The Gong Show
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The Gong Show was a television variety show/game show spoof that was broadcast in first-run syndication in the United States from 1976 until 1980. It was hosted by Chuck Barris.
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 Jaye 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.)
Chuck Barris, an established game show producer ("The Dating Game," "The Newlywed Game") but not a polished game show host, 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).
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" Patton was one of the Gong Show stage crew, as were many of the more extreme "performers", used to fill airtime before going to a commercial break.) Gene Gene's arrival, however, 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. Writer Larry Spencer appeared as himself, and the audience was encouraged to hiss him as if he were a villain from an old melodrama.
The show celebrated many holidays such as Christmas, July 4th, and Thanksgiving, but invariably did so by singing the Irving Berlin standard, "Easter Parade."
Among the many talents that appeared on the show was an unknown Paul Reubens, later known as "Pee-Wee Herman". The biggest "Gong Show"-related show biz success was singer Cheryl Lynn, who was signed to a record contract as a result of her appearance and recorded the Top 20 disco hit "Got To Be Real."
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.
A later show, 30 Seconds To Fame, had many similarities to this show.
The Gong Show was later revived on the Game Show Network as "Extreme Gong", in which viewers could call in and vote on whether or not the act was bad.