Howard Felsher
Encyclopedia
Howard Felsher was an American
game show producer for many years. He produced such shows as Tic Tac Dough, Password
, Password Plus, Super Password, He Said, She Said
, Concentration
, and most notably Family Feud
. Felsher was known as the "Game Show Doctor" in certain circles for his ability to come in and fix a show.
entitled The Press in the Jury Box which has since been retitled Justice, U.S.A. This book deals with the dangers of trying an accused in the press
before a fair trial is had.
nomination to be the congressman
from the 26th district of California
. He lost in the primary to Harold K. Phillips (who would lose to Howard Berman
in the general election).
.
When the show was rising in high popularity in the late 1970s
, Felsher noticed that then-host Richard Dawson's ego was becoming a major issue. Dawson had a falling out with Felsher throughout the time he was as the helm of the emcee's position. Richard Dawson was known to yell, scream, disagree with, and consistently argue with Howard Felsher (sometimes on camera) due to what Dawson perceived as very questionable calls and judgements made by Felsher. There was one occasion where Dawson and Felsher switched positions during a question. In fact, at one point in 1981, Dawson ordered Felsher to get off the set, to which he did. In 1982 Family Feud creator Mark Goodson
agreed to keep Felsher and his work distant from Richard Dawson by promoting him to "Executive Producer" and promoting Cathy Hughart Dawson (Richard's then daughter-in-law) to producer. Felsher recalled this in the 2002 E! True Hollywood Story
on Family Feud.
On the final original Dawson-era episode of Feud in 1985, Dawson publicly apologized on national television about any misgivings, disagreements, or brawls he may have had with producers, particularly Felsher. However, according to Felsher, Dawson regretted saying the remarks the next day. Dawson told his daughter-in-law, the producer, to cut that from airing and it had not been seen for 14 years.
The speech wasn't shown until December 31, 1999, as part of Game Show Network
's marathon of game show finales.
A grand jury
subpoenaed Kirsten Falke to testify, and producer Howard Felsher implored her to lie. Felsher admitted to congressmen that he roughly urged 30 former show contestants and all of his production staff to lie to the grand jury and that he had lied under oath himself. Felsher also estimated that about 75% of all Tic Tac Dough nighttime shows had been rigged. Felsher was fired in the fallout of the quiz show scandals by NBC as reported in the May 19, 1959 TIME magazine article.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
game show producer for many years. He produced such shows as Tic Tac Dough, Password
Password
A password is a secret word or string of characters that is used for authentication, to prove identity or gain access to a resource . The password should be kept secret from those not allowed access....
, Password Plus, Super Password, He Said, She Said
He Said, She Said
He Said, She Said is a 1991 romantic comedy starring Kevin Bacon, Elizabeth Perkins, Nathan Lane and Sharon Stone.-Synopsis:It is the story of the relationship between journalists Dan Hanson and Lorie Bryer twice – once from each perspective. The man's story was directed by Ken Kwapis and the...
, Concentration
Concentration
In chemistry, concentration is defined as the abundance of a constituent divided by the total volume of a mixture. Four types can be distinguished: mass concentration, molar concentration, number concentration, and volume concentration...
, and most notably Family Feud
Family Feud
Family Feud is an American television game show created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Two families compete against each other in a contest to name the most popular responses to a survey question posed to 100 people...
. Felsher was known as the "Game Show Doctor" in certain circles for his ability to come in and fix a show.
Author
Felsher also wrote a book with Michael RosenMichael Rosen
Michael Wayne Rosen is a broadcaster, children's novelist and poet and the author of 140 books. He was appointed as the fifth Children's Laureate in June 2007, succeeding Jacqueline Wilson, and held this honour until 2009....
entitled The Press in the Jury Box which has since been retitled Justice, U.S.A. This book deals with the dangers of trying an accused in the press
Trial by media
Trial by media is a phrase popular in the late 20th century and early 21st century to describe the impact of television and newspaper coverage on a person's reputation by creating a widespread perception of guilt or innocence before, or after, a verdict in a court of law.In the United Kingdom there...
before a fair trial is had.
Politics
In 1982, Felsher ran for the RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nomination to be the congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from the 26th district of California
California's 26th congressional district
California 26th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California that spans the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley from La Cañada Flintridge to Rancho Cucamonga...
. He lost in the primary to Harold K. Phillips (who would lose to Howard Berman
Howard Berman
Howard Lawrence Berman is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He earlier served in the California State Assembly from 1974 to 1982, and as the U.S...
in the general election).
Family Feud and Richard Dawson
Felsher was most famous for his work done on the original versions of Family FeudFamily Feud
Family Feud is an American television game show created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Two families compete against each other in a contest to name the most popular responses to a survey question posed to 100 people...
.
When the show was rising in high popularity in the late 1970s
1970s
File:1970s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: US President Richard Nixon doing the V for Victory sign after his resignation from office after the Watergate scandal in 1974; Refugees aboard a US naval boat after the Fall of Saigon, leading to the end of the Vietnam War in 1975; The 1973 oil...
, Felsher noticed that then-host Richard Dawson's ego was becoming a major issue. Dawson had a falling out with Felsher throughout the time he was as the helm of the emcee's position. Richard Dawson was known to yell, scream, disagree with, and consistently argue with Howard Felsher (sometimes on camera) due to what Dawson perceived as very questionable calls and judgements made by Felsher. There was one occasion where Dawson and Felsher switched positions during a question. In fact, at one point in 1981, Dawson ordered Felsher to get off the set, to which he did. In 1982 Family Feud creator Mark Goodson
Mark Goodson
Mark Goodson was an American television producer who specialized in game shows.-Life and early career:...
agreed to keep Felsher and his work distant from Richard Dawson by promoting him to "Executive Producer" and promoting Cathy Hughart Dawson (Richard's then daughter-in-law) to producer. Felsher recalled this in the 2002 E! True Hollywood Story
E! True Hollywood Story
E! True Hollywood Story is an American documentary series on E! that deals with famous Hollywood celebrities, movies, TV shows and well-known public figures...
on Family Feud.
On the final original Dawson-era episode of Feud in 1985, Dawson publicly apologized on national television about any misgivings, disagreements, or brawls he may have had with producers, particularly Felsher. However, according to Felsher, Dawson regretted saying the remarks the next day. Dawson told his daughter-in-law, the producer, to cut that from airing and it had not been seen for 14 years.
The speech wasn't shown until December 31, 1999, as part of Game Show Network
Game Show Network
The Game Show Network is an American cable television and direct broadcast satellite channel dedicated to game shows and casino game shows. The channel was launched on December 1, 1994. Its current slogan is "The World Needs More Winners"...
's marathon of game show finales.
The Quiz Show Scandals
As producer of the popular TV game show Tic Tac Dough, Felsher was in charge of all aspects of the shows production including choosing the contestants. Sixteen-year-old Kirsten Falke's audition as a folk singer led her to Felsher's office, who would provide young impressionable Kirsten with the answers and hints to win on the show and a promise to showcase her talent and sing. "I botched it up," retorted Kirsten. She requested her categories in the wrong order. She walked away with a paltry $800.A grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
subpoenaed Kirsten Falke to testify, and producer Howard Felsher implored her to lie. Felsher admitted to congressmen that he roughly urged 30 former show contestants and all of his production staff to lie to the grand jury and that he had lied under oath himself. Felsher also estimated that about 75% of all Tic Tac Dough nighttime shows had been rigged. Felsher was fired in the fallout of the quiz show scandals by NBC as reported in the May 19, 1959 TIME magazine article.