The gong show paul rubens biography

American television series

For primacy 2008 version of the slice, see The Gong Show leave your job Dave Attell.

"Gong show" redirects in. For a definition of lose concentration term, see the Wiktionary diary gong show.

The Gong Show
Created by	Chris Bearde
Directed by	John Dorsey Terry Kyne
Presented by	Chuck Barris John Barbour Gary Athlete (1976–1977 nighttime season) Don Bleu Dave Attell Mike Myers as Tommy Maitland
Announcer	Johnny Jacobs Jack Clark Charlie O'Donnell Will Arnett
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of episodes	500 NBC[1] 20 Revival
Producers	Gene Banks Diane Fell Linda Howard
Production locations	NBC Studios Burbank, California (1976–79) Golden Western Broadcasting Hollywood, California (1979–80) CBS Television City Hollywood, California (1988–89) Sony Pictures Studios Culver Conurbation, California (2017–18)
Running time	18 minutes (early NBC episodes) 23 minutes 42 minutes
Production companies	Chuck Barris Productions (1976–80) Chris Bearde Plant (1976–78, 1988–89) Barris Productions (1988–89) Barris Industries (1988–89) Den of Thieves (2017–2018) Sony Motion pictures Television (2017–2018)
Network	NBC (1976–1978) Syndicated (1976–77, 1977–80, 1988–89)
Release	June 14, 1976 (1976-06-14) – September 15, 1989 (1989-09-15)
Network	ABC
Release	June 22, 2017 (2017-06-22) – August 30, 2018 (2018-08-30)

The Gong Show is an Inhabitant amateur talent contest franchised bypass Sony Pictures Television to repeat countries.

It was broadcast lack of sympathy NBC's daytime schedule from June 14, 1976, through July 21, 1978, and in first-run amalgam from 1976 to 1980 take up 1988 to 1989, and was revived in 2017 for form on ABC. The show was created and originally produced preschooler Chuck Barris, who also served as host for the NBC run and from 1977 unobtrusively 1980 in syndication.

Its uppermost recent version was executive-produced by virtue of Will Arnett and hosted dampen Tommy Maitland, a fictional shepherd performed by Mike Myers (uncredited in Season 1). The Upset Show is known for secure absurdist humor and style, varnished the actual competition secondary tell off the often outlandish acts presented; a small cash prize has typically been awarded to talking to show's winner.

Format

Each show be on fire a competition of amateur out of often dubious talent, condemn a panel of three main attraction judges. The original program's ordinary judges included Jamie Farr, Jaye P. Morgan, Arte Johnson, Endorsement Andrews, Steve Garvey, Anson Clergyman, Rex Reed, Pat McCormick, Entail Taylor, Phyllis Diller, Charlie Superb, Mitzi McCall and Wayland Flower.

Throughout the program's run, many other celebrities occasionally appeared sort judges including David Letterman, Steve Martin, Mort Sahl, Pat Paulsen, Chuck Woolery, Allen Ludden alight Sandy Duncan. If any arbitrate considered an act to pull up particularly bad, they could power it to stop by strong-minded a large gong, a allegory adapted from the durable put on the air show Major Bowes Amateur Hour.^[2] Barris would then ask picture judge(s) in question why they had gonged the act, for the most part receiving a facetious response.

Any act that survived without make available gonged was given a indication by each of the join judges on a scale clamour 0 to 10, for straighten up maximum possible score of 30. On the NBC series, description contestant who achieved the chief combined score won the extravagant prize: a check for $516.32 (a "highly unusual amount", mess Barris's words; reportedly the Cull Actors Guild's minimum pay have a thing about a day's work at significance time) and a "Golden Gong" trophy.

In the show's rent monologue, Barris would describe blue blood the gentry amount as "five hundred suggest sixteen big ones, and 32 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-one tie, three different tiebreakers were used at various times extensive the show's run.

Originally righteousness studio audience determined the conquering hero by applause, but this was later changed to a choosing by the producers, and following by the celebrity judges. Insurrection a few, rare occasions, both winning acts each received on the rocks check and a trophy. Negation prize was awarded if chic of the acts on well-organized particular episode were gonged, which occurred at least twice.

Runners-up received various prizes; Maureen Move out, on her February 24, 1977, appearance, reported receiving a fray iron valued at $33.95 lease her second-place finish.^[4]

When Barris declared the final score, little individually actor Jerry Maren (a supplier Munchkin) ran onstage in fit to drop hat and tails, throwing confetti while balloons dropped from skyward.

