‘Family Feud’s” Canadian expansion

“Family Feud” is heading to Canada, but no Steve Harvey.

Classic game show to get Canadian version. But I have news about James Holzhauer! (keep reading below; does contains spoilers.)

Question: What American game show in getting its own version in another country?

Show me Canada!

Good answer.

Fremantle Media and the CBC announced Wednesday it is launching a new prime-time version of Family Feud north of the border this fall. The new Canadian version is being hosted by comedian Gerry Dee, and while no date was announced, it is expected to premiere sometime in November.

The news does not affect Canadian showings of the syndicated American version of Family Feud hosted by Steve Harvey, now airing on CityTV weekday afternoons. The format has been sold in 71 international markets.

Family Feud Canada is being stripped four nights a week (Tuesday-Friday) at 7:30 p.m., a time where most game shows are shown in the “prime access” slot in the Eastern and Pacific time zones of United States, before prime-time. Generally known for airing mostly Canadian programming, the last time CBC aired game shows were the American versions of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! from 2008 to 2012.

From the 1950s to the 1990s, CBC aired a handful of American programs on its schedule, including WKRP in Cincinnati, Newhart, The Golden Girls, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Dallas among others. The former three’s reruns were also stripped in early fringe (afternoons.)

He keeps winning on this show not named “Family Feud”.

Family Feud Canada is part of CBC’s announcement of its 2019-20 slate Wednesday as part of its upfront presentation in Toronto, with six new shows  on its main network and two shows on CBC’s streaming portal, Gem.

The last time there was a remake of an American game show for Canadian audiences was an one-off edition of Deal or No Deal for Global hosted by Canadian host Howie Mandel, but was never picked up as a series.

Here in the states, Feud ranked third among syndicated programs for the week ending May 19, behind only Judge Judy and Jeopardy, whose Teachers Tournament has kept winning contestant James Holzhauer off the show. As a result, the programs ratings slipped out of the top spot, but second place is still very good. Holzhauer returned to the show this week and of course, resumed his winning ways where as of this writing, has won 30 games and a row and amassed a total of $2.3 million and change in winnings.

Keep in mind the way syndicated shows are tabulated, Feud’s ratings – and those for Judy – include extra runs that counts into their national ratings given both shows airs as much as four times a day in some markets. In Chicago, Feud airs weeknights 5 to 6:30 p.m. on WPWR-Ch.50.

ABC’s summer prime-time version of the show (Celebrity Family Feud) returns June 9.

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