The Gong Show Movie (1980) User Reviews

Gene, Gene, The Reviewing Machine!

[britishdominion · 5/10 · 10 September 2004]

Chuck Barris has had a most curious, yet successful, career in TV - creating some of the best of what would now be known as the first "reality" game show programs. He has even been the subject of a not-quite-weird-enough bio-pic "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" (George Clooney directing the pitch-perfect Sam Rockwell from an interesting, though downbeat script by the awesome Charlie Kaufman)- but probably nothing rates as odder on the Barris gong than THE GONG SHOW MOVIE.

Barris plays himself in this underplayed curio about the strife of being Chuckie-Chuckie-Chuckie. The film seems to veer back and forth from being a behind-the-scenes expose of the nightmare it was for Barris to create, host and syndicate the wonderfully bizarre "Gong Show" TV series and a dour, serious filmed autobiography of the troubled, creative genius. Barris, as himself, seems to absolutely hate the Gong Show phenomenon he has created for himself, and overtly resents its mind-numbing success. As a reader coming in from the understanding of his Dangerous Mind "autobiography", it helps flesh out his malaise.

Directed by Barris and co-written by Robert Downey, Sr., the movie is observant and quite crude, rough and documentary-like, but unfortunately the viewer is left on the outside looking in and cannot celebrate the symphony of bizarreness that Barris created. We end up hardly laughing at the desperation and sadness that Barris conveys of his situation throughout the film. Though the show was a otherworldly treat in the most 70's, low-brow yet knowing way - the film (accurately?) portrays The Gong Show as a meat factory that just exists to churn out awful acts at the behest of it's self-loathing court jester/master of ceremonies and B-list jury of peers - and served up to its junkie audience who can't get enough.

This is a most unusual and somewhat fascinating portrait of the 1970's, and is probably easier enjoyed by those who can appreciate the cutting-edge nature of the production, and less by those who are seeking a filmed-version tribute of the cult classic TV show. Ultimately, the balance of self-examination and flat-out appreciation of the cancelled show is off-whack - but should only be seen through the eyes of knowing what you are about to see isn't what you ultimately THINK or hope you are about to see. I would have gladly wished to see Barris mock the acts, guests and surrounding sycophants with a bit more outer vengeance than the implosive, introspective tact he takes on here. But ultimately what's here isn't totally without the familiar faves - there's also The Unknown Comic, Rip Taylor, Jamie Farr and Jaye P. Morgan (and her uncensored breasts). By the way - look for Saturday Night Live's Phil Hartman in a bit part!

Pulled from release just days after it's initial opening date by Universal in 1980, and heretofore unavailable on video or DVD (unless you find it on eBay), I would recommend this lost piece of cult nostalgia for those truly interested in seeing an almost-honest, partially laugh-free, docu-drama wrapped around one of the most inherently cultural, whimsical touchstones of the me-generation.

By the way Universal - I WOULD BUY THIS DVD. Just in case you're reading this... maybe you and whoever owns the rights to the TV show (Sony?) could get together on this?

BACK WITH MORE... STUFF!!!

This movie is a bit more funny if you've seen the gong show TV series

[garbuhj · 4/10 · 9 July 2006]

If you haven't seen the gong show TV series then you won't like this movie much at all, not that knowing the series makes this a great movie.

I give it a 5 out of 10 because a few things make it kind of amusing that help make up for its obvious problems.

1) It's a funny snapshot of the era it was made in, the late 1970's and early 1980's. 2) You get a lot of funny cameos of people you've seen on the show. 3) It's interesting to see Chuck (the host) when he isn't doing his on air TV personality. 4) You get to see a lot of bizarre people doing all sorts of weirdness just like you see on the TV show.

I won't list all the bad things because there's a lot of them, but here's a few of the most prominent.

1) The Gong Show Movie has a lot of the actual TV show clips which gets tired at movie length. 2) The movie's story line outside of the clip segments is very weak and basically is made up of just one plot point. 3) Chuck is actually halfway decent as an actor, but most of the rest of the actors are doing typical way over the top 1970's flatness.