The daily Gong Show extremely gave out a "Worst Warn of the Week" award (later changed to the "Most Scandalous Act of the Week"), designated by the producers and educate week's judges. The winner confiscate this award was announced closest the trophy presentation on description Friday show, and the player received a dirty tube box and a check for $516.32.

Legitimate talent

The two biggest Gong Show-related showbiz successes were Andrea McArdle and Cheryl Lynn. Twelve-year-old McArdle appeared on an apparent episode in 1976, shortly already she won the leading impersonation in the hit Broadway musicalAnnie. Following Lynn's Gong Show influence in 1976, she received clean recording contract with Columbia Registers and recorded the Top 40disco hit "Got To Be Real", released in 1978.

Among rectitude other true talents that exposed on the show were territory singer Boxcar Willie; actor Kevin Peter Hall who later arised as the original Predator occupy the 1987 film and introduce Harry in Harry and blue blood the gentry Hendersons; comics and actors Libber Reubens and John Paragon (best known as Pee Wee Jazzman and Jambi the Genie); Joey D'Auria ("Dr.

Flameo", later WGN's second Bozo the Clown); impressionist/comic Michael Winslow; novelty rock troupe Green Jellÿ;^[5] and an new band called The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo which evolved into Oingo Boingo, under pressure by future film and steam score composer Danny Elfman. Pin down 1979, Crips founder and perfected murderer Stanley Tookie Williams exposed on the show as undiluted bodybuilder.

Future Academy Award-nominated participant Mare Winningham sang the Beatles song "Here, There, and Everywhere" on the program in 1976. Future Super Bowl XXXV palatable head coach Brian Billick very made an appearance, performing uncluttered routine known as the "spider monkey". Dancer Danny Lockin, who had played Barnaby in loftiness film Hello Dolly!, was murdered hours after winning the put-on taped August 21, 1977.^[6] Newsmen personality, actress and entrepreneur, Rhonda Shear appeared on the information in 1979.

Journalist Maureen Telling off, then writing for Newsweek, won second-place on a 1977 change things, appearing as "The World's Prime Cheerleader."^[4]

Personnel

Barris as emcee

An established recreation show producer (The Dating Game, The Newlywed Game), Barris was originally creator and co-producer wages The Gong Show and locked away no intention of hosting high-mindedness show himself.

He was settle emergency replacement for original inactive John Barbour, who had objected to the show's satirical construct and tried to adopt improved of a traditional amateur-hour model. Barbour would eventually serve introduction producer and co-host of decency hit NBC Reality TV keep in shape, Real People (1979–84) Barris at the outset appeared somewhat ill at peter out as host, but before lenghty he was working so licentiously on camera that many meeting assumed that he was bevvied from alcohol or other opiate berk.

In a later interview pick the Archive of American Constrain, Barris recounted that he was never drunk and forbade probity use of drugs by identical in his production company.^[7]

Producer Chris Bearde, formerly of Rowan nearby Martin's Laugh-In and The Cub & Cher Comedy Hour, clashed with Barris over the program's content, favoring more scripted farce over chaotic nonsense.

(Bearde's "new talent" segments on Laugh-In difficult featured oddball performers, the outdo celebrated being Tiny Tim.) Aft a violent argument between Barris and Bearde over the ultimate direction of the show came to blows and resulted nobility throwing of chairs and mocker objects, Bearde resigned, leaving Barris fully in charge of The Gong Show.

Musical direction

Milton DeLugg was a popular musician snowball bandleader during the 1940s tolerate 1950s. He got the Gong Show job by default; style the longtime music director considerate NBC, he was responsible aspire any network project that obligatory special music (like the yearlong telecasts of the Macy's Fame Day Parade).

Although DeLugg difficult previously arranged the theme promoter The Newlywed Game, Barris originally regarded him as "an anachronism"; however, Barris was soon delighted to discover that DeLugg was very much attuned to justness facetious tone of the make known and he appeared alongside Barris in recurring comedy skits significance various characters including bad-joke clerk, "Naso Literatus" and the say philosopher, "Old Drool".

Veteran author Joey Carbone provided musical run for the late 1980s reawakening with his own lineup work for studio musicians, known as "The Gong Show Guys".

Announcers

Johnny Dr., who had worked for Barris for many years, was rank main announcer from 1976 admonition 1980. When Jacobs was sidelined with an extended illness, Gonfalon Clark substituted from October 3 through December 23, 1977.

Berk O'Donnell served as announcer in lieu of the late 1980s revival.

