IamA former Family Feud contestant/winner AMA!

Was the other family super black to balance out how incredibly white your family appears to be?

I always had a theory that they did that, and it turns out I was right. They do black vs. white whenever they can. Our fourth episode was white vs. white because they had flown that family in from either Oregon or Washington and didn't want to pay to keep them another night.

Why do they do that?

To appeal to a wider audience

Are you forced to clap and cheer for your own family member even if the answer is terrible? I feel as if the producers tell you to do that regardless of an answer.

Yes.

What kind of snacks did they have backstage?

You arrive in the morning and they have a continental breakfast (coffee, juices, donuts, etc.). You do rehearsal for a couple hours to get used to the set, make sure any clothing doesn't disagree with the cameras (white and stripes), and because they still haven't picked who will play.

After that, you get Subway subs for lunch, and then that's pretty much it. They filmed four episodes our day (and we were all four), and I think we got a snack after the third game while Steve ate dinner. It was a granola bar if I remember correctly.

I can just imagine Steve eating a lobster dinner...

"But s-s-s-sir, what about the contestants?"

"FEED THE MULES GRANOLA!"

He doesnt shell it or anything, just bites right through it with his giant white mechanical teeth.

Can confirm

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MEAT

Survey says...

0

Top answer is dirty sock.

I hate the survey.

Were there any actual bullshit answers?

"Name a place where you have to turn off your cell phone?"

Top answer is hospital. WHAT?!

there're signs all over that say to turn your phone off at the hospital.

But is that your first thought compared to a movie theatre or airplane?

What's up fellow family feud bro! (I'm 2nd from the left.)

Please tell me....does the money ever come? It's been almost a year...

Did you ever have to make up a stupid answer because you couldn't think of anything good to say?

Yes. Question was "What is a card game that you would be surprised that people strip to?" I blanked out on card games so I said 50 Card Pick-up. That's not even how many cards are in a deck...

did your family yell "good answer" and clap for you?

Yes. They were pity claps.

How is Steve Harvey really?

He is an amazing guy. You don't really see him except for when the cameras are rolling because he has to change outfits in between the episodes. He is a lot shorter than I had imagined.

Everyone that watches the episodes points out that we had a total bromance. He told me he was going to take me to Miami, but I am still waiting on that call...

How white are Steve Harvey's teeth in person?

Very. I told him so.

I was the fifth team member of the family that beat you

Hahaha I remember you guys. Great job on all of the success! Didn't you win the car?

Was he the guy with legs?

He was a guy with legs.

I hear they shoot a week's worth of episodes in a day. Were all your appearances shot on the same day?

Yes, all four episodes were shot in the same day. They said they shoot anywhere from four to six episodes in a day, depending on the week.

Dang! So Steve Harvey must change suits a whole lot in a day. And no wonder his stache is so consistent...

And that takes a lot of time with all the 16 button suits he wears.

Don't forget the vests

What did you do with your winnings? Do they tax much of it?

You don't get your winnings until 90 days after the show airs. It is automatically divided five ways. It will be subject to income tax.

How do they divide the car if you win it?

They bring Oprah in.

YOU GET A DOOR, YOU GET A DOOR! EVERYBODY GETS A MOTHERFUCKING DOOR!

Except the 5th person. They get the hood.

What if they're from the hood?

If you get the car, they just give you a car and you figure it out. If you take the cash equivalent, that is divided.

What kind of contact, if any, did you have with Steve Harvey? What was the atmosphere like there?

Steve is a great guy. The only contact we had was while we were filming. When we lost on the final episode, he pulled me aside as we left and told me I was a bright kid and that I was going places.

The atmosphere was very fast-paced. For example, when you finish a game, they whisk you backstage to hook you up with a wireless mic while they give you instructions and all you are focused on is getting some water. However, the cast and crew are incredibly friendly. We had two guys named Carlos and Bryce that would cut up with us on breaks.

Well I'll be darned you shot in May 2014? What kind of of sorcery is this?

Touche. Fixed.

What is rehearsal like for a game show? Is it just a run through, or do they kind of script it?

They have a stand-in Steve Harvey (don't remember his name but he was pretty funny) and play a mock game with all of the lights, effects, etc.

Is he black too?

Yes.

This is actually something I'm really interested in. Whenever I'm watching "unscripted" TV, I'm always trying to see exactly how much of it is really "unscripted"

Game shows seem to play it pretty straight. Obviously the host has some scripted material and even some scripted jokes to play off of, but it seems like most of the good stuff is a result of just basic human interaction.

The absolute worst seems to be those "reality" competitions on Discovery channel. Was watching Desert Car Kings, and despite loving the premise, every single interaction seems wooden and stiff, like they're just shitty actors going over a loose script for the camera. . . which is probably exactly what it is.

Everything is completely unscripted. Steve's jokes are made up on-the-fly.

So since you won money, you can't be on other game show for 5 years right? Or does that not count since you weren't solo?

I'd have to revisit the contract, but I think it was 30 years...

how did you guys get picked? send in an application, then interview, or is there something else?

