Additionally, fans at the time were upset that he was kissing non-white contestants.ĭawson wasn't about to give up kissing but decided to let the viewers decide. Because there was no way of knowing the marital status of the women or whether they wanted to be kissed, the network executives asked Dawson to stop. The lucky kiss worked for the contestant, and soon the practice was commonplace. When a woman needed help thinking of an answer, her obvious nerves sent him in to do something 'my mom would do to me whenever I had a problem of any kind.' He kissed her on the cheek.
The origin of his signature move, according to Dawson, was spontaneous. Early in his tenure, Dawson began kissing female contestants - for 'luck.' The charismatic host was known for his banter, quick wit, and general bucking of the norm, but the kissing was something that made advertisers and TV executives nervous. Richard Dawson was the first ( beating out William Shatner) and the third host of Family Feud.
