Family Feud Taping

7/27/2012

Did you know Family Feud is filmed in Atlanta?  I didn't either until one of my friend's families auditioned and got selected to be on the show.  As a perk for being on the show, he was allowed to return to future tapings of the show as a "priority guest" and bring friends with him.  No tickets required.  So last Saturday, we went to the Atlanta Civic Center, where the show is currently being filmed, and were able to sit on the front row.  It felt like being in NY or SoCal, but we were on Piedmont Ave. in downtown Atlanta.

In short, the experience was awesome.  Just a whole lot of fun.  I've never been in a game show audience before and I didn't realize how energetic and participative one has to be to be in the audience, especially down in the "pit," the section closest to the stage (and most likely to be on TV).

Family Feud is currently hosted by comedian Steve Harvey.  It's my understanding that the show is filmed in Atlanta because of him.  He carries a lot of clout.  On the set, not a second of his time is wasted.  If he's not hosting the show, he's interacting with the crowd, posing for photographs with contestants, talking to production assistants, etc.  Whenever filming stops, there are always at least 1-2 people by his side, ready with a bottle of water, his next set of cards with questions, makeup, etc.  He is definitely the one that runs the show.

On that note, during back-and-forth banter with the crowd during one of the commercial breaks, Steve asked the audience what their favorite restaurant in Atlanta was.  Someone said Marlow's Tavern.  WTF?  I said Bacchanalia.  As soon as I said it, Steve stopped what he was saying and said, "Who said Bacchanalia?"  I raised my hand and he looked at me.  Then he silently walked over to me, stopped in front of me, said "My man!," and extended his hand over the stage so I could shake it.

He then went on to talk about his experience meeting his wife for dinner at Bacchanalia, making fun of its odd location inside Star Provisions.  He asked me what I did for a living and I said, "Engineer."  Then he made some smart remark which caused the audience to laugh and then went on to describe the menu and how he didn't know what anything was on the menu.  That was pretty cool, but that wasn't the end of my interactions with Mr. Harvey.

In the subsequent taping, he fielded questions.  I raised my hand and he picked me again.  I asked him what his favorite NBA team was and he responded the Miami Heat and "Oklahoma Thunder."  What fairweather answers, but safe I suppose.  I snuck in another question and asked him if he's met LeBron James and he said he has, citing their mutual roots in Cleveland, Ohio.  Makes sense.

Before the taping, I knew who Steve Harvey was, but I didn't realize how engaging and comedic of an entertainer he was.  The man can talk and he is funny.  He could talk his way out of a paper bag.

Four episodes were filmed that day.  Before each episode, Steve changed his suit and tie.  I got to see one family win five "days" in a row (the Grace family from Illinois), which meant they won a new car (a Ford Edge SUV).  Before the taping of their fifth appearance on the show, they did a small rehearsal of how they would run to the car and celebrate winning it.  That way, if they actually did win the car (which they did), they could plan out where everybody would sit/stand in and around the car.  Pretty funny.  It's stuff like that you don't think about watching on TV from home.

It was interesting to see what goes on when the cameras aren't rolling.  Makeup people are blotting off sweat from contestants, reapplying makeup, production assistants are reminding/instructing families of what's to come, an MC/motivator comes on stage to rile up and excite the audience, etc.  The audience was specifically told to clap a lot.  By "a lot," I mean at everything.  We had to clap after every answer, even if it was a terrible answer.  Example:

Survey: Name something you associate with a camel.
Contestant Answer: A spaceship!
Audience: *cheerful applause*

When an answer wasn't on the board and a team received a strike, we had to say, "Awwww!!"  When answers that weren't guessed were revealed on the board, we had to read them out loud.

One of the families that competed was the local McNulty family.  They were led by brother Tommy (DJ at 99x and Atlanta Braves PA announcer) and his four sisters.  At the end of their episode taping, they had to re-record Tommy saying an answer into his microphone, presumably to be dubbed over his live recording.

I sat through three tapings which took I estimate 4-5 hours.  By the end of the third taping, I was drained and had enough Family Feud for the day.  I was Family Feuded out.

If you're looking for something free and fun to do in Atlanta, I highly recommend attending a taping of Family Feud.  It's free to be an audience member.  Visit Family Feud's web site for details.  The show is filmed in Atlanta every summer.

7/7/2015

Fun, fun, fun...and free, free, free.  Our check in time was 12. We arrived at 11....We had general admissions tickets instead of priority tickets and wanted to get there early and increase our chances of getting in. Had to wait a little longer but it was worth it. Not only did we get in....We ended up getting a special guest wristband which got us a seat on the front row! In total we waited about 3 hrs before the show actually started. It was worth it. The show was hilarious! Steve is soooo funny and tells jokes throughout the commercials. We did a lot of laughing, clapping, and screaming. We only stayed for one show taping...some people stay for 3-4. One was plenty for us. Go if you get the chance!!

8/14/2014

Wow what an amazing experience.  The Family Feud taping was so awesome and just too much fun.  Steve Harvey was amazing!  His life and his love to heal people with laughter was an inspirational experience.  The actual taping and audience participation was so well organized and the process moved through so seamlessly.  Steve as you can imagine has a well educated and trained staff.  The production of the show with no takes! No takes went through so fast I was hoping somebody would mess up so we can stay longer.  I would say watch the shows website for taping dates because this is something actually worth planning a trip as we did just to come to the shows taping!

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  Rabbit and Steve

  Rabbit and Steve

7/9/2013

I'll start by saying I'm 100% in agreement with the previous review once you get in!  Steve Harvey, the staff, setting, all was amazing!!!

Getting in...  My experience was a little different.   We didn't have priority seating.  Coupled with they had (at least they said...) an abnormal amount of priority and family in attendance.  

We arrived at 1pm for our 1.30 call time.  Maybe 30 peeps there...   Kinda put us in a holding tank more than a line (first mistake).  Finally around 1.45 pm they informed us what was going on and they were trying to flush some of the audience between shows (not a fan of late)!   Now is when they asked us to queue up!  Not a positive experience in a holding tank with some that had been there since noon (or so they said).  At 2 pm they moved us to another holding area (least it was a seated area).   Here they check you tickets, you are wanded for metals...  

PAUSE

READ the ticket peeps!  No cell phones, cameras, iPads, purses bigger than a sheet of paper are allowed!  No BS!   PLEASE help an already bad business process!

PLAY

We waited in this next holding tank until about 3.10 before they attempted to rush the others out and us in within 7 minutes. No small feat with a group that had grown to about 80.  

Luckily we were able to catch a taping of a single show.  Which honestly worked out!  IDK if I could have gone through it for hours/multiple shows.

Takes about an hour or so, give or take to film the show!  All amazing!  

Really a couple things could have been done to add at least one more star...

Clearly they run with a limited number of PA's and security staff.  One one person was directing us to the holding tank, and had perhaps a meek personality.  All he had to do was start a proper queue and every 10 mins or so announce the phone, camera, purse rules and let peeps take em to the car!  Definitely would have avoided a tense moment.  

Finally I just feel the PA's could have communicated more as to what was going on...  Timing etc!  Tough to be all geeked up for the show as you stand and sit for hours wondering if your going to get in.  Just saying!

7/27/2015

A fun way to spend the afternoon. Steve Harvey couldn't be funnier! Come early though because the waiting line gets long.