Family Challenge is an American game show that aired on The Family Channel from October 2, 1995 to September 7, 1997, lasting for two seasons. Reruns aired on GSN from April 3 to September 25, 1999. The first season was hosted by Ray Combs, with Gene Wood serving as announcer. Both had formerly served in the same respective roles for Family Feud. Combs was formerly the host of Family Feud between 1988-1994. After his release from the show, injuries, financial ruin, and the separation of his marriage took a serious toll on his personality, and Combs desperately needed money to make living, so he decided to take the role as the host of Family Challenge in the first season. The role did not last very long as he left the show and the season wrapped in under a year. Combs died on June 2, 1996 by hanging himself in a Glendale psychiatric ward. The second season, rechristened The New Family Challenge, was hosted by Michael Burger and announced by Charlie Glaize. The show was created by comedian Dave Thomas and Woody Fraser and was originally produced as a pilot for ABC. Thomas and Fraser were executive producers on the show for its entire run on Family Channel.
Premise
Two teams of six family members competed. Each team usually consisted of two adults and four children. Usually six stunts were played, and each stunt was worth a varying number of points. The stunts varied in each show; the following are a few stunts used on the show during the first season.
Stunts
Tug of war: All six members of the first team competed against American GladiatorHawk, with a tank full of green "gunk" set up at the center point. The team won one point for each second they could stay up. They won 60 points if they stayed up for 30 seconds or pulled Hawk into the gunk. This process would be repeated for the second team.
Backwards relay race: Three members of each team competed. The first team started at a table with various items on it. The first teammate ran backwards to a board and read a short message written backwards on it, which corresponded to an item on the table. He then ran backwards to the starting position and do something with the item. This continued until all three teammates had a chance to do two things. After the first family finished, the second family was brought out of isolation to try to beat their time. The family who could do it in the fastest time won 100 points.
Kissing contest: One event involved three doors and one member of each team. The player on the first team would pick a door, behind which was a live animal, which the contestant would have to kiss on the lips. If the player kept contact with it for 5 seconds, that family won 10 points. The player on the second team then picked a second door, and had to kiss whatever was behind it. After this, each player could elect to kiss whatever was behind the unpicked door, but had to do it blindfolded for 10 seconds. Doing this won 20 points.
Pearl diving: Two members of each team had two minutes to wade in a giant tank of gunk looking for large balls that represented pearls. Each white "pearl" collected won 10 points, and each black "pearl" won 50.
Family Quiz: In a manner similar to The Newlywed Game, one family member from each team is asked questions about one of their teammates. Each correct answer is worth 10 points, while each incorrect answer results in a messy penalty for the player answering the questions, like a pie in the face.
Pie Device Relay: Teams played individually. One family member had to run around to several pie devices where their teammates were placed. First, the runner must run to the Pie Pendulum, where they must lower the 1st family member into a large pie. Next, they run to the Pie Roulette to launch a pie at the next teammate, usually the father. Then, they run to the Pie Guillotine to drop a pie on the next teammate, then launch another pie from the Pie Roulette. Afterward, they must pop a gunk balloon above their next teammate, usually the mother, then it's back to the Pie Roulette to launch another pie. Next, they run to the Pie Cannon to launch whipped cream at the next teammate, returning to the Pie Roulette for one last pie. Afterward, the runner must go up the stairs and down the slide into the Gunk Tank. The runner then must wade through the Gunk Tank, where they must put one last pie in their face to stop the clock. Fastest time won.
Both the Pie Pendulum and Pie Roulette were previously used on the Nickelodeon game show What Would You Do?, which was also created by Woody Fraser. At the end of the final event, the team with the most points was the winner. That team won two prizes, and a trophy called "The Family Challenge Championship Cup".
Season two changes
Besides the new host and announcer, the show was re-titled The New Family Challenge and given a new set. It was taped at Universal Studios Hollywood. The game was played the same as before, except that only four stunts were played. Burger also played games with the audience, filling the time previously used for the fifth and sixth stunt. Each team this season had 5 players, usually 2 adults and 3 children, and the team colors changed every episode whereas in season 1 it was always red team versus blue team. Towards the end of the run, all Friday shows consisted solely of audience participation games. The second-season premiere was dedicated to the memory of Ray Combs, as acknowledged during the credits.
