BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.—Family Feud is one of the biggest game shows in prime-time television, and for one lowcountry family they went from watching the show to becoming actual contestants recently.
“No doubt it is easier playing from home,” stated Rick Kirkpatrick of Daniel Island. “When you are sitting on your couch, you don’t have to beat anyone to the buzzer and you don’t have to think as quick. You also don’t have a dozen cameras and hundreds of lights on you.”
But luckily for the Kirkpatricks, they handled the pressure perfectly. They weren’t just one-time winners. During their time on Family Feud, they won five games!
“We have always enjoyed the show,” recalled Rick. “I can remember as a kid watching it with my mother when Richard Dawson was the host. The whole family enjoys watching Steve Harvey and Family Feud.”
Rick’s family decided to audition for the show after seeing on television that the hit game show was going to hold auditions n Charleston.
“My wife, Dianna, got all of the participants,” said Rick.
In no time, Rick’s wife had rounded up his oldest brother, John of Goose Creek; his middle brother, Bill of Daniel Island; his son, Richard of Goose Creek, and nephew Michael who calls West Ashley home.
“John and I work for South Carolina Federal Credit Union,” he added. “Bill is recently retired from United Healthcare. Richard works for Santee Cooper and Michael works for Comcast Cable.”
As part of the audition process, the Kirkpatrick family had to submit a video, so they family submitted a Christmas video lip-syncing to a holiday song. (To view it, click here.)
“It was a humorous video. We have done several over the years,” Rick stated.
The video caught the attention of Family Feud producers, and they were then asked to audition in late March 2014 in Charleston.
“It consisted of us playing a mock game for them to see our personalities,” he stated. “That went well, and we were asked to go to another room and be interviewed in front of a video camera. They told us they would be in touch within three weeks.”
From there, producers asked the Kirkpatricks to come to Atlanta for a second audition—this time with an opportunity of getting on the show.
“We went to the studio along with nine other families. Some families were being brought back due to technicalities,” explained Rick. “Auditions were held and we were told we did very well.”
During the process two families were sent home. Just when they thought the audition process was over—they had yet a third audition to go through.
“We had decided to add a few funny stories to our introductions during our audition. They seemed to love it and told us we had done the best,” explained Rick. “We got picked to play the fourth game of that day.”
The family went on to win their first game during the actual taping.
“We played the fifth game of the day (our second) and won it too,” stated Rick. “We won games three, four and five, which also won us the car. Bill and Michael did well with the Fast Money round and won the money after our 2nd and 4th shows.”
Their appearances on the show aired November November 24th, 25th, 26th and January 26th and 27th. The shows were taped in Atlanta at the Atlanta Civic Center in front of approximately 200 people in the studio audience.
“As for being nervous, we were all probably a little nervous to start with, but once you get started you get into the game and thinking of your answers and the nerves seem to go away,” stated Rick. You just want to make sure you don’t look stupid and end up on You Tube.
While Rick says his family had to jump through a lot of hoops to get on the show, he stated that in the end it was all worth it.
“I truly believe our family is even closer now than we were, and we were already very close,” stated Richard.
As for what it was like meeting Steve Harvey, Rick stated that the funny show host seemed to really take to his family.
“We were told that five guys was not usually a good combination. He said the game is played better by women because of the way the questions are worded. After every show he would tell us that we were breaking records for families made up of five guys,” Rick stated. “After we won the fifth game and the car, he said that was the first time in history that that had happened and he was glad he was there to witness it. He said he was going to miss us. He talked to us a good bit between shows and prior to the Fast Money rounds. He really took a liking to Richard and Michael, who he referred to as Pretty Boy.”
Since being on the show, Rich says a few people have recognized him from the show. Of course, he says he doesn’t mind the fifteen minutes of fame.
