Dingdong Dantes has recently opened up about his unique experience as the host of the hit game show, Family Feud. Despite generally being reserved in his personal life, Dantes has found a surprising sense of therapeutic fulfillment in his role as the show’s main man.
In an interview with Manila Standard Entertainment, Dantes shared how hosting the game show transformed him in front of the cameras and how it made him step out of his comfort zone.
“I’m generally a quiet person, but when I’m on the Family Feud stage, I can be loud and lively. And I think it’s therapeutic for me. Hosting a show like this is also a performance. I get a different kind of energy from the contestants. Every day, I get to meet different kinds of people, and I really have to talk to them and entertain them,” he said.
For the actor-turned-host, the entire experience parallels his acting career. He drew a striking comparison, stating, “The whole experience is something I can liken to acting. Whenever I get my scenes right, you can feel it. It’s the same sense of fulfillment in hosting. I really enjoy it, especially now that I’m familiar and comfortable with the format. I’ve embraced the program, and I look forward to doing the show.”
The top-rating game show is returning tonight on primetime with more exciting surprises and new fun elements.
“When it comes to the new element, one major change would be that our contestants are now open to hardworking Filipinos like nurses, delivery riders, waiters, and even groups of workers, even if they are not together as a family,” he revealed.
Apart from his dynamic interaction with the players and the audience, Dantes highlighted his favorite aspect of the show, saying, “What makes it special is that we really place value on the charity component. If we calculate the P20,000 donated by the winning groups to foundations each day, it’s truly an important aspect of the entire program. That’s why every episode is unforgettable for me.”
Another exciting element is that children can now join. There’s a segment where kids can participate.
“We will now feature special episodes with kids as contestants – a first in the history of the world’s favorite family competition,” Dantes relayed.
Celebrity kids aged 7 to 12 years old will have fun guessing the top answers to various survey questions answered by 100 children of the same age.
“Even the studio audience will have a chance to answer survey questions for fun in their interaction with me,” he said.
Family Feud airs Monday to Friday at 5:40 p.m. on GMA Network.