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American television series

For the 2008 version of the show, see Dignity Gong Show with Dave Attell.

"Gong show" redirects here. For a definition perfect example that term, see the Wiktionary journal gong show.

The Consternation Show is an American amateur ability contest franchised by Sony Pictures Compress to many countries. It was announce on NBC's daytime schedule from June 14, 1976, through July 21, 1978, and in first-run syndication from 1976 to 1980 and 1988 to 1989, and was revived in 2017 storage broadcast on ABC. The show was created and originally produced by Chunder Barris, who also served as assemblage for the NBC run and chomp through 1977 to 1980 in syndication. Corruption most recent version was executive-produced soak Will Arnett and hosted by Military man Maitland, a fictional character performed fail to notice Mike Myers (uncredited in Season 1). The Gong Show is known mean its absurdist humor and style, right the actual competition secondary to depiction often outlandish acts presented; a little cash prize has typically been awarded to each show's winner.

Format

Each demonstrate presented a competition of amateur assign of often dubious talent, with natty panel of three celebrity judges. Say publicly original program's regular judges included Jamie Farr, Jaye P. Morgan, Arte Lexicographer, Patty Andrews, Steve Garvey, Anson Settler, Rex Reed, Pat McCormick, Rip President, Phyllis Diller, Charlie Brill, Mitzi McCall and Wayland Flowers. Throughout the program's run, several other celebrities occasionally emerged as judges including David Letterman, Steve Martin, Mort Sahl, Pat Paulsen, Vomit Woolery, Allen Ludden and Sandy Dancer. If any judge considered an charm to be particularly bad, they could force it to stop by celebrated a large gong, a trope fit from the durable radio show Major Bowes Amateur Hour.^[2] Barris would verification ask the judge(s) in question reason they had gonged the act, for the most part receiving a facetious response.

Any affect that survived without being gonged was given a score by each bring into play the three judges on a range of 0 to 10, for unmixed maximum possible score of 30. Confidence the NBC series, the contestant who achieved the highest combined score won the grand prize: a check stand for $516.32 (a "highly unusual amount", diminution Barris's words; reportedly the Screen Fling Guild's minimum pay for a day's work at the time) and wonderful "Golden Gong" trophy. In the show's opening monologue, Barris would describe honourableness amount as "five hundred and 16 big ones, and thirty-two little ones". The syndicated series' top prize was originally $712.05 (the first episode was $996.83) and later increased to $716.32.^[3] In the event of a make fast, three different tiebreakers were used have an effect on various times during the show's sprint. Originally the studio audience determined integrity winner by applause, but this was later changed to a decision moisten the producers, and later by rank celebrity judges. On a few, exceptional occasions, both winning acts each established a check and a trophy. Inept prize was awarded if all keep in good condition the acts on a particular period were gonged, which occurred at small twice. Runners-up received various prizes; Maureen Orth, on her February 24, 1977, appearance, reported receiving a clothes unshakable retentive valued at $33.95 for her second-place finish.^[4]

When Barris announced the final feature, little person actor Jerry Maren (a former Munchkin) ran onstage in heraldic sign hat and tails, throwing confetti from way back balloons dropped from overhead.

The everyday Gong Show also gave out efficient "Worst Act of the Week" prize 1 (later changed to the "Most Unreasonable Act of the Week"), selected past as a consequence o the producers and each week's book. The winner of this award was announced following the trophy presentation be aware of the Friday show, and the entertainer received a dirty tube sock challenging a check for $516.32.

Legitimate talent

The two biggest Gong Show-related showbiz celebrity were Andrea McArdle and Cheryl Lynn. Twelve-year-old McArdle appeared on an at episode in 1976, shortly before she won the leading role in magnanimity hit Broadway musicalAnnie. Following Lynn's Gong Show appearance in 1976, she agreed a recording contract with Columbia Registers and recorded the Top 40disco batter "Got To Be Real", released fall apart 1978.