It's a good movie to watch when you don't have an hour and a half you want to watch all at once. Watch 20 minutes at a time and it's not so bad. But even then it's not so good either. ;)

"Gong show too hot for TV" part OK, rest of the movie Awful

[movieman_kev · 3/10 · 2 June 2006]

Having searched for this movie high and low, I actually found it when I least expected, playing on the Sundance Channel very early in the morning one day. Why I searched endlessly for a small vanity project that Chuck Barris that was made during the last waning years of the TV show, I haven't a clue. The film is simply put horrible. The scripted part that deals with a week that is. Of course the highlight of the film is seeing the real performers that were "too hot for TV" or rejected for some reason or other. That part is still horrid, but campy bad which was enjoyable in it's own way. Now that I saw what I sought after for so long will I watch it again in my lifetime? Resoundingly NO!! Do yourself a favor and just watch the MUCH MUCH better "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" or find old copies of the actual show. The girl act where there just lick popsicles provocatively was fun, but having to endure seeing Jay P. Morgon flash the audience has in all likelihood made me sterile. In hindsight, I'm so very happy that this was massive flop, for if it was a massive hit, there could have been a "The $1.98 Beauty Show Movie" and THAT my friends would surely have brought upon the Apocalypse.

My Grade: D

The Chuck Barris vanity project.

[BlackJack_B · 27 February 2004]

I always wanted to see The Gong Show Movie. As a kid, I was a big fan of Mr. Barris. I wanted to grow up to be just like him. He represented the ultimate in manhood.

Made near the end of the Gong Show's run in 1980, Chuck Barris made a critically lambasted vanity project about how much "fun" it was being the host of the program. Unlike Mariah Carey's "Glitter", Chuck Barris wasn't trying to make a masterpiece. He pretty much portrays a week in the life of himself. You get to see the "talented" contestants attempts to impress him to get a chance to appear on T.V. (some of whom were deemed too racy for the 1970's so this R-rated movie showcases performances that never aired). Wherever he goes, he runs into people who were smart enough to know that having zero talent was good enough to appear on The Gong Show; everyone is trying to audition for him on the spot with some zany numbers. Cameos by just about all his favorite judges appear (I liked Rip Taylor's hilarious role as a waiter) and there are some amusing numbers; especially the showstopper "Don't Get Up For Me". Although it's not a very good film, it's great to finally be able to see a time capsule of one of the most off-beat programs ever aired on the boob tube. My next wish: I want too see the "Best Of The Gong Show" on DVD. Now!

BTW, it was great to see "The Unknown Comic" again. The idea of putting a paper bag on your head while cracking horrid jokes was pure genius. I think he even had his own movie made in the mid-80's, too.

Worst Film Of All Time? Quite Possibly.

[buby1987 · 1/10 · 1 February 2012]

I saw this terrible film when it was released in 1980. I couldn't believe how bad it was -- and I went in with low expectations.

I saw the last half again on cable last night, and the film was just as bad as I remember.

Chuck Barris's acting style, as such, is to look at the ground and mutter to himself and shake his head -- every five seconds. Chuck Barris the director has given himself a juicy role and lots (lots and lots) of close ups. The actress playing Barris' long-suffering girlfriend is photographed like she is playing Beetle Bailey -- you never see her eyes, for the hair hanging over her forehead, or the floppy hats that hide her eyes.

The narrative strategy of this film is to repeat the following situation -- strangers accost Barris and do impromptu and unwanted auditions for The Gong Show. Barris invariably looks at the ground, shakes his head and mutters to himself.

During the prolonged finale, which attempts to be a Fellini-esque parade of grotesques, Barris looks at the ground, shakes his head and mutters to himself -- a lot.

I can understand the feeling.

A bad movie with some very good moments

[preppy-3 · 1/10 · 1 October 2002]

Basically this is just a fictional tale of Chuck Barris going crazy trying to keep the "Gong Show" on the air and appease the censors at the same time.

Those sections of the movie are drivel--unfunny, really stupid and tedious with pointless drama thrown in.

But when they show unedited acts from the "Gong Show" this movie takes off.

The acts are sick and crude--and absolutely hilarious. My favorites are a version of the "Vatican Rag" (with one guy dressed as a priest and three other guys as nuns acting out the song) and some teenage girls sucking on popsicles that are--um--a very unusual shape and color. All the acts are good, but these two stand out.

I'm shocked that this isn't available in video or DVD! It bombed at the box office but so did "Ishtar" and I see tons of those available! Hopefully with the Chuck Barris movie being released soon this will be rectified.

Not a good movie but a very fun good-bad movie. And you get to see Jaye P. Morgan's breasts!

Movie is a true bomb, but gets points for nostalgia.

[mark.waltz · 2/10 · 8 September 2018]

Before there were YouTube stars, there were Gong Show stars. Truly tacky and talentless, these performers went out of their way to get attention with the most bizarre acts possible. For those of us who were around to see the show when it aired, this movie might hold a little bit of nostalgia because in its day, it was a lot of guilty pleasure fun. What went on behind the scenes however is documented here in a rather bizarre film that shows host Chuck Barris practically having a nervous breakdown over the national obsession with getting on the show and his inability to have a private life or a career that means anything artistic. That causes issues with his girlfriend and soon he finds himself needing a break and ends up in overall places a desert in Morocco where he comes to terms with his demons.