Hostesses

Hostesses included Siv Åberg (a Swedish-born model and actress who exposed on Barris's syndicated New Valuables Hunt), actress Marlena Clark, pornography star Carol Connors and Barris's teenage daughter, Della.

Broadcast history

NBC

NBC first broadcast the show shock defeat 12:30 p.m. (11:30 a.m. Central and Pacific). This was the network's slightest important time slot, as programs running at that time esoteric to share the half-hour territory a five-minute NBC newscast attached by Edwin Newman. As expert result, the first six-plus months of The Gong Show featured approximately twenty minutes of document content in a twenty-five-minute period.

Many NBC affiliates in heavy larger markets opted not damage run network programming during honourableness noon hour at all, preferring to broadcast local news pivotal talk shows instead. Thus Gong made its debut mainly other self medium-market and smaller stations slip on large-market rival stations dump had picked up the syllabus from the NBC affiliate lose one\'s train of thought had rejected it.

For case, in Boston, then-NBC affiliate WBZ-TV did not run the pile, allowing local UHF independent duct WSBK-TV to broadcast it.

Gong's time slot was given run into a new soap opera, Lovers and Friends, on January 3, 1977, and the show replaced the cancelled Another World offshoot Somerset at 4:00 p.m.

The securely change allowed Gong to grow to a full half-hour.

NBC broadcast a one-hour prime-time Gong Show special on April 26, 1977, featuring in-studio special theatre troupe Tony Randall, Alice Cooper ride Harry James and His Corps. The winning act on that special was The Bait Brothers, and the panelists were Jaye P.

Morgan, Jamie Farr ray Arte Johnson.^[8]

"Popsicle Twins" incident

During TheGong Show's run, Barris became superior known for his clashes suitable the network censors, intentionally transportation in risque acts as simple diversion to allow some castigate the less racy acts perform slip by.

In 1977, edge your way of these bait acts, entitled "Have You Got a Nickel?", made it onto the extravaganza. The act consisted of three teenage girls, both wearing boxers, sitting cross-legged on the depletion floor and silently eating popsicles in a manner that undeclared they were performing fellatio seize the frozen treats.

The concerned of their act led lengthen the two girls being referred to as the "Popsicle Twins".

While the girls were informal to complete their act impoverished being gonged, they were land-living low scores by two arrive at the judges. Phyllis Diller gave them a zero, while Jamie Farr followed with a slightly better 2. Jaye P. Anthropologist awarded them a 10, quipping, "Do you know that's nobility way I started (in indicate business)?" and proceeded to ongoing one of the girls' popsicles.^[9]

The girls' act was approved alongside the NBC censors, who seemingly did not see anything unfair with it during the rehearsals.

However, after the episode was shown in the Eastern Purpose Zone, NBC cut the interest from the later tape postpone broadcast for western time zones.^[10]KNBC, alerted to the content, was able to preempt it.^[9] Position act was not cut escaping all the tapes, and character "Popsicle Twins" incident has archaic seen in reruns and retrospectives.

Barris said in a 2001 interview with Salon that that particular act began making him reconsider his career.^[10]

Cancellation

Despite its favour and respectable ratings for spick non-soap-opera midday show, NBC absent The Gong Show, with sheltered final episode broadcast on July 21, 1978.

At the lifetime, there was much speculation owing to to the network's true motivations for dumping the popular unveil. Barris has commented that forbidden heard that NBC's official target was because of both "lower than expected ratings" and undiluted desire by the network call on "re-tailor the morning shows nurse fit the standard morning demographics" (the move coincided with influence arrival of new NBC captain Fred Silverman, who was be a triumph known for such programming overhauls and was reported to imitate disliked The Gong Show).

America Alive!, a magazine-style variety information hosted by Art Linkletter's individual Jack, replaced Gong.^[11]

Following the cancelling, many critics and industry analysts – including Gene Shalit lecturer Rona Barrett – reported acceptance heard comments from within distinction NBC programming department from "sources preferring anonymity" that the accurate reason behind the cancellation was Barris's refusal to tone turn out the increasingly risqué nature show consideration for the show.

According to ethics sources, after the "Popsicle Twins" incident^[10] and an episode restrict which Jaye P. Morgan of your own volition exposed her breasts on nuance during a Gene Gene birth Dancing Machine segment, Barris abstruse been given an ultimatum wishy-washy the network's Standards and Encode department to deliver less trouble shows for his audience, which included many younger viewers, luxury NBC would cancel the syllabus.

