November 7, 2023
By MEALAND RAGLAND-HUDGINS
Rutherford County Schools
What started as a way for Martin Burgess and his family to stay connected in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the opportunity of a lifetime.
Burgess, a biology teacher at Smyrna High, will appear on ‘Family Feud’ alongside his mother, Bettye, and siblings Matthew, Francis and Tiffany. The episode airs at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15 on Fox17.
“During COVID, my sister was trying to do things to keep us connected. We would do game nights on Zoom and she recorded us one night and sent it in to the show,” he explained.
Burgess spent the previous seven years at La Vergne High and 10 years in Metro Nashville Public Schools before that. He recently talked about how filming the show came about and tips for a successful audition process.
QUESTION: What happened after your sister sent in the video?
ANSWER: It took a little while, but they reached out and we did a mock interview. We didn’t hear anything else for a long time. It was probably a couple of years before they emailed my sister Tiffany and said they wanted us. We’re a close family and I think that really came through on the video and interview.
Q: Was there anything about the process that surprised you?
A: The people on the show — the other families, the producers, everybody is really, really nice. The other families who are sitting in the audience hoping to get picked, everyone is on cloud nine. I think the biggest thing is that the process is mentally draining and it’s so fast-paced. It’s an all-day thing. You’re in the audience watching and hoping you get picked so you’re on pins and needles until you they call your name or don’t.
Q: Who was in charge of the coordinating outfits?
A: My sister was pretty much in charge of everything since she was the point of contact, but my brother Francis had some input, too. But she kept it simple.
Q: What advice would you give another family auditioning?
A: Be genuine. The same energy that you have in your video and mock interview, that’s how they want you when it’s time to film. When the show airs, the people you see on TV, that’s really us. Just have fun, though. You may never get this opportunity again, so enjoy it.