Certainly, this forgotten B comedy is not of much interest to modern audiences who have not seen much of the footage that remains of this series, but it is a unique look back at a bizarre era in entertainment history. If we think that there are attention seekers today who will do anything for fame, all we have to do is look at this show to see the even more bizarre. Some of what they do in this movie could not be put on TV back then and some of it would be considered majorly offensive today. However much of it is funny in a sort of "I can't believe they're trying to get away with this" manner, and that's where the laughs do happen, although not very often. The attempt for comedy is often forced and what results is an example of bad taste that belongs in a time capsule to remind us that attention seekers come from every generation, from every era.

Of course, the unknown comic is there, with bag over head and recurring appearances that are sometimes funny but often eye rolling. A funny bit has him in bed with "Mrs. Unknown Comic", and you guessed it, bag over head, with lipstick around the mouth hole. There are some interesting cameos by celebrities as themselves including Jaye P. Morgan whose controversial antics in the original show gets more adult play here, and a cameo by Tony Randall in a gag appearance as himself doing stand-up on the show. The lovable Mabel King gives a sweet performance as his secretary, accompanied by an elderly lady as her mother who follows her everywhere. But most of the film is low brow and head scratching, perhaps one reason that theaters in my home town which booked it only utilized teeny, tiny advertising and pulled it after a week. I haven't seen this listed for TV broadcast ever, and home video seems to ignore it, so finding it will be very difficult, getting a gong from fans for the copyright holders keeping it back.

Should we pity Chuck Barris?

[LCShackley · 2/10 · 5 February 2006]

No wonder this movie never saw the light of day. The timing was of the release was awful. The Gong Show had already "jumped the shark" by the time the movie came out, so who would pay money just to see a few of the censored clips from the original run of the show? And the show clips are just a tiny bit of this pathetic, 90-minute whine by Chuck Barris about how hard his life was as host of the show. Did he really expect we would feel sorry for him and his messed-up millionaire life? Did he really think we even wanted to KNOW about his life? (Obviously so, since he later wrote his weird autobiography about his career as a CIA operative.) Did he think the gag of having everyone, everywhere audition for him would stay fresh for 90 minutes? Or the network executive hounding him at every turn? This might have worked as the plot for a 30-minute sitcom episode, but not as a full-length movie. However, it was nice to see Rip Taylor, Gene Gene, and the Unknown Comic again (although, to make the movie "spicy," they included only his most vulgar routines). And as someone else has pointed out, this is Phil Hartman's first significant movie part (even though it lasts only a minute). Note his name is spelled HARTMANN in the credits, which is the name he was born with. You can't miss his voice and facial expressions, even though he's much thinner and younger than in the SNL days. Ed Molinaro (Hill Street Blues) also has a tiny part; one of his first after leaving the soap world.

A time capsule

[BandSAboutMovies · 5/10 · 28 August 2018]

It's hard for me to explain the cultural behemoth that The Gong Show was when it debuted. Originally airing on NBC from June 14, 1976 to July 21, 1978 (and in first-run syndication from 1976 to 1980), the show was basically a talent contest with celebrity judges that graded the talent and could gong - meaning they'd have to stop their act - those who had no talent to speak of.

Sure, there were clunkers, but the show also featured real talent, such as Andrea McArdle (Broadway's Annie), Cheryl Lynn (disco hit "To Be Real"), Paul Reubens and John Paragon (who would go on to become Pee Wee Herman and Jambi the Genie), Police Academy's Michael Winslow, Boxcar Willie, Oingo Boingo (which had future composer Danny Elfman in the band), actress Mare Winningham and more.

But more famously, there were reoccurring characters like the Unknown Comic (he wore a bag on his head) and Gene Gene the Dancing Machine, as well as risque acts like the Popsicle Twins, who basically performed oral sex on, well, popsicles. They are considered the main reason why the show was moved from NBC to syndication (and one of the times when creator Chuck Barris said he began to reconsider his career). Of note, the other reason NBC canceled the show, judge Jaye P. Morgan flashing her breasts, appears in this film uncensored.

Barris is an interesting character study himself. He wrote the song "Palisades Park," as well as creating The Dating Game and The Newlywed Game. He never intended to host the show, but did so to save it. Watching his appearances today, you're reminded that while there weren't as many entertainment options in the 70's, there was plenty of coke. Where life gets really wild is that in his book Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, he confessed that states that he worked as a CIA assassin, killing 33 people while acting as a chaperone on The Dating Game's big vacation dates (although the CIA denies this and Barris even later stated that the novel was his fictionalized account of how his life would have been different had he become an agent).

