[quote name=\'chris319\' date=\'Mar 16 2004, 09:44 AM\'] Not so laughable is that Family Feud almost wasn't an ABC show for somewhat similar reasons, and that ABC never got a look at the Puzzlers pilot, but that is grist for another thread.
I'll be waiting for that story. :-)[/quote]
Very simply, the head of daytime programming for ABC at the time objected to the "steal". She felt there was inequity in one family being able to take the points after the other family had done all the heavy lifting. Goodson countered that it added drama to the game and provided a logical way to finish a question. ABC wanted it out. Goodson wanted it in. ABC insisted that it come out. Goodson stood fast. ABC said it really, really had to come out. Goodson said either the show was done his way or not at all, the implication being that he had two other networks he could shop it to. This was when Fred Silverman was head of ABC. I don't know if Silverman became involved but it is entirely possible, given Silverman's respect for Goodson as a producer and his desire to keep his business relationship with G-T intact. In the end Goodson got his way and ABC profited handsomely from the decision. Just a few years later Silverman surfaced at NBC where he tapped G-T for a number of shows.
In 1980 G-T did a pilot for NBC called Puzzlers. NBC passed on it, and after the appropriate amount of time had elapsed a run-thru was done for CBS, who also passed. I asked if it would be shown to ABC and was told flat out, "We don't deal with ABC." I asked why and got the story related above.
While we're on the topic of Family Feud, I watched a few minutes of it last night with Richard Karn and darn near hurled.
RICHARD: I'm going to double the points!
AUDIENCE: Yaaaaaaaay!
Only a genuine Armor Star Ham would pander for applause like that. Uh oh, gotta run, I'm gonna ...