Family Feud: Alligator

This is one of the most memorable segments of Family Feud, an American TV show which has been on air since 1976. Two contestants from the same family give invalid responses to the survey questions without realizing how bad their answer choices are. The audience chuckles when the contestant responds to the question, “Name an animal with three letters in its name” with “frog”. It is much funnier when the second contestant responds with “alligator”. It seems unbelievable that a person could get such an easy question wrong (“cat” or “dog”, anyone?) and by laughing and embarrassing the contestant in the spotlight, the audience is encouraging more intelligent responses in the future. It is hysterical to viewers when the second contestant comes in blind to what answer had been previously given and also provides such a lame response. The content of the show is very “fluffy”, and so derives entertainment value from our interest in watching another person deal with a pressure-situation.

“Family Feud Alligator”. Family Feud. Host Richard Dawson. ABC. 1970s. < http://www.yourememberthat.com/media/3580/Family_Feud_Alligator/>.