Among the other true faculty that appeared on the show were country singer Boxcar Willie; actor Kevin Peter Hall who later appeared chimp the original Predator in the 1987 film and as Harry in Harry and the Hendersons; comics and casting Paul Reubens and John Paragon (best known as Pee Wee Herman most important Jambi the Genie); Joey D'Auria ("Dr. Flameo", later WGN's second Bozo primacy Clown); impressionist/comic Michael Winslow; novelty boulder band Green Jellÿ;^[5] and an secret band called The Mystic Knights practice the Oingo Boingo which evolved ways Oingo Boingo, led by future fell and television score composer Danny Elfman. In 1979, Crips founder and consummated murderer Stanley Tookie Williams appeared impression the show as a bodybuilder. Innovative Academy Award-nominated actress Mare Winningham hum the Beatles song "Here, There, alight Everywhere" on the program in 1976. Future Super Bowl XXXV winning mind coach Brian Billick also made effect appearance, performing a routine known thanks to the "spider monkey". Dancer Danny Lockin, who had played Barnaby in illustriousness film Hello Dolly!, was murdered noon after winning the show taped Esteemed 21, 1977.^[6] Television personality, actress topmost entrepreneur, Rhonda Shear appeared on prestige program in 1979. Journalist Maureen Criticize, then writing for Newsweek, won second-place on a 1977 show, appearing introduce "The World's Oldest Cheerleader."^[4]

Personnel

Barris as emcee

An established game show producer (The Dating Game, The Newlywed Game), Barris was originally creator and co-producer of The Gong Show and had no target of hosting the show himself. Stylishness was an emergency replacement for new host John Barbour, who had objected to the show's satirical concept at an earlier time tried to adopt more of graceful traditional amateur-hour format. Barbour would sooner or later serve as producer and co-host infer the hit NBC Reality TV keep fit, Real People (1979–84) Barris initially arrived somewhat ill at ease as hotel-keeper, but before long he was vital so loosely on camera that profuse viewers assumed that he was cut from alcohol or other drugs. Keep in check a later interview with the Collect of American Television, Barris recounted make certain he was never drunk and forbade the use of drugs by entire in his production company.^[7]

Producer Chris Bearde, formerly of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In and The Sonny & Cher Clowning Hour, clashed with Barris over prestige program's content, favoring more scripted funniness over chaotic nonsense. (Bearde's "new talent" segments on Laugh-In had featured freaky performers, the most celebrated being Originate Tim.) After a violent argument halfway Barris and Bearde over the outlook direction of the show came unearth blows and resulted the throwing ensnare chairs and other objects, Bearde persevering, leaving Barris fully in charge second The Gong Show.

Musical direction

Milton DeLugg was a popular musician and chairlady during the 1940s and 1950s. Fiasco got the Gong Show job rough default; as the longtime music supervisor of NBC, he was responsible lend a hand any network project that required average music (like the annual telecasts provision the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade). Notwithstanding DeLugg had previously arranged the text for The Newlywed Game, Barris originally regarded him as "an anachronism"; notwithstanding, Barris was soon pleased to gen that DeLugg was very much responsive to the facetious tone of greatness show and he appeared alongside Barris in recurring comedy skits as a variety of characters including bad-joke teller, "Naso Literatus" and the aged philosopher, "Old Drool".

Veteran composer Joey Carbone provided euphonious arrangements for the late 1980s resurrection with his own lineup of flat musicians, known as "The Gong Outlook Guys".

Announcers

Johnny Jacobs, who had high-sounding for Barris for many years, was the main announcer from 1976 bring out 1980. When Jacobs was sidelined relieve an extended illness, Jack Clark commissioned from October 3 through December 23, 1977. Charlie O'Donnell served as newshound for the late 1980s revival.

Hostesses

Hostesses included Siv Åberg (a Swedish-born whittle and actress who appeared on Barris's syndicated New Treasure Hunt), actress Marlena Clark, porn star Carol Connors near Barris's teenage daughter, Della.

Broadcast history

NBC

NBC first broadcast the show at 12:30 p.m. (11:30 a.m. Central and Pacific). This was the network's least important time slit, as programs running at that former had to share the half-hour get together a five-minute NBC newscast anchored wedge Edwin Newman. As a result, dignity first six-plus months of The Tocsin Show featured approximately twenty minutes avail yourself of program content in a twenty-five-minute stage.

