How A West Michigan Family Ended Up On ‘Family Feud’

Whenever you watch reality TV, you always wonder, "Where did they find these guys?" Contestants come from all around the country, so it isn't often that those contestants you see on TV are in your backyard. But for anyone watching Family Feud tonight (Jan. 26th), you may be familiar with the Nebbeling family.

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The Nebbeling family, featuring Jon, Heidi, Mattie, Trinity, and Gabriel, went up against the Rubin family in a tough match. Before the episode airs tonight at 7 pm, we spoke with Gabriel Haman to learn about what it took to get on the show, what it was like being on stage, and if there were any exciting behind-the-scenes details he could share.

A Journey Three Years In The Making

It is not easy to get on a game show. For the Nebbeling family, the process started nearly three years ago when Trinity submitted an audition video. Each member had to submit a video and was accepted soon after, but one member dropped out. That's when Gabriel stepped in. The episode was filmed in March of 2025, in Atlanta.

READ MORE: Dax Shepard’s Michigan Ancestry Runs Deeper Than Anyone Expected

"Being on the show was a crazy experience," Gabriel said. "Steve Harvey makes you feel so comfortable, it almost feels like it’s just you and him, even with all the cameras," Gabriel said. Behind the scenes, coaches kept the families hyped throughout filming, and the production team helped walk the family through the shots.

Of course, we had to know what it was like talking to Steve Harvey. According to Gabriel, his family is "pretty wild", and he thought there were moments when he thought they managed to make "Steve uncomfortable instead of the other way around...but he throws the jokes and shade right back, which made the whole experience even more fun."

You can watch the Nebbeling family go toe-to-toe with the Rubin family (Steve Harvey!) tonight at 7 pm on ABC, or check your local listing here to double-check.