The Gong Show

Critics basically said this was the end of civilization when the Gong Show came out. Gary Owens was supposed to be the host, but Chuck Barris, the hand clapping, head-scratching creator of both The Gong Show AND The Dating Game, usurped that position at the last moment, as I understand it.

It was a simple premise. Basically, let anyone who thought they might have talent come out and do their thing, whatever it happened to be and have a panel of judges either give them the gong or rate their act. Some folks knew they were going to hear the tintinabulation of the gong because they went on just to get their mug on T.V. Others were serious about their "craft" and were hurt when they were the one for whom the gong tolled. I remember thinking, "Lardo the Clown," a kazoo-playing clown with horrible make-up was one of the most wretched.

Others were pretty darned good and I always wondered if any of them went on to have a career in the entertainment field. Jaye P. Morgan once cattily remarked regarding a sweet young lady with a beautiful voice, "I would have given her a higher score if her neckline would have been lower." Such was the tenor of the show. My favorite guest critics included Steve Martin, who usually just looked puzzled when a bad act was on, Artie Johnson, Jamie Farr and of course, Jaye P. Morgan. I understand, Ms. Morgan was asked to leave the show after flashing her bra to the camera. It is said the shot never aired, although, there are those who swear they saw it.

There were the usual gang of idiots who would show up without warning - Gene Gene, the Dancing Machine was my favorite interruption in the show. But, there were so many others - the Unknown Comic - a guy named Larry (?) who would come out and sing a song about, "I'm gonna play my tuba" (what are you going to do?). He usually ended up blowing a long sour note on whatever instrument he had walked out with, with Chuck saying, "Aw Larry, why did you DO that?" The Gong show was just plain fun, although some days were fairly dismal, with the acts all being bad and not much action from the guest critics.

All in all, I liked it. It was a fun party every time it aired... and, you could tell, even the the Dwarf enjoyed himself.

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.

The Gong Show was one of the best game shows to ever hit television. Chuck Barris was a genius in himself with several other hit game shows, such as The Dating Game and The Newlywed Game just to mention a few. People that appeared on The Gong Show had to be a little off to come on and perform some of the wild acts they did. The Panel, with the usuals such as Jaye P. Morgan, Arte Johnson and Jamie Farr were so unique in that anything went on the show, well anything that could get by the censors that is. This show still has a great following till this day, and is still one of the best there is.

People may not realize it, but you really DID have to audition to get on the show. No Talet Bums would be lined up around the block waiting for their chance to try to get on the show. An episode of Sanford and Son and Carol Burnett were framed around getting on the Gong Show. How can you not pee your pants laughing when every singe act sang "Feelings". The $516.32 was the union scale and everyone got it, regardless if they got gonged or not, and yes they still get residuals to this day! Gene Gene the Dancing Machine (Gene Patton) was a stage hand who was sent out one day to dance and it took off. The house band, Miton DeLugg and his Band with a Thug were real people. And of course, Chuck seemed the most surprised when a bad act got gonged while being booed by the audience, "I can't believe they did that, you were doing so good" was classy in a classless show. Its too bad they couldn't keep their drug use under control, it really could have gone on a lot longer than it did!

I remember this show from my youth. Every once in a while there'd be a performer with some talent but most of the time this show belonged to some pretty weird contestants. They would be painfully bad but would still get upset when they were gonged. Of course "Chuckie baby" and his clapping would keep the show going. Then "Gene Gene the Dancing machine" would dance his classic dance. The judges were minor celebrities that didn't take their jobs too seriously. Like I said this was a pretty weird show that couldn't be taken at face value as a "talent" show but just a crazy show that eventually became stale. It made "Chuckie baby" a household name (and a ton of money), and it was a fun way to waste a half hour.