.
At one point in the 1970s, a man named Chuck Barris controlled (as creator or
host) more than 13 hours of network television every week. The wild-haired former
TV executive had such a knack for twisting the traditional game-show format that
his handiwork flooded America's homes daily, from The Dating Game to The
Newlywed Game. But it was The Gong Show that became the most enduring
creation of "Chucky Baby" and, essentially, the end of his career. This scandalous
reality show was decades ahead of its time.
When the show began in 1976, it was just another of Barris' many hits, an
amateur-hour spoof in which contestants were encouraged to be awful and then
"gonged" from the stage. In its first season the show was hosted by television
veteran, Gary Owens. Owens was replaced by Barris in its second year.
The, uh, talent included plump ladies playing tubas, comedians wearing barrels,
upside-down banjo players and and two young, teenage girls provocatively,
sucking on popcicles. (Which landed the show in a lot of trouble) . But as the
train-wreck appeal grew, stars were forged: Gene Gene the Dancing Machine, the
Unknown Comic and most of all, Chuck Barris, the painfully shy creator who
became a different man in front of the camera. Barris was not a polished game
show host, and had a nervous habit of sometimes clapping his hands together
while talking. This developed into a running gag during the show, as the audience
members clapped their hands in unison with Barris whenever they saw him doing
it. He also wore a variety of different hats, changing frequently during the show. A
hat rack could be seen at stage right, next to the band (Milton deLugg and His
Band With a Thug).
Each show presented a contest between amateur performers of often
questionable talent, with a panel of 3 celebrity guests serving as the judges
(among the most frequent of which were J. P. Morgan Arte Johnson and Jamie
Farr). If the panel members considered an act to be particularly bad, they could hit
a gong during its performance, which would end it immediately. If the act survived
without being gonged, they were given a score by the judges, on a scale of 0-10.
The contestant with the highest combined score earned a prize of $516.32 (This
figure represented the minimum scale payment for a speaking television
appearance.)
The show had many recurring bits, and characters who appeared as regular
performers, such as the Unknown Comic (Murray Langston) who told bad jokes
while wearing a paper bag over his head. Also appearing was Gene Gene the
Dancing Machine, a middle-aged black man with a green warm-up suit who came
onstage to dance while members of the crew threw random, usually not harmful,
items at him. In reality, "Gene Gene" was one of the Gong Show stage crew, and
his arrival on stage, was always treated as though it were a surprise to everyone
on the show, especially Barris, who would then commence to frolic on the set.
Among the many talents that appeared on the show was an unknown Paul
Reubens, later known as Pee Wee Herman.
Other celebrities that made appearances on the show included, Joanne Worley,
Richard Dawson, Adrienne Barbeau, Steve Martin, David Letterman, Gary Mule
Deer, Susan George, Patti Andrews, Rip Taylor, Rex Reed, Steve Garvey, Pat
Harrington, and Scatman Crothers
In 1980, The Gong Show Movie was produced. This film was considered to be
among the worst ever made.
A syndicated revival of The Gong Show, hosted by Don Bleu, was produced in 1989
and lasted only one season. Each winner was paid $701.
At one point in the 1970s, a man named Chuck Barris controlled (as creator or
host) more than 13 hours of network television every week. The wild-haired former
TV executive had such a knack for twisting the traditional game-show format that
his handiwork flooded America's homes daily, from The Dating Game to The
Newlywed Game. But it was The Gong Show that became the most enduring
creation of "Chucky Baby" and, essentially, the end of his career. This scandalous
reality show was decades ahead of its time.
When the show began in 1976, it was just another of Barris' many hits, an
amateur-hour spoof in which contestants were encouraged to be awful and then
"gonged" from the stage. In its first season the show was hosted by television
veteran, Gary Owens. Owens was replaced by Barris in its second year.
The, uh, talent included plump ladies playing tubas, comedians wearing barrels,
upside-down banjo players and and two young, teenage girls provocatively,
sucking on popcicles. (Which landed the show in a lot of trouble) . But as the
train-wreck appeal grew, stars were forged: Gene Gene the Dancing Machine, the
Unknown Comic and most of all, Chuck Barris, the painfully shy creator who
became a different man in front of the camera. Barris was not a polished game
show host, and had a nervous habit of sometimes clapping his hands together
while talking. This developed into a running gag during the show, as the audience
members clapped their hands in unison with Barris whenever they saw him doing
it. He also wore a variety of different hats, changing frequently during the show. A
hat rack could be seen at stage right, next to the band (Milton deLugg and His
Band With a Thug).
Each show presented a contest between amateur performers of often
questionable talent, with a panel of 3 celebrity guests serving as the judges
(among the most frequent of which were J. P. Morgan Arte Johnson and Jamie
Farr). If the panel members considered an act to be particularly bad, they could hit
a gong during its performance, which would end it immediately. If the act survived
without being gonged, they were given a score by the judges, on a scale of 0-10.
The contestant with the highest combined score earned a prize of $516.32 (This
figure represented the minimum scale payment for a speaking television
appearance.)
The show had many recurring bits, and characters who appeared as regular
performers, such as the Unknown Comic (Murray Langston) who told bad jokes
while wearing a paper bag over his head. Also appearing was Gene Gene the
Dancing Machine, a middle-aged black man with a green warm-up suit who came
onstage to dance while members of the crew threw random, usually not harmful,
items at him. In reality, "Gene Gene" was one of the Gong Show stage crew, and
his arrival on stage, was always treated as though it were a surprise to everyone
on the show, especially Barris, who would then commence to frolic on the set.
Among the many talents that appeared on the show was an unknown Paul
Reubens, later known as Pee Wee Herman.
Other celebrities that made appearances on the show included, Joanne Worley,
Richard Dawson, Adrienne Barbeau, Steve Martin, David Letterman, Gary Mule
Deer, Susan George, Patti Andrews, Rip Taylor, Rex Reed, Steve Garvey, Pat
Harrington, and Scatman Crothers
In 1980, The Gong Show Movie was produced. This film was considered to be
among the worst ever made.
A syndicated revival of The Gong Show, hosted by Don Bleu, was produced in 1989
and lasted only one season. Each winner was paid $701.
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Joey D'Auria, appeared on "The Gong
Show" and "The Tonight Show Starring
Johnny Carson" as "Dr. Flame-O." doing a
hilarious act as a man who plays "musical"
candles. In 1984 he was asked to audition
for the role of Bozo. D'Auria played Bozo
until the show's cancellation in 2001.
Show" and "The Tonight Show Starring
Johnny Carson" as "Dr. Flame-O." doing a
hilarious act as a man who plays "musical"
candles. In 1984 he was asked to audition
for the role of Bozo. D'Auria played Bozo
until the show's cancellation in 2001.
| The Real Dr. Flameo |