Richard Dawson kissing the female contestants on Family Feud, creepy? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Yong Fang · 12-05-2022, 06:52 AM

On Richard Dawson's original version of Family Fued, Dawson had this thing of kissing all the female contestants. It wasnt sexual, but he still kissed them. It didnt matter what age they were (all contestants were adults, a kid's show would have been interesting).

My mother said once that she found that sort of creepy and would not have wanted Dawson to kiss her, Dawson is not family/good friend/lover. She found it inappropriate and I sort of agree with her.

Was there any way before the show that the contestant could tell the director that she doesnt want Dawson kissing her? I would say this request would be granted but then Dawson would have been told and he might have not liked being told that (this woman doesnt want you to touch her, OK?) Also, some people are members of religions where unmarried men just dont kiss strange women, and then there might be the husband who takes offense.

Dawson's last wife however was a contestant on his show, Dawson asked her out and she agreed, then a courtship, marriage and children. She is decades younger than him, so he was a cradle robber too. If your spouse is young enough to be your child, you are a dang cradle robber. (I have made a private joke that at 55 I was caught on "To Catch a Predator" and was asked "How old was the girl you came to meet?" Me "uh, 32?" Hansen "How about 23." Me covering my face in shame.)

Dont kiss me Dickey, you smell like an old drunken Brit!

howilu · 12-05-2022, 10:43 AM

When the original version of Family Feud debuted in 1976, there was a lot of mail concerning Richard Dawson's kissing the female contestants. At the beginning of one episode, Mark Goodson appeared and encouraged viewers to write in to determine where Dawson should or should not kiss on the show. When Goodson returned in a later episode, the margin of viewers was ten to one in favor of Dawson's kissing. So he continued to kiss until the show was canceled in 1985.

By contrast, when Dawson was rehired to replace Ray Combs in 1994, he didn't kiss the women because of a promise he made to his young daughter that he would only kiss her mommy. He married a former contestant and she gave birth to a daughter. He also quit smoking and gained a lot of weight. Dawson was a lot mellower than the orginal run.

rusty spike · 12-05-2022, 01:00 PM

Yes, contestants would inform one of the production assistants, either Howard or Susan that they were uncomfortable about being kissed. It was very rare when he didn't kiss contestants.

There's a Mama Family's episode about being on FF and Mama makes a big deal about being kissed by Dawson.

I have watched many a game shows which aired between 1975-1985 and quite a few have moments where the male hosts make cringeworthy remarks about female's appearance and physique (Rayburn on Match Game and Barker on Price is Right, even nice guy Ludden on Password Plus said something shocking about a contestant needing a trim to keep her bangs (hair) out of here eyes).

SarahBellum · 12-05-2022, 02:02 PM

Was Dawson kissing the women on the lips or cheek?

Yong Fang · 12-05-2022, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SarahBellum

Was Dawson kissing the women on the lips or cheek?

For me, neither is (was) appropriate. If we were on the show and my wife was a panalist, she wouldnt have liked it either. Dawson wasnt her husband (I am!) or a child. I sincerely wouldnt have been unglued if I was on the show and the drunken Brit kissed my wife, unless it was the mouth, but it was uncalled for.

My wife is from Communist China. She would have kicked ass on the following questions....

"Name a famous East Asian food that isnt rice..."

"Name a form of torture for political prisoners."

DJM77 · 12-05-2022, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SarahBellum

Was Dawson kissing the women on the lips or cheek?

On the lips.

I never did like Richard Dawson. He seemed like a dirty old man to me. Plus he often sounded like he was mumbling.

Edward216 · 12-06-2022, 07:03 PM

I've never had a problem with it. If the women didn't want Richard Dawson kissing them I'm sure they could've refused, it seems to me a lot of them enjoyed it.

Ed.

Edward216 · 12-06-2022, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusty spike

Yes, contestants would inform one of the production assistants, either Howard or Susan that they were uncomfortable about being kissed. It was very rare when he didn't kiss contestants.

There's a Mama Family's episode about being on FF and Mama makes a big deal about being kissed by Dawson.