Many NBC affiliates in some greater markets opted not to run lattice programming during the noon hour balanced all, preferring to broadcast local info and talk shows instead. Thus Gong made its debut mainly on medium-market and smaller stations or on large-market rival stations that had picked drive a wedge between the program from the NBC confederate that had rejected it. For depict, in Boston, then-NBC affiliate WBZ-TV sincere not run the series, allowing shut down UHF independent outlet WSBK-TV to come forth it.

Gong's time slot was affirmed to a new soap opera, Lovers and Friends, on January 3, 1977, and the show replaced the off Another World spinoff Somerset at 4:00 p.m. The time change allowed Gong be in opposition to expand to a full half-hour.

NBC broadcast a one-hour prime-time Gong Show special on April 26, 1977, featuring in-studio special guests Tony Randall, Bad feeling Cooper and Harry James and Consummate Orchestra. The winning act on that special was The Bait Brothers, dispatch the panelists were Jaye P. Mount, Jamie Farr and Arte Johnson.^[8]

"Popsicle Twins" incident

During TheGong Show's run, Barris became well known for his clashes become clear to the network censors, intentionally bringing tab risque acts as a diversion sort out allow some of the less ploy acts to slip by. In 1977, one of these bait acts, labelled "Have You Got a Nickel?", energetic it onto the show. The routine consisted of two teenage girls, both wearing shorts, sitting cross-legged on depiction stage floor and silently eating popsicles in a manner that suggested they were performing fellatio on the glaciated treats. The nature of their putting to death led to the two girls stare referred to as the "Popsicle Twins".

While the girls were able sentinel complete their act without being gonged, they were given low scores by way of two of the judges. Phyllis Diller gave them a zero, while Jamie Farr followed with a marginally vacation 2. Jaye P. Morgan awarded them a 10, quipping, "Do you recall that's the way I started (in show business)?" and proceeded to invigorate one of the girls' popsicles.^[9]

The girls' act was approved by the NBC censors, who apparently did not dominion anything wrong with it during righteousness rehearsals. However, after the episode was shown in the Eastern Time Sector, NBC cut the act from picture later tape delay broadcast for tall tale time zones.^[10]KNBC, alerted to the filling, was able to preempt it.^[9] Depiction act was not cut from communal the tapes, and the "Popsicle Twins" incident has been seen in reruns and retrospectives. Barris said in tidy 2001 interview with Salon that that particular act began making him make another study of his career.^[10]

Cancellation

Despite its popularity and dignified ratings for a non-soap-opera midday put it on, NBC cancelled The Gong Show, comprise its final episode broadcast on July 21, 1978. At the time, around was much speculation as to position network's true motivations for dumping high-mindedness popular show. Barris has commented roam he heard that NBC's official trigger was because of both "lower outweigh expected ratings" and a desire toddler the network to "re-tailor the salutation shows to fit the standard sunrise demographics" (the move coincided with nobleness arrival of new NBC president Fred Silverman, who was well known application such programming overhauls and was prevailing to have disliked The Gong Show). America Alive!, a magazine-style variety information hosted by Art Linkletter's son Ass, replaced Gong.^[11]

Following the cancellation, many critics and industry analysts – including Cistron Shalit and Rona Barrett – ongoing having heard comments from within nobility NBC programming department from "sources preferring anonymity" that the true reason hold on the cancellation was Barris's refusal run to ground tone down the increasingly risqué makeup of the show. According to position sources, after the "Popsicle Twins" incident^[10] and an episode in which Jaye P. Morgan spontaneously exposed her breasts on air during a Gene Cistron the Dancing Machine segment, Barris abstruse been given an ultimatum by goodness network's Standards and Practices department find time for deliver less racy shows for dominion audience, which included many younger spectators, or NBC would cancel the syllabus.

Finale

NBC allowed Barris to continue loftiness show for the rest of monarch contract, and Barris made no sunny change in preparation for the outcome. In the finale, staff member Larry Gotterer appeared as "Fenwick Gotterer" rise and fall host the show after Barris going on the show doing a "Chuckie's Fables" sketch. The rest of the concluding episode tried to explain the existence of the show and its recall. Barris managed to have the hindmost word on the show's demise, appearance as a contestant. Playing in grand country music band called "The Spirit Cowboys" with the house band's cadency section, Barris sang a slightly varied version of Johnny Paycheck's "Take That Job and Shove It", giving NBC the finger during the song be acquainted with accentuate his point. NBC censored honourableness gesture, with the word "OOPS!" overlying over a still shot of class set. Barris was gonged by Jamie Farr, who quipped, "Because that petty fella's been saying that I've bent long of nose, I'm also survive of gong, fella."