Which brings us to 1980's The Gong Show Movie.

Written by Barris and Robert Downey Sr., the film is all about a week in the life of the show (including a nervous breakdown which Barris may have really had at one point, of which he said, "I had a small nervous breakdown out there, doing strange things. When I see films of the last shows, I was walking around, busting up studio flats on the air. That was the behavior of a host who was bored to death.").

Indeed, Barris starts the film exhausted and miserable, in direct juxtaposition to his manic on-air character. The first song, "Sometimes It Just Don't Pay to Get Up," (which was, like all the movie's songs, written by Baris) sets up the defeatist tone. Barris is overwhelmed by the attention the show brings him as well as the work it takes to get the show on the air.

We see a quick glimpse of the show - hey, there's the Unknown Comic, there's Hard Boiled Haggerty, there's Tony Randall - just so we remember why we're here. Yet even in the moments where the film tries to be fun, a man named Melvin and his chicken dance leads to a heart attack after Barris makes the man do encore after encore. Even when Barris tries to atone by visiting the man in the hospital, he is faced with a constant barrage of people wanting to try out for the show - including the sick man!

What was it about the 70's that led to the need to see our heroes get shat upon? Think of the trials that Rocky endured in his sequel or Altman's Popeye whose miserable life includes the fact that he hates spinach?

The film then descends into auteur - or maybe vanity - territory as Barris attends a country music recording session which turns into a montage. He watches a man abuse his wife and intervenes, only to have them both attack him (a bit taken from Buster Keaton's Our Hospitality). And then, a discussion with his girlfriend ends up with him being attacked by two men whose mother he had gonged (character actor par excellence Vincent Schiavelli is one of them).

Another montage of clips follows, including Danny Devito singing, a group of girls in Alice Cooper makeup, a priest swearing, old women with falsetto voices, eggs being smashed and poured onto people, a crucified man singing "Please Release Me," the infamous Popsicle Twins performance and Jaye P. Morgan's baring her breasts uncensored.

Barris is harassed about the content of the show by his boss as he leaves. He sneaks into a restaurant where the maître d' Raoul (Rip Taylor!) gives him a table inside the kitchen and the cook forces him to listen to a song. Meanwhile, another man is cooking naked in the background. The new boss finds him at dinner and follows him the whole way into the bathroom, where an excited fan pisses on Barris.

The boss even follows him to his house, where he interrupts breakfast in bed. This is followed by a montage of people waking up, with the Unknown Comic waking to his bag headed wife and Jaye P. Morgan in bed with numerous men.

Barris then meets with Morgan to discuss her behavior and that she acts too dirty on the air. Then it's time for another montage of people getting ready for the show shot cinéma vérité style. Then Della Barris, Chuck's real-life daughter, shows up and announces her plans to marry NBA star Bill Bridges. It's at this point that I discovered that Barris' love interest in the film, Robin Altman, was really his girlfriend at the time. In a 1980 People article, Barris said, "Robin used to work in our accounting department, but she was going with someone else, so I had to play it just hugs and kisses and copping a little feel. Then I threw my back out, and she came over with these heating pads because she had the same problem. We've been living together ever since." The 70's and 80's, everyone!

Then it's time for another montage, which ends with a pause on Barris' face that stays on screen for way too long to hammer home the host's nervous breakdown. Barris meets a doctor who he tells just how much he hates The Gong Show and how he needs to do something meaningful. She tells him that he needs to get away.

Somehow, Barris telling a joke leads to an argument which leads to him breaking up with his girlfriend. Which, of course, leads to another montage. Actually, it's just one scene of him alone in the park with sad music. No, I take that back. It's time for another montage, set to another listening of "Sometimes It Just Don't Pay to Get Up."

But Barris can't escape The Gong Show. Even heading to a small diner in the middle of nowhere leads to the waitresses auditioning. So he heads to the airport and tries to fly out of town. A guy walks right up to him in line (Phil Hartman!) with a gun, because pre-9/11 these things just happened.

Barris takes a one-way ticket to Morocco and walks into the middle of the desert. If you think you're not going to get a montage, you haven't been watching this movie. We get view after view of Chuckie Baby crossing the desert to the tune of a sad piano. Finally, a helicopter lands and his boss gets out. Everyone wants him back and the USC Trojan marching band appears, marching over the dunes (seriously, after playing on a coked up Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk," this is not the strangest thing this school band has ever been involved in). Everyone in Barris' life comes out to sing a big musical number, including Gene Gene the Dancing Machine. Everyone thanks him as they sing "Don't Get Up for Me."