I have watched many a game shows which aired between 1975-1985 and quite a few have moments where the male hosts make cringeworthy remarks about female's appearance and physique (Rayburn on Match Game and Barker on Price is Right, even nice guy Ludden on Password Plus said something shocking about a contestant needing a trim to keep her bangs (hair) out of here eyes).

Yeah I've come to realize that Gene Rayburn was kind of a dirty old man. But if you'll notice the women celebrities would usually give it right back to him.

Ed.

Dude111 · 12-06-2022, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SarahBellum

Was Dawson kissing the women on the lips or cheek?

I remember him kissing on the lips which I thought was kinda friendly I dunno.....

stevea · 12-06-2022, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward216

Yeah I've come to realize that Gene Rayburn was kind of a dirty old man. But if you'll notice the women celebrities would usually give it right back to him.

Ed.

I liked Rayburn on the original daytime Match Game on NBC. On the later version his hair sticking out all over the place and dumb Dora got kind of old after awhile.

12-05-2022, 06:52 AM	#1
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,072	Richard Dawson kissing the female contestants on Family Feud, creepy? On Richard Dawson's original version of Family Fued, Dawson had this thing of kissing all the female contestants. It wasnt sexual, but he still kissed them. It didnt matter what age they were (all contestants were adults, a kid's show would have been interesting). My mother said once that she found that sort of creepy and would not have wanted Dawson to kiss her, Dawson is not family/good friend/lover. She found it inappropriate and I sort of agree with her. Was there any way before the show that the contestant could tell the director that she doesnt want Dawson kissing her? I would say this request would be granted but then Dawson would have been told and he might have not liked being told that (this woman doesnt want you to touch her, OK?) Also, some people are members of religions where unmarried men just dont kiss strange women, and then there might be the husband who takes offense. Dawson's last wife however was a contestant on his show, Dawson asked her out and she agreed, then a courtship, marriage and children. She is decades younger than him, so he was a cradle robber too. If your spouse is young enough to be your child, you are a dang cradle robber. (I have made a private joke that at 55 I was caught on "To Catch a Predator" and was asked "How old was the girl you came to meet?" Me "uh, 32?" Hansen "How about 23." Me covering my face in shame.) Dont kiss me Dickey, you smell like an old drunken Brit!
	Last edited by Yong Fang; 12-05-2022 at 02:02 PM.

12-05-2022, 10:43 AM	#2
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,959	When the original version of Family Feud debuted in 1976, there was a lot of mail concerning Richard Dawson's kissing the female contestants. At the beginning of one episode, Mark Goodson appeared and encouraged viewers to write in to determine where Dawson should or should not kiss on the show. When Goodson returned in a later episode, the margin of viewers was ten to one in favor of Dawson's kissing. So he continued to kiss until the show was canceled in 1985. By contrast, when Dawson was rehired to replace Ray Combs in 1994, he didn't kiss the women because of a promise he made to his young daughter that he would only kiss her mommy. He married a former contestant and she gave birth to a daughter. He also quit smoking and gained a lot of weight. Dawson was a lot mellower than the orginal run.

12-05-2022, 01:00 PM	#3
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	Yes, contestants would inform one of the production assistants, either Howard or Susan that they were uncomfortable about being kissed. It was very rare when he didn't kiss contestants. There's a Mama Family's episode about being on FF and Mama makes a big deal about being kissed by Dawson. I have watched many a game shows which aired between 1975-1985 and quite a few have moments where the male hosts make cringeworthy remarks about female's appearance and physique (Rayburn on Match Game and Barker on Price is Right, even nice guy Ludden on Password Plus said something shocking about a contestant needing a trim to keep her bangs (hair) out of here eyes).

12-05-2022, 02:02 PM	#4
SarahBellum Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2007 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 3,873	Was Dawson kissing the women on the lips or cheek?

12-06-2022, 07:03 PM	#7
Edward216 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 18, 2014 Location: Central Time Zone Posts: 4,625	I've never had a problem with it. If the women didn't want Richard Dawson kissing them I'm sure they could've refused, it seems to me a lot of them enjoyed it. Ed.