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IMDb > "The Gong Show" (1976)

"The Gong Show" (1976) More at IMDbPro »TV series 1976-1980


Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   121 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 4% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Directors:
John Dorsey
Terry Kyne
Writer:
Larry Spencer (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Gong Show on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 June 1976 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Game-Show more
Plot:
Amateur talent contest judged by three celebrities. full summary
Awards:
2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(9 articles)
The Point San Diego PreGame
 (From Comicmix. 13 July 2009, 12:20 PM, PDT)

Books: Review: Who Killed Art Deco?
 (From The AV Club. 24 June 2009, 10:00 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
A classic show more

Cast

 (Series Cast Summary - 4 of 36)
Gary Owens ... Himself - Host / ... (3 episodes, 1976-1977)

Chuck Barris ... Himself - Host (3 episodes, 1976)

Mat Plendl ... Himself / ... (2 episodes, 1976)

Louanne ... Herself (2 episodes, 1978)
more

Additional Details

Runtime:
30 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
USA:TV-PG

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
(May 2009) In a poll conducted by "The O'Reilly Factor" (1996), 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" (1965) / (2) "The Jerry Springer Show" (1991) / (3) "Friends" (1994) and (5) "Cop Rock" (1990). more
Quotes:
Announcer: [at the start of the show] From Hollywood, almost live, it's The Gong Show! more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Bosom Buddies: The Grandfather (#2.12)" (1982) more
Soundtrack:
One O'Clock Jump more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
6 out of 6 people found the following comment useful:-
A classic show, 21 October 2004
Author: Ken Hill from Birmingham, England

What a little gem of a show this was. If my memory serves me correctly this aired in the UK on Channel 4 twice a week in the early eighties long after the series had finished in America. A bold move I must say on the part of Channel 4 at the time, considering the fact that apart from Jamie Farr (MASH), and Arte Johnson (Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In) none of the other members of the show were actually, house hold names with the British public.

Taking that and the show's formula, getting anyone off the street, with absolutely no talent what so ever to do a turn, then get marked for their efforts, (if they didn't get gonged first) it's amazing it ever got shown once a week, let alone twice! Thankfully it did and what wonderful 'Acts!!!' some of them were. The guy dressed in a dinner suit complete with Bowler hat and walking cane, coming to the front of the stage, then standing in a fixed position for one completely minute without saying a word. Then there was 'Granny Go Go'. A 70+ woman wearing a mini dress dancing wildly to a boogie on down sound of the time. How about the singing trio whose lyrics to their song contained just one line 'I don't know why?' Mind blowing stuff!

They did though have some class acts appearing on the show in between the dross. Willie Bo Bo, a panelist on the Gong Show from time to time, along with his band, gave an excellent up beat rendition of the '2001- A Space Odyssey' film theme, 'Also Sprach Zarathustra' that really went down well. A girl singer going by the name of 'Stony' did a very nice version of the song 'I Got the Music in Me' and The Valentine Brothers, a brilliant close harmony duo sang 'That's the Time I Feel Like Making Love to You'.

I guess we'll not see the like's of this on TV again? Thankful though I've managed to lifted off the seven episodes I have from VHS tape onto DVD, so I'll still be able to go back from time to time and relive them all over again!

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