FF: Primetime Specials Question

[dmota104]

In the height of its popularity on ABC, "Family Feud" aired several specials in primetime with celebrities replacing the civilian families and playing for charity.

Anyone know why such specials didn't air on CBS?  I recall several charity weeks in CBS daytime (same with ABC daytime) -- but never in CBS primetime.

[JasonA1]

Anyone know why such specials didn't air on CBS?

I'm gonna take a stab at it: "Feud" was more of a force to be reckoned with during its peak in the late 70s/early 80s, so it natural for them to expand the franchise wherever they could (syndie, eventually to 5-a-week). Whereas the Combs version was more of a show that just did respectably - a nighttime special might not have been worth it.

I dunno how the CBS schedule was then either - if they had more holes to fill or not. Did ABC have lots of gaps when Dawson had specials?

-Jason

[gsgalaxy82]

Well, it was a huge hit on ABC. On CBS, it wasn't near the hit that it was on ABC. Richard Dawson was an icon, no offense to Ray, but Ray wasn't as popular as Richard was.

David

[dmota104]

Well, it was a huge hit on ABC. On CBS, it wasn't near the hit that it was on ABC. Richard Dawson was an icon, no offense to Ray, but Ray wasn't as popular as Richard was.

True, Ray faced a tough act when following Richard.    But I think over time Ray made the show his own.  After all, the syndie version came along later plus a special month-long "battle of the soaps" in addition to the half-hour FF with civilians (presumably to fill the void left behind "Designing Women" reruns, IIRC; this all came before the FF Challenge w/Bullseye).

Still, if they played the feud in CBS primetime, that would've been a great venue for, say, cast members from "Dallas" to play for charity.  ("Let's meet the Ewing family ... playing against the Barnes family.")

[manwithatan80]

LOL, it'd be the classic Barnes/Ewing Feud!

Speaking ot the all-star specials, does anybody have an episode guide or listing with all of the prime time specials and the casts of what shows on each one?  The only special I remember of the top of my head is the Three's Company/Soap/The Love Boat/Eight Is Enough special.

[zachhoran]

[quote name=\'dmota104\' date=\'Nov 28 2004, 03:01 PM\']

Well, it was a huge hit on ABC. On CBS, it wasn't near the hit that it was on ABC. Richard Dawson was an icon, no offense to Ray, but Ray wasn't as popular as Richard was.

True, Ray faced a tough act when following Richard.    But I think over time Ray made the show his own.  After all, the syndie version came along later plus a special month-long "battle of the soaps" in addition to the half-hour FF with civilians (presumably to fill the void left behind "Designing Women" reruns, IIRC; this all came before the FF Challenge w/Bullseye).

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The month of Soap Feud came before the Designing Women reruns debuted. DW reruns were placed with the first half of FF Challenge.

[uncamark]

Still--and this is not to put down Ray in any way--"Feud" was not the smash hit under him that it was with Dawson at its height.  To CBS, it was just another morning time-killer that paid its way and it just wasn't considered suitable for a prime time extension.

[Jimmy Owen]

CBS didn't have as many hot shows with ensemble casts back then either that would made for a good FF special.  I guess "Dallas" would be okay, but Larry Hagman probably wouldn't show. "Knots Landing" vs. "Falcon Crest"  Otherwise it would have been "Major Dad" vs. "Murphy Brown" (probably without the daughter of the first host of "Do You Trust Your Wife?") or "Designing Women" vs."The Famous Teddy Z," or something else you guys wouldn't watch.

[BrandonFG]

Which would probably explain why most of their celebrity specials featured stars of CBS *daytime* shows (TPiR vs. Y&R, Y&R vs. B&B).

Come to think of it, did the other CBS daytime shows (As The World Turns, Guiding Light) even DO Combs Feud?

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'fostergray82\' date=\'Nov 30 2004, 02:54 PM\']Come to think of it, did the other CBS daytime shows (As The World Turns, Guiding Light) even DO Combs Feud?

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At some point I wanna say I remember a Soap-Opera Tournament, with all four CBS soaps participating. Not being Zach, I can't confirm that for sure, nor can I spout an irritating collection of irrelevant minutae about it.

[Jimmy Owen]

All of the P&G shows are in New York, which might have something to do with it.