Family Challenge
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Family Challenge was a game show that aired on The Family Channel from October 2, 1995 to September 1, 1997, lasting for two seasons. The first season was hosted by Ray Combs; following his death in 1996 (suicide), the second season was hosted by Michael Burger. Gene Wood announced the first season, while Charlie Glaize announced the second.
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[edit] Premise
Two teams of six family members competed. Each team consisted of two adults and four children (commonly the parents' own children, plus nieces and/or nephews). Five stunts were played, each worth a varying amount of points. The stunts varied in each show; the following are a few stunts used on the show during the first season.
[edit] Stunts
- Tug of war: All six members of the first team competed against Lee Reherman, better known as "Hawk" the American Gladiator, 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. (For example, "This Icy Sensation Causes A Gyration" means they must pour a pitcher of water down their pants, and "Simple Simon Met A Pie Man" means they must smash a pie into their face.) 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 and 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.
[edit] Winning
At the end of the fifth event, the team with the most points was the winner. That team won two prizes (such as a new living room group and a ceiling fan), and a trophy called "The Family Challenge Cup".
[edit] Trivia
- Announcer Gene Wood stated at the end of each episode, "All of the food used on Family Challenge is food that is no longer edible." Ray also mentioned this during some events -- they wanted to let viewers know that they were not wasting food.
- The second season brought many changes. Besides the new host, the show was re-titled The New Family Challenge and given a new set. It was taped at Universal Studios Hollywood.
