SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 ISSUE
Local Family Stars on “Family Feud”
Why did a High Country family want to play “Family Feud?”
The top four answers are on the board.
Number 1 answer: For fun. Number 2: Spend time with family. Number 3: To hit that buzzer. Number 4: To play the Feud.
Playing under their “Banner” family name, Mitzi Bunton and her sister Tina Casner, along with their husbands, George Bunton and Kenny Casner, and the Casners’ daughter, 18-year-old Kassie, recently filmed an episode of the popular game show in Hollywood.
They still don’t know when the show will air, a fact the family is hoping to find out soon from show executives.
“I still get butterflies if I watch the show from the sound of the “X” and the sounds of when the answer flips,” Mitzi said, even two months after they were flown to and from Hollywood for the taping.
They auditioned for the show at Carowinds theme park on May 9 along with more than 100 other families. They had to wait a few weeks to find out if they were accepted for a spot on the television show.
When the call came that they were picked, they only had a few days to get prepared. George said they found out on a “Thursday or Friday and flew out the next Sunday.”
In those few days, the family had to get three wardrobe changes, had to come up with the pose for the beginning of the show (which they practiced in front of mirrors) and rearrange their work schedules.
George and Mitzi are physical therapists who also run Blue Ridge Wellness, while the Casners are national clogging champions. Kenny is a pharmaceutical representative.
Mitzi and Tina’s other sister, Pam Wood, along with her daughter, Savanna, and Tina’s son, Titus, went along for the tip. Titus, 15, was the back-up player for the family.
At the first audition in Charlotte, the family didn’t know that the people in charge were actually the casting directors for the show.
“It didn’t matter what you said or if you won your audition, they were looking for personality,” Mitzi said.
“They wanted someone fun and upbeat,” George said, “but they wanted to make sure you could answer something, even if it was a stupid answer.”
The Banners must have won over the producers because they were one of 11 families chosen from that audition. It wasn’t their last audition, though.
Once they arrived in Hollywood in late June, another audition took place, as nine families were on the set, but only six chosen to be on television.
The family can’t tell if they won or lost on the show, as they had to sign a contract agreeing to keep the outcome quiet.
One of the hardest parts of the show was a pre-show interview that was taped backstage. Other than that, the cameras were barely visible on the set, George said.
Hundreds of people in the community have asked them about the appearance, though, and they’re ready to see the show, which is hosted by John O’Hurley.
“I’ve loved that game show forever,” Mitzi said. “When we were younger, we always watched that game show and sit in the living room and play it.”
That didn’t make it any easier.
On the trip to California, Mitzi had a notebook where she’d write down possible answers to questions, things like famous people named John or famous kings and queens.
“At home, I have nailed those answers for years,” Mitzi said. “When you’re on that set, it’s so different. You wonder why people say stupid things.”
Now that they’ve been a part of it, this local family understands.
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