How does it all end? Another montage of show clips that ends with a man farting out a candle, which causes the new boss to faint. Did you expect anything different?

This is a film packed with cameos and character parts, like Mabel King (Mama from What's Happening!), Harvey Lembeck, Ed Marinaro, baseball star Steve Garvey, Jamie Farr, Rosey Grier, Kitten Natividad and Taylor Negron, who must show up for a cameo in every movie made in the 1980's.

You can watch this as a time capsule. You can watch it as a fascinating study in determining the difference between an auteur film or a vanity project. Or you can just be happy to see uncensored clips from the show. If you were born after The Gong Show graced the airwaves or have no interest in celebrity-obsessed 70's pop culture, none of this will make sense.

The Gong Show Movie was in and out of theaters in less time than it took you to read this article. It did play on HBO, but wasn't released on VHS. It finally came out on blu ray from Shout! Factory in 2016.

Those were the days

[JohnSeal · 6/10 · 27 February 2006]

I used to hurry home from school every afternoon in time for The Gong Show, which even my mother would watch instead of whatever soap opera was airing on the other channel. This erratic big screen version of the show captures its anarchic appeal, and whilst the 'story' is less than interesting, the uncensored material from the show itself is priceless. There's also one truly brilliant moment in the framing sequences: toward the end of the film, the cast pursue a harried Chuck to the Sahara Desert and serenade him with a marvelous song called Don't Get Up For Me--one of several songs penned by Barris for the film. It's well past time for the original series to be resurrected on DVD, and it's something of a surprise that this spin-off has been unavailable on home video all these years. A nostalgic treat for those in the 35-55 demographic, The Gong Show Movie may not be high art, but it will certainly leave you laughing.

Random, random, random crap

[johnhsmith-00056 · 2/10 · 9 September 2021]

Don't get me wrong, I love the 1970s, and Chuck Barris was actually pretty good in this movie. And there is one topless scene. But those are the only good things about it, and why I gave it more than one star. The script must have been put together in 10 minutes. There is a bare bones plot about how the studio is thinking about cutting the Gong Show for poor ratings. And in response, Chuck Barris does random stuff, talks to random people, goes to random locations, and ends the movie with all the show regulars in a random song that has nothing to do with anything. Oh and in between we get super random clips from Gong Show skits, all of them truly terrible acts. If you are trying to deliberately annoy people and keep them out of your living room, this is the film you should play.

A Cult Classic That Deserves To Be Released on VHS and DVD!

[MovieMan-112 · 10/10 · 10 October 2001]

This movie is just one big "uncensored" episode of the infamous tv show "The Gong Show" and for fans of the show, like myself, it's truly a memorable classic. When this movie was released 21 years ago, it was bashed by critics who called it "nothing more than a sleazy freak show" and that's probably the reason why it was never released on video. I think it's about time that somebody re-issues this hilarious tale of just how far a game show host will go to exploit and humiliate the guests on his show. Chuck "Chucky Baby" Barris plays himself in a much more mellow role than the one he played on the show (rumor has it that Barris was high on uppers during almost every broadcast...and it showed) as a man frustrated with the networks who want him to keep his syndicated show on a fine line between the insane and the obscene. This being too hard to do, Barris suffers a nervous breakdown which leads him into exile in a desert in Morocco where all his friends follow him and convince him to just "do what he wants to do" despite what the networks who broadcast his show say. This is accompanied by a catchy tune titled "Don't Get up For Me". Barris finally goes back to the states and does the show "his way", causing one network executive to literally faint during the broadcast. This movie was a perfect ending to The Gong Show itself, which went off the air a few months after the movie premiered. The uncensored collection of auditions and show performances in this movie are priceless. Some of the acts include a man portraying Jesus Christ on the cross singing the Dean Martin tune "Please Release Me, Let Me Go", The Unknown Comic's vulgar jokes, two siamese twins singing The Captain and Tennille's "Love Will Keep Us Together", Jaye P. Morgan flashing her breasts, a human flatulent machine, an upside down banjo player who is dropped onto the stage head-first, and a folk song about legalizing prostitution, just to name a few. The soundtrack is great and it should be released along with the movie itself. The problem with today's movies are that all of them, whether great or horrible, are released on video while many movies before 1990 were never released on video. It didn't matter if they were great or lousy. I hope to see a copy of this movie on the market within the next few years. My copy isn't that good because it's very very old and barely watchable. That's why we need this cult classic on video. See it if you can. If not, petition to see it by having MCA Universal release it on VHS and DVD. 21 years without it is enough. Get your act together Universal...it's about time.

