Survey says: Hamilton family to appear on Family Feud Canada

Show airs on CBC and Gem streaming service

A “corny and funny” entrance video has helped a Hamilton family land an appearance on “Family Feud Canada,” airing coast-to-coast on CBC and the free Gem streaming service.

The Torres family is representing the steel city on an upcoming episode of the game show based on the popular Fremantle format. Canadian standup comedian and actor Gerry Dee is the show’s host.

Mountain resident Edd Torres appears on a team with his sisters, Darlene Meville-Cryer and Diane Widdup, and cousins Dorothy Medeiros-Graham and Debbie Medeiros.

Back in the fall, the team submitted an audition tape after noticing the CBC had adapted the popular survey-based game show for Canadian audiences.

Torres was somewhat hesitant, but his sister Darlene and cousin Dorothy said, “Let’s do this,” he recalled.

“They persuaded me to do it,” said Torres. “We sent in an audition tape, not thinking anything was going to happen.”

The family decided to do something on the wild side.

“We came together and we said, let’s try to be as standout-ish as possible. Let’s try to be a little bit on the wild side, a little bit on the fun side — what Hamilton’s all about,” said Torres.

In their audition video, the Torres family paid tribute to the early days of Family Feud, with Torres appearing both as himself and as the show’s original host Richard Dawson.

“We all dressed up in late ‘70s, early ‘80s outfits,” said Torres. “It was kind of corny and funny and I think they loved that.”

After receiving a positive response to the video from show producers, the family members came to Toronto for a live audition where they competed against other families.

After their initial show taping was postponed due to bad weather, the Torres family members returned to CBC headquarters in Toronto Jan. 6 for their day in the spotlight.

The show was filmed in front of a studio audience of about 150 people.

While the action unfolds on TV in under 30 minutes, Torres said the actual recording takes closer to 90 minutes, including the time needed to recheck outfits and makeup, review lines and reshoot introductions.

As for the family’s show performance, Torres is sworn to secrecy prior to the air date.

He said it was a great experience. “It’s a nervous fun, because it’s not something that you do every day.” A CBC spokesperson said in an email Jan. 8 the episode’s air date hasn’t been confirmed.