"The Gong Show" (1976) TV series 1976-1980

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Directors:

John Dorsey
Terry Kyne

Writer:

Larry Spencer (writer)

Seasons:

1 | unknown

Release Date:

14 June 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Game-Show

Plot:

Amateur talent contest judged by three celebrities.

Plot Keywords:

Talent Contest | The Gong Show | Non Fiction

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Gary Owens	...	Himself - Host / ... (3 episodes, 1976-1977)
Chuck Barris	...	Himself - Host (3 episodes, 1976)
Mat Plendl	...	Himself / ... (2 episodes, 1976)
Louanne	...	Herself (2 episodes, 1978)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-PG

Company:

Chuck Barris Productions

Trivia:

(May 2009) In a poll conducted by "The O'Reilly Factor" (1996), host Bill O'Reilly revealed that this series was voted the 4th worst TV show in broadcast history. Other dubious nominees included: (1) "My Mother the Car" (1965) / (2) "The Jerry Springer Show" (1991) / (3) "Friends" (1994) and (5) "Cop Rock" (1990).

Quotes:

Chuck Barris: [just before a commercial break] We'll be back with more stuff right after this message.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Closet Cases of the Nerd Kind (1980)

Soundtrack:

One O'Clock Jump

My mother let me watch this show!

I was in my single digits when "The Gong Show" was on the air. I remember watching this one and enjoying it. Even though I didn't know it was rigged (Jaye P. Morgan and her fellow judges convinced me it wasn't) it was great fun. You never know who'd show up or what outrageous act would be featured. They certainly had some very "racy" stuff from other people's recountings of the program.

I still remember Jaye P. Jamie Farr, Arte Johnson, Gene-Gene The Dancing Machine, The Unknown Comic, and that midget; but even today, I still have Chuck Barris etched in my 31-year old mind as the ultimate in manhood. Chuck was my first idol; I wanted to grow up to be just as cool as he was. I still really wonder why he'd start out wearing a tuxedo and then shedding parts of it gradually; sometimes even wearing a Philadelphia Flyers jersey. Maybe he was a Diana Ross fan LOL.

I wish I could see this show again in some capacity today. Perhaps some day "The Gong Show Movie" will be released on DVD if it hasn't already. Just to show you that the 70's was a great decade for entertainment; better than the 00's will wish to be.