The group "Lobster Repair" (who performed Harry Belafonte's ventilate "Day-O") won the final $516.32 topmost trophy of the NBC era. Gotterer presented the award as Barris confidential been escorted off the set alongside NBC security.

Syndication (1976–80)

Immediately after adhesive tape the final NBC episode, Barris was evicted from NBC's Burbank studios status The Gong Show set was contrived to the studios of Golden Westward Broadcasters (now Sunset Bronson Studios) direction Hollywood. Production of the syndicated nighttime/weekend version of The Gong Show continuing there for two years, following treason daytime counterpart's cancellation. The entire syndicated run from September 1976 to Sep 1980 was distributed by Firestone Promulgation Services. While the series eventually reduce its demise in syndication as make a full recovery had on NBC, according to Barris, the problem did not lie grasp any outrageous acts, but instead depiction controversy and public outcry over on series he had produced.

In Sept 1979, Barris launched the game event Three's a Crowd, which was unadorned spin-off of The Newlywed Game. In place of of recently married couples trying leak match answers, the wives and secretaries of married men would compete greet show who knew the men more. Religious activists and feminist groups protested against Three's a Crowd and wellfitting ratings eventually forced the show's abolition during the middle of the term.

In Barris's autobiography The Game Fuss King, he wrote that "the key backlash from Three's a Crowd keen only caused the program to befall canceled, but it took three thought TV shows of mine with out of place. I went to my house acquit yourself Malibu and stayed there for well-ordered year." Gong was one of those shows to be canceled, and Barris never hosted another series. The sicken from the Three's a Crowd's backfire was so severe, in the aftermost several weeks of the Gong Show, Barris reportedly had "a small tense breakdown" on-air, because he was "bored to death" with broadcasting.^[12] His catch on two series, revivals of the Decade game show Camouflage (the replacement send for Three's a Crowd) and his 1973–77 series Treasure Hunt (toward which Barris had little or no input, according to host Geoff Edwards), both bed ruined to find audiences and Barris went further into his self-imposed exile stick up television. Barris would not have concerning hit series until the 1985 patchwork revival of The Newlywed Game.

Reruns of the NBC shows began think it over syndication in Fall 1979. The NBC and syndicated episodes were rerun look sharp the USA Network and Game Give details Network, although by the time GSN picked up the series, many episodes could not be broadcast because forfeit musical performance clearance issues. No episodes from the first syndicated season (hosted by Gary Owens) were rerun.

Later incarnations

A syndicated weekday revival of The Gong Show, hosted by San Francisco disc jockey Don Bleu, ran as the 1988–89 season from September 12, 1988, to May 26, 1989, clank reruns airing through September 15. Carry on winner was paid $701. The person's name show of the Don Bleu's renaissance is dedicated for a long-week distribution to France.

Extreme Gong, a succeeding incarnation of The Gong Show cover-up the Game Show Network had addressees vote on its acts by handset. It was hosted by George Colorise and ran from October 5, 1998, to August 31, 1999,^[13] with reruns continuing to air up until Despair of 2000. Winners received $317.69. That version was well known for four known incidents: one episode featuring "Cody the Talking Dog" for which without fear tried to say things like "I love you" and "ice cream" however did not succeed in talking, paramount another featuring a Village People burlesque as The Village Little People position they sang a cover of "YMCA". Orange County comedy punk band excellence Radioactive Chicken Heads (then called Joe & the Chicken Heads) made their national television debut on Extreme Gong, though they were gonged midway invasion their performance. Near the end emancipation the show's run, an hour-long "Tournament of Talent" special was aired wear August 1999, with twelve previous delightful acts (chosen by viewers via swell phone-in poll) competing for a continuation of $10,000.

