The Gong Show (1976–1980)

Amateur talent contest judged by three celebrities.

Creator:

Chris Bearde

Stars:

Gary Owens, Chuck Barris, Rocky Bonifield

2 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Gary Owens	...	Himself - Host (3 episodes, 1976)
Chuck Barris	...	Himself - Host (3 episodes, 1976)
Rocky Bonifield	...	Herself (3 episodes, 1976)
Mat Plendl	...	Himself (2 episodes, 1976)
Louanne	...	Herself (2 episodes, 1978)

Storyline

Amateurs compete in a talent contest judged by a trio of celebrities. If the act is so bad that the judges can't bear to watch any more of it, they have the power to stop the act by pounding a large gong hanging on the wall behind them. Host Barris keeps the acts flowing, the jokes flying and the raucous party atmosphere floating. The show's grand prize was $516.32 (except in the syndicated version where it was $712.05).

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Plot Keywords:

Talent Contest | The Gong Show | Non Fiction

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Genres:

Comedy | Game-Show

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 June 1976 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Chuck Barris Stages, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chuck Barris Productions, Chris Bearde Productions, National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

(May 2009) In a poll conducted by The O'Reilly Factor, 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 / (2) The Jerry Springer Show / (3) Friends and (5) Cop Rock.

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Quotes

Announcer: [at the start of the show] From Hollywood, almost live, it's The Gong Show!

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Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Lily Tomlin/James Taylor (1976)
Mentioned by Chevy Chase

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Soundtracks

"One O'Clock Jump"
(End Title Theme)
Music by Count Basie

User Reviews

Great back then, misunderstood today

In discussing how mean American Idol has gotten lately, a lot of people point back to the Gong Show as the initiator of public TV humiliation. Anybody who thinks that never saw this show.

The show basically had two kinds of acts: the really ridiculous, and the really good. People with genuine talent were usually given high marks and compliments by the judges, who were all show-biz veterans and who knew talent when they saw it (I recall after one such act, Arte Johnson exclaimed, "I'm gonna get you a job!").

The other acts were supposed to be either wildly bizarre or just plain dumb. This gave everyone a chance to enjoy it for a few moments, knowing that the gong was soon in the offing. When the gong sounded, everyone laughed, including the people in the act itself. And Chuck Barris would shake his head in mock indignation and say "Gee, I don't know why they did that..." and as he escorted the act offstage, he cooed "Be of good cheer."

It was all played for laughs. Nobody was told they were horrible, nobody was told they had no talent, nobody was told they were too fat.

Add to this the great music, the amazing creativity of the contestants, and the one-line jokes between acts, and you had a great half-hour of comedy.