The Gong Show Movie

[cultfilmfan · 7/10 · 3 July 2005]

The Gong Show Movie, is about The Gong Show's creator Chuck Barris (who also co-wrote and directed this film) who after several auditions for the show and taping it is getting exhausted. For those who have never seen The Gong Show, it was a game show hosted by Chuck Barris, where they would get people to perform on stage showcasing a talent of theirs and they are judged my several celebrity judges and if they are not liked then a huge gong would be banged. Several of the people on the show had some very unusual and unique talents which would make the television show funny. In the movie Chuck, is getting fed up with the show and trying to keep the ratings for the show up as well as making sure the show isn't offensive and doesn't offend the audience. Everywhere he goes people seem to recognize Chuck and show him their own talents which they hope can be showcased on the television show and eventually Chuck as a breakdown and it is up to the staff and crew of The Gong Show to bring him back. I have never actually seen an episode of The Gong Show, but I have read about it and seen clips of it and it looks like it was a fun show. The show was a hit for several years but when this movie came out to theaters it did very poorly and it currently isn't available on video or DVD. The film isn't very well made and at times it looks like a made for TV movie. The acting also isn't that great and the film tries to make us laugh with several different jokes and sketches but the jokes and sketches just did not work and they did not work and they did not make me laugh. There also really isn't much of a story to this film either other than showing different people auditioning for the show and Chuck's run ins with bizarre fans of the show and spending time with his girlfriend Red. Despite these flaws there was still something I liked about this movie. It was entertaining enough and in some ways the film was so flawed that it almost gave it a campy charm making it fun to watch. The film is entertaining and there are some catchy musical numbers so I'm recommending it for those who will appreciate this film more for it's camp value then anything else because the sheer fact that this film doesn't work on a lot of levels coincidentally does make it work as a B film.

Grand carnivalesque fun for fans of the bizarre

[Matt Moses · 24 May 2000]

A much underrated (and sadly, widely unavailable) film about an egomaniacal talent show host starring the co-writer and director of the film who also just happened to be the host of the real Gong Show. Although at times self-indulgent (the film ends with most of the Gong Show regulars trying to woo Barris out of the desert), the film is on the whole truly bizarre and should appeal to fans of "out" cinema of the 60's and early 70's. No surprise, then, that the film was co-written by underground legend Robert Downey Sr. whose presence is strongly felt; fans of his work should not be taken aback by Barris's role in the spotlight as Downey clearly had some significant input here. Don't miss it if opportunity arises, and what with Spike Jonze working on a Barris related project, hopefully opportunity will be more available soon.

It's Not All That Bad

[frschoonover · 6/10 · 21 July 2021]

The Gong Show ran on TV in both an NBC network version and syndicated TV version in the late 1970's, with the NBC version running from 1976-1978, and, the syndicated TV version running from 1976-1980.

I used to watch The Gong Show a lot when I was a child. I loved this show and always looked forward to watching this every day when it came on. I watched mostly the syndicated version as I was usually in school for the NBC daytime version, although I did watch that when Summer came and that particular version was in reruns.

When this movie was released into movie cinemas in 1980, the R rating meant that I couldn't see it at the age of 10 that I was at the time, which made me sad as I loved this show a lot. It always made me chuckle whenever the gong was hit by a giant mallet by one, or, all of the celebrity panelists as a response to a really bad performance. I always watched the show mainly because of Jaye P. Morgan, as she was always very straight-forward and blunt as when she gonged an act and Chuck would always ask Jaye P. Or whoever gonged the act, "Why did you do that?"

Fortunately, when I was 14 years old, and I was on a Summer break from school, I managed to catch this film at 2:00am on "The WPIX Late-Late Movie" while spending overnight during a Summer week at my sister's house. Admittedly, I actually liked the movie and thought that it was pretty entertaining in a campy sort of way.

I saw that this is a loose semi-autobiographical look at the life of the show's host, Chuck Barris, as he goes through his life daily being inundated by those giving him impromptu auditions wherever he is always recognized when he wants to forget about the show itself for a while, either with dinner in a restaurant, or is faced by those who come up out of nowhere on the streets, or, at the studio where the show is taped live five or more times a day to see if they can get on the show to get the exposure that they crave to get their entertainment careers going. Throughout the movie, Chuck tries to get away from the seemingly endless barrage of entertaining wanna-be's, but only gets frustrated along the way, which only adds to the stress he feels as the host and also, by the increasing demands of those he knows and works with behind the scenes. He tries to escape, but fails as those who work with him and those he knows personally, alongside those who have performed on the show try to convince him, via the music number in the desert, that he is very important and also, much appreciated for everything he does to make the show the success that it was at the time.

