Combs was in the midst of a series of physical and emotional injuries that resulted in a significantly large accumulation of debt, foreclosures, chronic pain, and a divorce at the time he hosted Family Challenge, and the new series had given Combs a renewed sense of optimism about his career prospects after his dismissal from Feud.

The latter of the two attempts was successful, as Combs hanged himself in a closet at a Glendale, California hospital on June 2, 1996.

To replace Wood as announcer, the show chose voice actor Charlie Glaize to fill the role.

That team won two prizes (such as a new living room group and a ceiling fan), and a trophy called "The Family Challenge Championship Cup" and during the closing credits, Gene Wood announced that all of the food used on the show was no longer edible.

Towards the end of the run, all Friday shows consisted solely of audience participation games.