Memphis family to appear on ‘Family Feud’ Wednesday
The Nebo family on the set of “Family Feud.” From left to right: Jaja Nebo, Marquetta Nebo, Deborah Westbrook, Gabrielle Westbrook and David Moore. (Courtesy Family Feud)
Lights, cameras and plenty of action will happen as a Memphis family will be featured on an episode of the popular game show “Family Feud.”
The Nebo family team consists of Jaja Nebo, his wife, Marquetta Nebo, his mother-in-law Deborah Westbrook, his sister-in-law Gabrielle Westbrook, and his cousin David Moore.
The show will air on FOX 13 at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11.
Jaja and Marquetta put the team together. Jaja said they were interested in auditioning for the show because they enjoy watching it.
“My wife and I watch ‘Family Feud’ every night,” he said. “It’s something I grew up on and is my favorite game show. So, when I found out they were holding auditions in Memphis, I knew we had to try out.”
The whole process took nearly four years, beginning in December 2019.
“My mother-in-law told me on a Saturday they (‘Family Feud’) were holding auditions in Memphis, and so we made an audition video and submitted it,” Jaja said.
As part of the process, “Family Feud” encourages families to send a video of themselves with their application to audition.
However, the family sent it on Sunday, after the deadline for Memphis applications was up.
The family re-recorded the audition video and sent it to California via email.
“We redid the video again and sent it to California, and in 2021 someone called and asked if we were still interested in doing the show, and I was like ‘Heck yeah,’” Jaja said
From there, the family went through a round of auditions, held virtually due to the COVID-19 family pandemic.
The family was selected, traveled to Atlanta and filmed the episode in February.
Although playing in front of a live studio audience is much different than playing in the comfort of own home, Jaja feels that he and his family were ready for the moment.
“It was a mixture of emotions, it was surreal at first even thinking that we’re really here,” Jaja said. “Then you try to enjoy the moment, but you realize you’re here to win. I’m very competitive, but my wife and I talked, and we were just happy we could have the experience together, so we felt whatever happened, happens.”
For the Nebo family, it was an experience.
“To be on my favorite game show, with my wife, was just an amazing experience,” Jaja said. “From Steve Harvey making everybody laugh and feel comfortable, to the five-star service that was provided, I wish I could be on the show every day.”
To be chosen means a lot to the family.
“I think Memphis always gets a bad stigma of being a bad city with a lot of bad things, when in reality there are a lot of positive people and positive things that come out of Memphis,” said Jaja. “I think to promote positive things for a city that has a bad stigma can change the narrative,” he continued.
Nebo said to expect “plenty of laughs” and to “get your popcorn ready,” for the show.
Topics
Family FeudBJ Gibbs
BJ Gibbs is a native of North Little Rock, Arkansas and is in his senior year at the University of Memphis, studying journalism. He covers general assignment news for The Daily Memphian.
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