Barris co-writes this film with established filmmaker Robert Downey, Sr. (the father of actor Robert Downey, Jr.) and takes on the directorial reigns himself, which is his own ego working overtime.

Although he does command some pretty undemanding fun, and I actually really did and still do, enjoy this movie, it might've been better if he had Robert Downey, Sr. Take on the directorial reigns, but then, we wouldn't have this strangely entertaining camp styled film, which is very entertaining and very watchable, IMHO. The film has some very amusing and laughable moments, but also, THE unforgettable moment when Jaye P. Morgan bares her chest for the camera smiling very wickedly, which was a first for me when I bought a bootleg DVD of this a long time ago, which I loaned to a friend, but never got back, but I am still hoping to find another bootleg DVD version of it pretty soon.

Upon seeing this on WPIX, something always told me that there were some missing elements from the movie and made it look seemingly incomplete. However, when I saw the complete film on the bootleg DVD, I enjoyed it more as I now saw the complete uncut version with the amusing moments of when a few guys dressed up as a priest and a group of nuns lip-syncing and dancing to the Tom Lehrer novelty classic "The Vatican Rag" and where a guy blows out a candle with his own flatulence, as well as, the aforementioned unforgettable Jaye P. Morgan baring her chest for the camera moment, alongside the famous, or infamous, depending on your point of view, "Have You got a Nickel?" act. Not only that, the musical number done in the desert for Chuck, called "Don't Get Up For Me" with it's catchy tune and can't help but sing-along with lyrics, also add to the campy entertainment fun that this movie has. IMHO, I feel that if this song was released as a single at the time, it probably would have sold well enough to become a hit and maybe, just maybe, help the movie sell more tickets while it was in theaters. Chuck Barris wrote all of the songs for this movie and they are actually very good.

IMHO, a fun and very entertaining movie that can be watched over and over again without getting tired of watching it and is still entertaining regardless of how many times it is watched, especially for those who really enjoyed watching this show when it was first on TV and also, the wonderful memories of watching this. It is also a must have in your DVD/Blu-Ray library for that reason so it can be watched over and over again. Again, a very campy and entertaining film.

A Great Flick for Gong Show Fans

[marc-151 · 10/10 · 6 December 2003]

Actually, it's a MUST see for Gong Show fans.

The film is uneven, but there are some excellent scenes such as the hospital scene.

Plus, you get to see Gong Show rarities like the popsicle twins and Jaye P.'s unsheathing.

Note that 30% of the voters (so far) have given this film a 10 and about 30% have given it a 1 !

Amusing Tribute To The Show

[G-Man-25 · 8/10 · 19 January 2000]

If you weren't a fan of Chuck Barris' silly game show, you probably should steer clear of this movie. But if you WERE a fan (or are just curious to check out a particularly wacked-out part of television history), you'll probably derive some totally mindless enjoyment here.

The story, such as it is, revolves around a typical week in the life of Barris and the trials and tribulations he goes through to make sure the show goes on - dealing with guests, panelists, fans AND battling the network brass who want him to tone down the raunchiness BUT keep ratings up at the same time. This movie is definitely Chuck's baby he co-wrote, directed, stars and even wrote a few toe-tapping ditties on the soundtrack. Some saw the movie as a shameless vanity project, but I think they missed the point Chuck Barris WAS "The Gong Show" and his trademark wackiness was a huge influence on TV game shows of the period ("The Dating Game," "The Newlywed Game" and "The $1.98 Beauty Contest" are others he created or helped create). As the story unspools, there are lots of very funny out-takes deemed "too hot for TV" laced into the proceedings and lots of familiar faces from the show's heyday can be spotted, adding to the fun.

This movie is an amusing tribute to an odd but essential piece of TV history.

Absolutely Insane- The Missing Link Between Ed Wood and "Reality TV"

[JasonIK75 · 10/10 · 1 February 2012]

I was born in 1975 so I was too young to have ever seen "The Gong Show" on TV, though I found several clips on YouTube. For those who are not familiar with it, try to imagine "America's Got Talent" minus anyone who is in any way marketable. Chuck Barris created the TV show and wrote and directed this movie that mixes footage that was censored from the original TV show with a storyline about Barris trying to escape the show while battling both the network censors and the talentless losers who want to be on it. Barris staggers through the film in a way that suggests what Tim Burton's "Ed Wood" might have been like if it had focused on Wood's post-Lugosi decline into alcohol and soft-core porn movies and novels. I should point out that I didn't laugh so much as just stare in stunned amazement at the acts. Some of this stuff is infamous and you've probably at least heard of them if not seen edited versions. The acts are presented in a rapid-fire montage style that predates MTV by a year. It's not for everyone, but if you've got an open mind, it is worth seeing.

