happens. “Somebody will say something, and I’ll go, ‘You’re going to be on YouTube,’” Harvey said.
Some of Harvey’s favorite moments have nothing to do with the answers. He recalled one contestant who repeatedly hit the table instead of the buzzer, allowing his opponent to answer first. “I couldn’t stop laughing,” Harvey said.
Comedy was Harvey’s first love long before he joined “Family Feud.” During his years performing at comedy clubs, his travels brought him to Savannah, where Spanish moss gave him an unexpected scare. Harvey said a clump of moss fell onto his windshield while he was driving. For a moment, he thought it was a body and nearly lost control of his vehicle. “I never forgot Savannah for that,” Harvey said.
Whether he is performing comedy or hosting “Family Feud,” Harvey said his goal remains the same.
“The thing for me is just to put a smile on people’s faces before they go to bed,” Harvey said. “We’ve got enough bad news in this world today.”
The new season of “Family Feud” begins in September on WJCL 22.