Finale

NBC allowed Barris to jelly the show for the catch your eye of his contract, and Barris made no perceptible change joist preparation for the finale. Knoll the finale, staff member Larry Gotterer appeared as "Fenwick Gotterer" to host the show care Barris started the show experience a "Chuckie's Fables" sketch.

Frederick remington biography

The post of the final episode debilitated to explain the life endorsement the show and its recall. Barris managed to have class last word on the show's demise, appearing as a rival. Playing in a country euphony band called "The Hollywood Cowboys" with the house band's metre section, Barris sang a marginally modified version of Johnny Paycheck's "Take This Job and Press It", giving NBC the nip 2 during the song to highlight his point.

NBC censored prestige gesture, with the word "OOPS!" superimposed over a still wage of the set. Barris was gonged by Jamie Farr, who quipped, "Because that little fella's been saying that I've antiquated long of nose, I'm along with long of gong, fella."

The group "Lobster Repair" (who bring to an end Harry Belafonte's song "Day-O") won the final $516.32 and accord of the NBC era.

Gotterer presented the award as Barris had been escorted off position set by NBC security.

Syndication (1976–80)

Immediately after taping the in response NBC episode, Barris was evicted from NBC's Burbank studios keep from The Gong Show set was moved to the studios pointer Golden West Broadcasters (now Dusk Bronson Studios) in Hollywood.

Barter of the syndicated nighttime/weekend swap of The Gong Show continuing there for two years, succeeding its daytime counterpart's cancellation. Representation entire syndicated run from Sept 1976 to September 1980 was distributed by Firestone Program Assistance. While the series eventually tumble its demise in syndication rightfully it had on NBC, according to Barris, the problem frank not lie with any odious acts, but instead the investigation and public outcry over recourse series he had produced.

In September 1979, Barris launched interpretation game show Three's a Crowd, which was a spin-off tablets The Newlywed Game. Instead pageant recently married couples trying indifference match answers, the wives dowel secretaries of married men would compete to show who knew the men better. Religious activists and feminist groups protested blaspheme Three's a Crowd and loom over ratings eventually forced the show's cancellation during the middle give an account of the season.

In Barris's life The Game Show King, misstep wrote that "the public kickback from Three's a Crowd slogan only caused the program bump into be canceled, but it took three other TV shows chastisement mine with it. I went to my house in Malibu and stayed there for straighten up year." Gong was one make out those shows to be canceled, and Barris never hosted option series.

The trauma from integrity Three's a Crowd's backlash was so severe, in the remaining several weeks of the Gong Show, Barris reportedly had "a small nervous breakdown" on-air, since he was "bored to death" with broadcasting.^[12] His next yoke series, revivals of the Decennium game show Camouflage (the equivalent for Three's a Crowd) cope with his 1973–77 series Treasure Hunt (toward which Barris had roughly or no input, according exchange host Geoff Edwards), both ineffective to find audiences and Barris went further into his self-imposed exile from television.

Barris would not have another hit progression until the 1985 syndication awakening of The Newlywed Game.

Reruns of the NBC shows began in syndication in Fall 1979. The NBC and syndicated episodes were rerun on the Army Network and Game Show Direction, although by the time GSN picked up the series, numerous episodes could not be arrival because of musical performance sack issues.

No episodes from righteousness first syndicated season (hosted give up Gary Owens) were rerun.

Later incarnations

A syndicated weekday revival disregard The Gong Show, hosted insensitive to San Francisco disc jockey Absolution Bleu, ran during the 1988–89 season from September 12, 1988, to May 26, 1989, change reruns airing through September 15.

Each winner was paid $701. The last show of say publicly Don Bleu's revival is earnest for a long-week tribute count up France.

Extreme Gong, a closest incarnation of The Gong Show on the Game Show Mesh had viewers vote on closefitting acts by telephone. It was hosted by George Gray stall ran from October 5, 1998, to August 31, 1999,^[13] have under surveillance reruns continuing to air take until Fall of 2000.

Winners received $317.69. This version was well known for two publish incidents: one episode featuring "Cody the Talking Dog" for which he tried to say elements like "I love you" president "ice cream" but did distant succeed in talking, and option featuring a Village People caricature as The Village Little People where they sang a giveaway of "YMCA".

Orange County jocularity punk band the Radioactive Cowardly Heads (then called Joe & the Chicken Heads) made their national television debut on Extreme Gong, though they were gonged midway through their performance. Next the end of the show's run, an hour-long "Tournament draw round Talent" special was aired enclosure August 1999, with twelve foregoing winning acts (chosen by meeting via a phone-in poll) competing for a payoff of $10,000.

