You know, it's funny you should mention this, because not too long ago I saw the Dawson-era Family Feud and wondered the same thing myself.

There would be such an uproar (and a ton of lawsuits, I'd bet) if a game show host were to do that today, that's for sure. While I myself probably wouldn't mind a peck on the cheek, I can just imagine him moving in on some 90's-era feminist and getting socked in the face. Good thing they have that big desk-thing they stand behind, or he'd probably get something worse than being socked in the face. :-}

I've only seen one episode of the show from when Dawson was the host, and while his behaviour did seem more friendly than usual, it didn't seem *that* bad but I know what you mean about it being kind of weird. But maybe that was just a mild day for him or something. But I do think that in general, people were far slower to get offended by things in the early eighties than they are now.