Heartwarming / Family Feud

• Richard Dawson's 1980 birthday episode, on which his son Mark and his daughter-in-law (and the show's associate producer) Cathy Hughart-Dawson surprised him with a cake. Later, son Gary Dawson surprised him with a visit, which brought him to tears. Dawson ended up bringing on producer Howard Felsher, whom he infamously never got along with, and introducing him to the audience. The whole event took so much time the rules were modified: both families played two survey questions; whoever was in the lead at the end got to play a game of Fast Money; the second family played a different Fast Money game, and both families returned the following Monday.
• During the Roach family's run in 1980, mom-to-be Patty brings a blank "baby's memories" book her family's fourth episode for her son Brian. Having been estimated to be two weeks old at the time of airing, Richard signs the front page with "Brian, I was almost at your coming out party."
• The ABC Grand Finale was bookended by these moments.
  • As Richard Dawson made his entrance for what he thought was the last time, he was caught off-guard by a standing ovation that lasted forty-five seconds.
  Dawson: That was very touching, but I've got to do at least thirty minutes of fun and laughter, and you make me wanna cry when you give me that kind of welcome, and I think you've succeeded. [...] Why'd you do that to me?
  Gene Wood: Because they love you, Richard.
  (audience applauds again)
  • At the very end, Dawson gave a long, impassioned speech, thanking the staff and viewers while visibly on the brink of crying. After it, the credits ran without the theme song, and the show ended with announcer Gene Wood saying "Thank you, Richard. Thank you, America."
• July 4, 1988: Ray Combs' first ever episode aired on Independence Day. He opens and closes the show with "Happy Birthday, America!"
• Ray Combs' third season October 1990 premiere episode, in which he brought out longtime director Paul Alter on stage, as Alter was actually leaving the series to direct the NBC version of To Tell the Truth.
• Normally whenever a host brings on a relative, usually their children. Possible subversion of this is when Ray Combs brought on his son in one particular Halloween episode; the two dressed up as Batman and Robin. Moments that play it straight, however, are when Combs came on with his sister Connie Combs-Riggs, Richard Dawson brought on his wife Gretchen and daughter Shannon (in 1994; one episode also saw him bring on his grandchildren), and a couple of episodes where John O'Hurley brought out his wife and then-toddler age son.
• When Richard Dawson first walked out onto the new Feud set on his 1994 return episode, the audience gave him a 27-second standing ovation that almost drove Dawson to tears. The audience continued giving him standing ovations for more or less the entire rest of the season, though they weren't nearly as long.
• Richard Dawson pledged not to kiss any women during the 1994-1995, and he kept his word. He promised his young daughter that he wouldn't kiss anyone except his wife.
• September 16, 2002: On the first episode that Richard Karn hosted, the audience gives him a standing ovation. Karn says, "You've made me feel right at home."
• This video.
• 2010s: Steve Harvey on one episode says that what matters most to him is hoping that wherever his mother is, she's watching him and is proud of him.
• Steve Harvey mentioned that he does not kiss the women on his version out of respect for two people:
  • Marjorie, his wife.
  • Richard Dawson, because kissing the women was "his thing".
• February 4, 2016: In celebration of Steve Harvey's 1,000th show, his wife Marjorie surprised him by rolling a celebratory cake on stage.
• July 23, 2017: On a celebrity episode, former host Louie Anderson returns to compete as a contestant with his family, and when Steve Harvey brings up that he used to host the show, Louie tells him that he thinks he's been doing an excellent job as the host. Aww!
• During a celebrity edition of Fast Money for charity, Steve Harvey asks the question "How many kisses does it take to know if there is any chemistry?" Contestant Kimberly from The Band Perry gives a sweet smile and says, "One."
• August 6, 2023 (Celebrity): The Triple Round Face-Off for the question "If there were a Mount Rushmore for game show hosts who would be on it?"
  • Erik Holms buzzes in and says "Steve Harvey". Harvey himself is reluctant to ask he's there, and he turns out to be the number three answer. Anders claps and says, "Congratulations!"
  • Brittani DeVines guesses "Alex Trebek", to which Harvey genuinely follows up with "Number one". He is.^note The other two answers: Bob Barker (#2) and Pat Sajak (#4)
  • A similar question was asked on the regular show, with similar results. Harvey even says "Number one" unprompted when Alex Trebek is given, "Number two!" when Bob Barker is mentioned, and then the last answer to clear the board is none other than...
  Steve: C'mon, boy! The whole reason I'm doin' this show! The king! Richard "Give 'Em a Kiss Dead in the Mouth" Dawson!
  (board flips over showing Dawson at #5)

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