Before the 'Golden Bachelor' divorce there was 'Celebrity Family Feud': What happened?
No, your eyes were not deceiving you. And no, "Golden Bachelor" Gerry Turner and ex-wife Theresa Nist have not reconciled.
Yes, the once-Golden Couple, now divorced, appeared on ABC's "Celebrity Family Feud" Tuesday with their once semi-blended families. It made for curious TV watching. The primetime game show hosted by Steve Harvey is shot in batches months in advance of its air date. The Bachelor Nation vs. Golden Bachelor "Feud" was taped April 7.
Less than a week later, on April 12, Turner, 72, and Nist, 70, shocked the nation by announcing on "Good Morning America" that they were divorcing, only three months after marrying on Jan. 4 in a lavish nationally televised wedding.
Were there any clues or cracks on "Feud"? Let's explore what happened on the show (now streaming on Hulu).
Golden Bachelor team hugged, smiled and trounced Bachelor Nation team
Turner put his hand on Nist's shoulder for introductions, telling Harvey, "This is my lovely wife, Theresa." Big smiles. He nailed the names on his team, which included Theresa's grown children (Jen Woolston and Tommy Nist) and his brood (daughters Angie Warner and Jenny Young).
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Team Golden Bachelor hugged, huddled and whooped at appropriate times. More importantly, they pummeled their opponents in the charity match, guessing the most popular responses to survey questions. Team Golden Bachelor crushed Team Bachelor Nation, led by Joey Graziadei and his now-fiancé Kelsey Anderson, winning all three rounds. It wasn't even close.
In fact, Turner ended one round himself when asked to fill in this Harvey-posed question: "We asked 100 women, 'You just traded in your husband for what?'"
Turner's reply of "bank account" might seem slightly eyebrow-raising, given the internet conspiracy theory that he was really gunning for financial planner Nist's impressive cash. But it was a popular enough answer to win the round.
Turner ended the one-sided battle by correctly guessing "a famous Willie." He chose Willie Mays. Survey said he was correct. Say hey, the game was over.
Turner and Nist went for the 'Fast Money'
In the bonus, speed-answer section known as "Fast Money," things got odd. Nist and Turner represented. Standing on the stage alone with Harvey, Nist looked nervous to the point of miserable, no doubt because it was a pressure moment. But Harvey's joking whisper to Nist, "Are you out here against your will?" didn't age well.
Nist pulled through her round, and Turner strode out with such purpose that Harvey mocked his walk. But the guy had his Gerry game face on and made solid guesses during the speed round. There was one clanker of an answer when he asked to name a popular lingerie color. With black taken, Turner chose purple. Harvey smirked. Still, the Iowa native did well enough to win the "Fast Money" round, earning $25,000 for the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital.
Turner gave one of his goofy solo dances to celebrate the victory before getting hugs from Nist and the rest of the swarming crew. Solid game show finish.
"Had a GREAT time at Celebrity Family Feud with the blended family," Turner wrote on Instagram later, posting pictures behind the scenes.
In conclusion: No fighting on 'Celebrity Family Feud'
The divorce papers were filed five days afterward, the same day they broke the news on GMA (the divorce was finalized June 14). According to court documents obtained by USA TODAY, the couple "lived together as husband and wife until April 12, 2024, at which time certain irreconcilable differences heretofore arisen between the parties culminated in their separation."
Was it the distance (his family is in Indiana, and hers is in New Jersey)? Was it the inability to find a suitable joint location, something more nefarious or just reality show love going flat? We might never know for sure.
But there was no quarrel on "Celebrity Family Feud."
Contributing: Jay Stahl
