Jermane Zorrilla ’21 and Family Win Big on Family Feud: A Dream Come True 

When one dad dreamed of competing with his daughters on the nationally known television gameshow Family Feud, he never guessed that each member of the family would end up winning $10,000 and tickets for the trip of a lifetime. This dream started in 2022, when the father of Jermane Zorrilla ’21 (early childhood education) applied to be on the show. Zorrilla’s family auditioned with a trial round of the game over a Zoom call but didn’t hear anything back until 2023, when producers reached out with the incredible opportunity to appear on the show in 2024. 

Zorrilla grew up playing an online version of Family Feud with her sisters on Facebook, but now Zorrilla’s family had a chance to work together on camera to win big, real prizes. Although her family is spread across the country, from California to North Carolina (where Zorrilla now teaches Spanish), Virginia and New York, they were all able to unite at Tyler Perry Studios in Georgia in February 2024 to compete under the bright lights of television. 

On TV with a Family Feud Legend 

Though the family was ecstatic to be on television, they first had to deal with the protocols of filming a live show like Family Feud. Each day of filming could take anywhere from eight to eleven hours. “We had to come early in the morning because we were a new family, so we were there for hours. It was an all-day thing,” says Zorrilla. Each episode consists of two families competing in four to six rounds, and the family with the most points in the end wins the game. Because Zorrilla’s family kept winning, they would move on to film new episodes of the game throughout the day and compete with new families, for a total of five games over the span of only two days.  

But despite all the hard work, it was worth it for the chance to meet a famous TV personality. As competitors on the show, the family got to work with Family Feud host Steve Harvey. According to Zorrilla Harvey made filming the episodes lively and fun with his comedic timing. He also continuously encouraged Zorrilla’s team as they worked together during each round of the game.  

This playful atmosphere culminated in an experience that Zorrilla says was “the most fun I’ve ever had as an adult. This is TV—they want a lively audience, they want you to cheer, they want you to go ‘aww’ with disappointment and they want you to just have fun, so we were dancing and singing the entire time.” 

Winning Big as a Family   

Filming the show was exciting, and Zorrilla and her family were determined to win five games, which is the maximum a family can win. This means they played against five different families and won every game. The best money-making strategy, according to Zorrilla, was to do well in the fast-money round toward the end of each game—but to do that, they had to work together as a team and get better more quickly than their competitors. After competing for a while, the family improved their skills and felt more comfortable in their abilities. 

The Zorilla family ultimately won a little over $50,000 dollars in total, and their five wins earned the family an extra prize in addition to the cash. “After you win the fifth episode, it used to be you would win a car, but the producers realized they were breaking up families by giving five adults one car,” said Zorrilla. Now the show has a more family friendly solution for the grand prize: a family trip to Barbados, with airfare included. Zorilla and her family will take their trip in February 2025, almost exactly one year after they filmed. “It felt amazing to win big,” admitted Zorrilla, saying that the win moved her to tears as she thought of how much it had done for her family.  

Taking the Chance 

When asked if she would ever compete on Family Feud again, Zorrilla replied with enthusiasm, “It was so much fun, I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Even if I could just be in the audience, it was a wonderful time.” Because Zorrilla and her family were victorious for five games in a row, they might be called back to compete against other families who were just as successful; Family Feud sometimes hosts competitions between families who have made their mark with winning streaks. 

For Zorilla Family Feud was something of a family reunion. “Being together was a special occasion, because unless it’s Christmas, Thanksgiving or sisters’ weekend, we are never on the same side of the world,” said Zorrilla. “Sharing that moment with my family was unique, special, beautiful and so memorable. It allowed us to bond like never before, and I am grateful for it.” Soon her whole will be reunited once again when they escape the cold on a beach in sunny Barbados—closer than ever because of this unforgettable experience.  

Reagan Forbes ’24, communication arts