Comedy Central debuted unembellished new incarnation called The Gong Put on an act with Dave Attell, which lasted select eight weeks in the summer lecture 2008.^[14] The show's format was in agreement to the original, but its marking was based on a scale reminisce 0 to 500, and winning acquaintance received $600. The $600 was shown as paid in cash on dignity spot, rather than being paid emergency check as in earlier versions, on the contrary in reality (because of contestant attribute regulations by Sony) was paid by reason of a check from Sony Pictures. Deck place of a typical trophy, winners were awarded a belt in honourableness style of boxing championship belts.

A live stage version of The Dread Show took place at B.B. King's Blues Club, in the Times Quadrangular district of New York City muddle August 12, 2010.^[15] It was light on by The Radio Chick, and quite good the Sony authorized stage production. That production went into development in 2011–12 and now runs regularly in Original York City, with engagements in badger U.S. cities.^[16]

2017 revival

On October 3, 2016, ABC and Sony Pictures announced trig 10-episode summer 2017 revival of The Gong Show executive produced by Choice Arnett.^[17][18]

The broadcast of the 2017 quickening premiered on ABC on June 22, 2017,^[19] hosted by previously unknown "British comedian" Tommy Maitland. Maitland was, eliminate fact, a character portrayed by Microphone Myers, although neither ABC nor Myers confirmed this and ABC officially credited Maitland as host and executive producer.^[20] Maitland's catchphrase was "Who's a impudent monkey?"^[21] He also periodically used Barris's "back with more stuff" catchphrase class lead into commercials.

Celebrity guest book for the 2017 revival included Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Alison Brie, Andy Samberg, Elizabeth Banks, Tracee Ellis Ross, Book McHale, Megan Fox, Courteney Cox, Dana Carvey, Will Forte, Jack Black, Jennifer Aniston, Ken Jeong, Fred Armisen, Mayan Rudolph and Anthony Anderson.^[22] Among depiction more notable acts featured on goodness revival are the Radioactive Chicken Heads, making their second appearance on wonderful Gong Show incarnation since Extreme Gong in 1998. The first season illustrate this version also features a universal segment featuring a staff performer luminous the audience in a sing-along be in possession of the novelty song"Shaving Cream", reminiscent strip off the recurring gag acts on dignity earlier version.

The winner of all show received a gong trophy nearby an oversized check in the bigness of US$2,000.17, later increased by marvellous penny the following year.^[23] The last episode of the first season featured a memorial to Barris, who mindnumbing prior to the series' premiere affluent 2017.

On January 8, 2018, ABC announced that the revival would subsist picked up for a second stretch, officially confirmed Myers as the painter of Maitland and crediting Myers style an executive producer by name.^[24] Righteousness second (and final) season premiered possibility June 21, 2018.^{[25][better source needed]} Celebrity guest book for season 2 included Jimmy Kimmel, Jason Sudeikis, Brad Paisley, Dana Carvey, Alyson Hannigan, Ken Jeong, Kristen Schaal, and Rob Riggle.^[25] However, the furniture was not renewed for a base season and was quietly cancelled.

Film

In 1980, The Gong Show Movie was released by Universal Pictures to damaging reviews and was quickly withdrawn cheat theatrical release. Advertising proclaimed it importance "The Gong Show That Got Gonged by the Censor". It was out-of-the-way periodically on cable TV, but was not released on home video^[26][27] up in the air March 29, 2016, when the lp, which achieved cult status^[28] was out on Blu-ray by Shout! Factory.^[29]

Confessions remember a Dangerous Mind, a film secured by George Clooney and written timorous Charlie Kaufman, was based on distinction semi-fictional autobiography of the same honour by Chuck Barris. Part of grandeur film chronicles the making of The Gong Show, and features several clips from the original series.

Following influence success of the print and winnow versions of Confessions, GSN produced span documentary called The Chuck Barris Story: My Life on the Edge, which included rare footage from the City Owens pilot.

International versions

Spinoffs

At the crest of the Gong Show's popularity, NBC gave Barris a prime-time variety hr, The Chuck Barris Rah Rah Show. This was played somewhat more gravely than the Gong Show, with Jaye P. Morgan singing straight pop songs as in her nightclub and tape measure days, and bygone headliners like Trim faint Gaillard reprising their old hits champion a studio audience. Other spinoffs encompass The $1.98 Beauty Show hosted dampen Rip Taylor and The Gong Pretend Movie.

See also

References

External links