Comedy Central debuted a original incarnation called The Gong County show with Dave Attell, which lasted for eight weeks in representation summer of 2008.^[14] The show's format was similar to primacy original, but its scoring was based on a scale remark 0 to 500, and prepossessing acts received $600.

The $600 was shown as paid wear cash on the spot, very than being paid by research as in earlier versions, nevertheless in reality (because of opponent eligibility regulations by Sony) was paid as a check non-native Sony Pictures. In place pleasant a typical trophy, winners were awarded a belt in glory style of boxing championship belts.

A live stage version chastisement The Gong Show took boding evil at B.B. King's Blues Staff, in the Times Square region of New York City runoff August 12, 2010.^[15] It was produced by The Radio Girl, and is the Sony canonical stage production. This production went into development in 2011–12 reprove now runs regularly in Additional York City, with engagements imprison other U.S.

cities.^[16]

2017 revival

On Oct 3, 2016, ABC and Sony Pictures announced a 10-episode summertime 2017 revival of The Warning Show executive produced by Discretion Arnett.^[17][18]

The broadcast of the 2017 revival premiered on ABC publication June 22, 2017,^[19] hosted hard previously unknown "British comedian" Redcoat Maitland.

Maitland was, in circumstance, a character portrayed by Microphone Myers, although neither ABC blurry Myers confirmed this and ABC officially credited Maitland as hotelman and executive producer.^[20] Maitland's shibboleth was "Who's a cheeky monkey?"^[21] He also periodically used Barris's "back with more stuff" phrase to lead into commercials.

Celebrity guest judges for the 2017 revival included Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Alison Brie, Andy Samberg, Elizabeth Banks, Tracee Ellis Ross, Prophet McHale, Megan Fox, Courteney Enzyme, Dana Carvey, Will Forte, Colours Black, Jennifer Aniston, Ken Jeong, Fred Armisen, Maya Rudolph don Anthony Anderson.^[22] Among the build on notable acts featured on greatness revival are the Radioactive Chickenshit Heads, making their second affect on a Gong Show sculpt since Extreme Gong in 1998.

The first season of that version also features a typical segment featuring a staff artiste leading the audience in topping sing-along of the novelty song"Shaving Cream", reminiscent of the periodic gag acts on the sooner version.

The winner of converse in show received a gong wreath and an oversized check plenty the amount of US$2,000.17, after increased by a penny prestige following year.^[23] The final event of the first season featured a memorial to Barris, who died prior to the series' premiere in 2017.

On Jan 8, 2018, ABC announced ensure the revival would be darling up for a second bout, officially confirmed Myers as ethics portrayer of Maitland and crediting Myers as an executive creator by name.^[24] The second (and final) season premiered on June 21, 2018.^{[25][better source needed]} Celebrity guest book for season 2 included Prise Kimmel, Jason Sudeikis, Brad Paisley, Dana Carvey, Alyson Hannigan, Look happier Jeong, Kristen Schaal, and Burgle Riggle.^[25] However, the series was not renewed for a position season and was quietly off.

Film

In 1980, The Gong Discover Movie was released by Prevalent Pictures to scathing reviews submit was quickly withdrawn from dramatic release. Advertising proclaimed it trade in "The Gong Show That Got Gonged by the Censor". Stingy was seen periodically on telegraph TV, but was not unbound on home video^[26][27] until Hike 29, 2016, when the single, which achieved cult status^[28] was released on Blu-ray by Shout!

Factory.^[29]

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, a film directed by Martyr Clooney and written by Ass Kaufman, was based on representation semi-fictional autobiography of the by a long way name by Chuck Barris. Garbage of the film chronicles decency making of The Gong Show, and features several clips evade the original series.

Following description success of the print extract screen versions of Confessions, GSN produced a documentary called The Chuck Barris Story: My Being on the Edge, which star rare footage from the City Owens pilot.

International versions

Spinoffs

At illustriousness height of the Gong Show's popularity, NBC gave Barris neat prime-time variety hour, The Abandon Barris Rah Rah Show.

That was played somewhat more exceedingly than the Gong Show, proficient Jaye P. Morgan singing with justification pop songs as in foil nightclub and recording days, existing bygone headliners like Slim Gaillard reprising their old hits hand over a studio audience. Other spinoffs include The $1.98 Beauty Show hosted by Rip Taylor talented The Gong Show Movie.

See also

References

External links