The Gong Show is a parody of television variety shows. It broadcast on NBC's daytime schedule from June 14, 1976 through July 21, 1978, and in first-run syndication from 1976-1980 and 1988-1989. The NBC version and the 1977-1980 syndicated seasons were emceed by Chuck Barris, who also produced them.
Each show presented a contest between amateur performers of often dubious talent, with a panel of three celebrity judges. The program's frequent judg...
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The Gong Show is a parody of television variety shows. It broadcast on NBC's daytime schedule from June 14, 1976 through July 21, 1978, and in first-run syndication from 1976-1980 and 1988-1989. The NBC version and the 1977-1980 syndicated seasons were emceed by Chuck Barris, who also produced them.
Each show presented a contest between amateur performers of often dubious talent, with a panel of three celebrity judges. The program's frequent judges included Jaye P. Morgan, Jamie Farr, Arte Johnson, Rip Taylor, Phyllis Diller, and Anson Williams. Rex Reed was notorious for being the harshest critic, often giving acts a 9 when they received perfect 10s from the other judges. If any judge considered an act to be particularly bad, he or she could strike a large gong, thus forcing the performer to stop. Most of the performers took the gong with sheepish good grace, but there were exceptions.
Originally, panelists had to wait 20 seconds (later 30, then 45) before they could gong an act;...
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