The Browns take it ‘to the world’ on Family Feud

It’s no secret that many Jamaicans get excited and beam with pride when they see one (or some) of their own representing well on an international stage – even if it is a day-time game show.

Come February, they will get that chance as the island takes front and centre on day-time television, corralled by famous comedian and host, Steve Harvey, on the popular game show, ‘Family Feud’.

Captained by aspiring writer Sabrina K. Marshall, the rest of the team comprises her cousins Lee-Anne Douglas-Trotman; her husband Justin, Nigel and Clive Brown. All four make up the Brown family – with roots in Middle Quarters, St Elizabeth.

“We wore our pins with the Jamaican flag, and did the famous Usain Bolt pose every time we were introduced as the Brown family. Steve Harvey really got a kick out of my Uncle Clive’s strong Jamaican accent and crazy answers,” Sabrina toldThe Gleaner.

A second-generation Jamaican, Sabrina lived in Runaway Bay with her father between 2008 and 2011, before returning to New York for work, where she was struck with the idea. She recalls binge-watching the game show on a rainy Sunday afternoon three years ago, when a light bulb went off in her head. “I immediately went toFamilyFeud.com to get information on how to audition. It’s a dream come true,” she said.

While it is all just fun and games, Sabrina assures that they were in it to win it. “We all went into the show with very high expectations. You could win up to $100,000 and a new car, so we definitely wanted it all!”

To air in February

Still, we will all have to tune in to see if their expectations were met. The Browns’ episodes of ‘Family Feud’ are scheduled to air on February 11-13.

“We loved the experience, had a great time, and would love to go on the show again if we could. The set life was unreal, nerve racking, and very intense. To finally see what we’ve been watching on TV for years in person was exciting. The set was definitely a lot smaller than how it appears on TV,” she revealed.

Sabrina also shared some insight into how production keeps their audience and players in good spirits during filming. She said, “They play a lot of great music prior to filming, and everyone sings and dances! I think it’s to loosen everyone up a bit and get us relaxed. It definitely worked.”

Getting on the show took some time. The family first auditioned in October 2017, filmed in June 2018 – and their three shows will air next month. For Sabrina, the experience was completely life-changing. On set, she finally got to see what it’s like behind the camera – but she was also inspired to make a courageous move. “After visiting LA to film ‘Family Feud’ in June 2018, I knew I needed a change of scenery, and thought LA would be the perfect place to live and pursue my writing career. I moved there in December 2018. So far, I love it!”

She also revealed what it was like meeting Steve Harvey. “Steve cracks a lot of jokes and seems to be a very thoughtful person. Most of that content doesn’t end up on air due to timing, but it definitely helps with loosening up the nerves.”