Iowa family to appear on ‘Family Feud’ game show on May 20

When West Des Moines couple Sara and Daryl Saunders utilized to be on the sport present “Household Feud” towards the start of the pandemic, their household had restricted expectations. 

“We have been quarantined collectively, and (Sara) stated, ‘Let’s do one thing totally different. Let’s department out a bit of bit and see if we are able to get on a recreation present,’” Daryl stated. “We went by the method, and naturally family and friends type of doubted it, like ‘That is not going to occur.’ After a couple of interviews and emails and telephone calls, it turned a actuality for our total household.”

A few yr later, the household discovered themselves on an all-expenses-paid journey to Atlanta to movie on the set of “Household Feud.”

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Sara Saunders and her husband Daryl, Sara’s brothers Jason and Andrew Mielke and Sara’s father, Bruce Mielke, participated on the present. Sara’s mom, Nancy Mielke, was concerned behind the scenes from the Mielke’s residence in Forest Metropolis. 

“She was our design artist, our designer,” Daryl stated. “She made certain we appeared good on tv.”

Although the household had watched the sport present on tv many occasions earlier than, Sara stated it’s tougher than anticipated as soon as on the stage. 

“It’s simply so totally different while you’re on the stage,” Sara stated. “We’d watched the present at residence and we’d be like, ‘Why didn’t they get that? That was really easy.’ However now I completely get why some folks say some loopy issues up there. It’s only a primal intuition to reply.”

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Based on Daryl, the strain of being on the stage and time constraints made answering host Steve Harvey’s questions harder than it could seem to tv audiences. 

“Being underneath these vibrant lights and having Steve Harvey type of look you within the eye, it places issues in perspective a bit of bit,” Daryl stated. “You solely get a couple of seconds to reply questions, so that you don’t have plenty of time to course of the questions. So while you hear humorous solutions and out-of-this-world responses, we completely get that now.”

Off the stage, Daryl stated the “Household Feud” host and comic Harvey is “only a real, regular human being. He’s only a real, down-to-earth legend. He’s very heat,” Daryl stated. “It was a pleasure simply being round him and having regular conversations with him.”

When the cameras stopped rolling, Harvey continued joking with the households and the viewers — one of many highlights of the expertise, based on Sara. 

“It was loopy as a result of in between, when it’s not on digital camera, he’s simply entertaining the viewers and relations,” Sara stated. “The manufacturing staff stated that plenty of different main TV hosts will simply go within the again room or one thing, however he was on the market your complete time.”

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Sara stated the “Household Feud” filming expertise was a vibrant spot throughout an in any other case unsure time. 

“We had a blast with the manufacturing staff,” Sara stated. “They have been extraordinarily heat and ensuring we have been comfy always and actually upbeat, so it was actually enjoyable. Throughout COVID, there’s plenty of occasions of uncertainty, and it was good to have a time once we might simply snort and have enjoyable with the household.”

Although the household can not reveal the result of the present, Daryl stated, “I believe everybody did nice and everybody contributed as a lot as they may.”

“I’d say one of the best half for me, it was simply an honor to symbolize the Des Moines space and symbolize the Mielke household themselves,” Daryl stated. “Assembly all of the manufacturing crew and Steve Harvey and having a possibility to be on nationwide tv, I imply the entire total expertise was superior to me.” 

The “Household Feud” episode will air at 4 p.m. Might 20 on FOX.

Grace Altenhofen is a information reporter for the Des Moines Register. She may be reached at galtenhofen@registermedia.com or on Twitter @gracealtenhofen.