Mukilteo family misses big prize on 'Family Feud'

MUKILTEO -- Well, the Seungs didn't come out on top in their "Family Feud."

The Mukilteo family was edged out by the O'Neal family of Kentucky in their appearance on the nationally syndicated game show, which was recorded in May and aired Monday.

"That's how it goes," said Shirley Seung, 63, one of the five members of her family who appeared on the show.

Seung and her husband, Christopher, also 63; daughters Reyna, 35, and Crystal, 32, and son Brian, 30, made it onto the show after an audition at the Puyallup Mall last winter.

The families have to sign a form promising not to reveal the outcome before the show airs.

In the show, family members are asked to match answers to questions asked in surveys. The first family to 300 points wins a chance at $20,000 and gets to play on the next show, for up to five shows. They also can win a car by winning all five shows.

The other family goes home empty-handed but gets a free trip out of the deal, Shirley Seung said. "Family Feud" pays all the expenses for the families to travel to the taping in Atlanta, including hotel, airfare and transportation.

When host Steve Harvey introduced the Seungs, he raised the mispronunciation of "Mukilteo" to a new level, giving up after two tries and mumbling several more attempts in jest.

The Seungs were playing against four-time defending champions. The O'Neals were playing in their fifth straight show and edged out the Seungs, 302 to 278.

Seung said her family practiced for the show.

"We were ready," she said. "We were going to get that $20,000."

Shirley Seung also was on the show with her father and sisters in its first incarnation in 1977. She didn't win then, either, but family members had to pay their own way to the show and won some parting gifts.

Shirley might not be done with "Family Feud" just yet. She said the Seungs were invited to give it another try after three years.

"Time goes fast," she said, laughing.

Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439; sheets@heraldnet.com.