It all began with young Tom Edison

[estabansmythe · 10/10 · 28 March 2006]

Hollywood gave us "Birth Of A Nation. It gave us "Gone With The Wind" and "The Wizard of Oz" in one year, 1939. "Citizen Kane" followed and was itself followed by such classics as "The Best Years Of Our Lives," "On The Waterfront," "The Ten Commandments" "Ben Hur," and "2001: A Space Odyssey," among other titanic films.

Then in 1980, the one true master, the genius that is Chuck Barris, gave us "The Gong Show Movie," based on what was perhaps Newton Minnow's brightest light, the TV show, "The Gong Show."

In a nutshell, this is what it's really all about. Life itself. The secrets of the universe revealed and the meaning of life itself, all for you and me in glorious color. All in "The Gong Show Movie." BTW, the 10 score and this review might be just a tad facetious. Maybe. Possibly.

Hilarious

[bighebeal · 9/10 · 29 May 2012]

Fans of Downey Sr. (which should be an enlarging group now that the box set of his early titles has appeared) should not miss this movie. It's Downey's humor all over the place, and it's a riot. The non-Downey parts -- the stuff about 'the miserable life of Chuck Barris' -- is just as appealing, in its way; it's great cult trashola. Moreover, Barris, who'd never convince anyone that he was a genuine actor, has great charm, and projects a sense of distance and disbelief that works very well as we watch him bouncing off the madness.

Granted, it helps if you remember the awful TV series, but I don't think it's an absolute necessity. You're probably better off watching "Chafed Elbows" or "Putney Swope" first... if those tickle you, you're ready for this.

Perhaps the movie's strangest quality is how undated it is: watch one episode of "America's Got Talent" and you're right back in the Gong Show era. It's an odd statement about our country -- or maybe contemporary civilization -- that can we watch this stuff without retching, but in any case, we can, and could, at least as far back as the '70's.

I must say I do find it hard to believe that Downey did not actually direct at least parts of this; Barris is the only director credited, but the atmosphere of much of it is Downey through-and-through. Yippee!

Good old 70s sleaze

[edgeofreality · 9 April 2020]

Like a trip back in time, late 70s hair, clothes, cars, shops, and wacky, sleazy humour. The only real plot concerns the host of an amateur talent show trying to either give up or come to terms with his job. He is constantly buttonholed by wannabe contestants who audition for him in hospitals, cafes, elevators and anywhere. We also see numerous a TS from the show, with much crass humour. Barris has a certain similarity to the darker persona of Jerry Lewis. At first he seems kind of non-descript and dull, but you are that this is his way of contrasting with all the zaniness around him. For a film almost universally despised, it was often good fun to watch.

Exciting show AND movie version!!!!!

[sethn172 · 10/10 · 14 September 2006]

How often do we see a movie version of a game show, huh????? Not much!!!!!

Now, this review's on the TV show AND the film!!!!! A real 2 in 1!!!!!

• The show: "The Gong Show" is no ordinary game show. There's no puzzles or wheel spinning if I can remember; it's more of a talent show. The "50 Greatest Game Shows" on GSN aired an episode of this recently; unfortunately, I missed the episode, but I found out that it not only had Steve Martin in it; it also had probably one of the loudest crowd gestures the series has ever had!!!!! However, I do recall that "Tool Time" made fun of this when they were searching for words to add to the wordless theme song.

• The movie: I haven't seen it, but can you believe it????? How's about "Wheel of Fortune: The Movie" or "The Price Is Right: The Movie?????" Now THAT will get everybody going to see those movies!!!!!

Overall, I give "The Gong Show" a 10 out of 10; no, make that a 20 out of 15 as this will make the show skyrocket!!!!! LOL

According to my aunt . . .

[wwkentucky · 6 November 2023]

To be perfectly honest, I have never seen "The Gong Show Movie." However, my aunt went to see it on its opening weekend.

She said prior to the film, there was a coming attractions trailer for some movie nobody had ever heard of --- "Airplane!" According to my aunt, there was ten times more laughter during that 3-and-a-half-minute trailer than there was during the whole 90-minute "Gong Show Movie."

I have to admit that I, myself, have never seen this film (which is odd, since I never miss a Gary Mule Deer movie). It's no wonder I've never seen it --- it was reportedly pulled from movie theaters within a week of its nationwide opening in May of 1980 and was never released on VHS home video during the '80s, '90s, or 2000s! It finally received a DVD/Blu-ray release in 2016.