Auditioned at the Civic Center in Atlanta where we played a mock game that they filmed. Got called back a couple weeks later and worked out a film date.

How many people are in the studio audience?

Not too many. Probably a hundred or so is my guess.

During commercials, do they really take a break or is Steve just like, "We'll be right back ... Welcome back to Family Feud!"

They really take a break so that we can get water, go to the bathroom, etc.

Do they pay for your hotel and travel expenses? If so, 3 star ? 4 star hotel?

They do if you live far enough away. We only live an hour away though.

Did you just happen to be in ATL anyway for the audition or do they not shoot in LA?

They have filmed in Atlanta for the past two years.

Did Steve Harvey react to anything you said?

He reacts to everything. They film for an hour for every episode (~20 minutes) and just cut it to the good parts.

His moustache is this really smooth carpet. What does that look like up close?

A really smooth carpet.

Do you smack talk against the other family contestants before the show?

Not really. Everyone is really cordial. Except for rehearsal, where you don't know who you will be facing, you don't see the families until you are on the set. No really opportunity for smack talk.

How about the crossed-forearm "X" gesture when the other team is guessing? Please tell me you employed it.

I did. I actually caught a lot of flack for that.

Did they ask you to bring multiple suits in case you kept winning?

We had to bring four outfits but just because some outfits don't look good on camera. All of ours were fine. You only get to change if your run goes into the next day.

"Get to change."

Fuck your sweat and BO, we're rolling.

They keep the set cold enough to where that is not a problem.

How about hard nipples? Are those a "problem"?

In real life or the show?

How did you get your teeth so white? WHAT IS YOUR SECRET?!

http://www.amazon.com/Crest-Intensive-Professional-Effects-Whitening/dp/B005TI7EWK/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1396280538&sr=8-5&keywords=crest+whitestrips

Do you like soup?

I think it's souper

Will you please stand up?

Don't be stupid, stupid. It's not really him.

Maybe it's a ploy...

What was the application process like and how did you get selected? My family and I have always wanted to go on the Feud. Seems like a great time, congratulations on the four wins!

You audition and if they like you, you get a call back. They want people with an excessive amount of energy. Like, really excessive.

When he looks down at the judges for clarification or when he has to ask a contestant to reword their answer, is it like 1 or 2 people or a whole panel of producers/judges?

Two people. Executive producers.

/r/gameshow would love to have you as one of us!

Funny enough, saw this on the front page of that sub.

http://www.reddit.com/r/gameshow/comments/1w2on8/ill_be_on_family_feud_feb_3rd/

That is the team that beat us...

So, I was at home one day last week with an ear infection, watching lots of daytime TV and I saw one of your episodes. I totally recognized you as soon as I opened the picture. I've seen a total of two Family Feud episodes ever, and one was yours! Also, I totally laughed at your answer for "What is a 3 letter word that ends in X?" when you said 'sex'. Awesome!

Edit: To clarify, the host heard 'sex' instead of 'sax' and put it up on the board as 'sex'. I couldn't make it out clear enough to tell the difference, but it did read 'sex'. Also, his sister said 'six'.

Fun fact: I actually said "sax" but "sex" is a way better answer

How did your family pick among themselves who was going to play? Did you have any sense that the people you brought would be good at Family Feud, or did you just bring any relatives who wanted to come?

I have a family of five so it was perfect!

OMG I SAW YOUR EPISODES! I was rooting for your family, you were so close to that car!!!

Question, who's in the audience? I know you film a bunch of episodes in one day, so is it your own fam coming to see you and every other family that is there that day?

The audience is just random fans. We didn't invite anyone we knew because there was still a chance we wouldn't film that day.

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Yes. Steve was impressed. He made many comments about it, but all were cut.

What does Steve Harvey smell like?

Moustache conditioner

The way the game is set up, it really only matters who wins the Triple round. Did you not really care about the earlier rounds?

EDIT: Thinking about this, I suppose by winning all the earlier rounds in ensures you cannot lose in regulation

It definitely shakes your confidence if you lose the earlier rounds. That being said, the triple is all that really matters.

What are some of the rules they go over before you begin?

Clap excessively, don't hit the podium, wait for Steve to talk

Is it harder to think when you are actually up on stage? My experience watching Family Feud on TV is that I feel I know all the answers while the contestants come up with stupid responses.

I actually found it somewhat easier. Maybe because I was just in the zone.

Hey FBLA President! (Surprised no one mentioned this yet!) You should do another AMA as the FBLA President, because it is such a large organization. Hope life is good- How's preparations for NLC coming this year? I think I might actually get to go this year.

I may! NLC preparations really haven't started because we have to get through all of the SLCs! I'll be going to 3 this month. Be sure to stop me at NLC if you go!

Hey you little shit. Why aren't you in the office today? Get some work done. Finishing writing those tests. Also, everyone in the office now knows your reddit username hahaha. I'm writing this from the 4th floor bathroom, just to prove this is real.

lol I rarely ever post. Nothing to be ashamed of...on this username.