Did Chuck Barris create, in essence, America's Got Talent, etc? Three judges. Acts that can be stopped mid-performance. Commentary after the act. Scoring and prizes. Seems strangely familiar as I watch Youtube Gong Show episodes.

quote:

Originally posted by nhtagmember:
I had a crush on Jaye P. Morgan

ah, the good old days

I thought it was Linda Ronstadt at first in the video above of Gene Gene The Dancing Machine (loved him on the show...). She (Jaye P.)was smoking back in '76, I watched the show a good bit back in high school, but during the Navy years it was rare that I saw it.

There was a Gong Show Movie made in '80. Amazon I hope has copies of it. RIP Chuck.

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
At least the Unknown Comic is still alive.

Or is he?

It's rumored that he made a tragic attempt to switch to plastic...

Mike Rowe's tribute to Chuck Barris today mentioned the unknown comic and how it influenced his career.

Go to the link and watch the video...He had to spend several minutes trying to sell basically a paper bag for $25.

https://www.facebook.com/TheRe..._id=1490224762368404

Many of you have seen this video. It not only proves that I began my misspent career in the home shopping industry, it illustrates why I was unable - for three years - to pry myself away from the cold, dead clutch of the graveyard shift. I’m posting it today, because Chuck Barris has died, and it’s his fault that I spent my tenure at QVC on double-secret probation. It’s also his fault that I have a career in television.

To me, The Gong Show was the simplest and most elegant of TV shows. The anti-game show. The anti-variety show. In some ways, the harbinger of American Idol. In other ways, its polar opposite. A hot mess of street performers and buskers and B-list celebrities who all appeared to be in on the joke. At base, they dared you to watch, and I loved it. Watching Chuck Barris on television proved to me that the best way to be funny, was to amuse yourself before all others. Those who laughed along with you, became your boss. Those who didn't, were of no consequence. It's the truest thing I've ever learned in my career.

In the first few seconds of this video, you’ll notice I put the Katsak over my head and make a passing reference to The Unknown Comic – a character who first appeared on The Gong Show. His jokes weren’t that funny, but the idea of a comic who was so embarrassed by his material - or so indifferent to fame that he preferred to remain anonymous - captured my imagination and gave me a tool to use whenever I found myself in front of a camera with no clear idea of what to do or say. In such cases, (and there have been many,) I simply pretended I had a bag over my head. So imagine my excitement when I was asked to sell an actual grocery bag lined with mylar, and asked to persuade my narcoleptic audience to cough up $24.35 for something called a Katsak?

Looking back, much of what I said in those days was motivated by the fantasy of anonymity. I was able to figure out how to behave on TV, by free associating for hours on end, protected not only by the late hour, but by a metaphorical grocery bag that allowed me to say whatever fool thing popped into my head. That imaginary bag got me in all sorts of trouble, but it also served me well. Very well.

So thanks, Chuck Barris, for giving the Unknown Comic a place to exist. Thanks for reminding us that only a fool takes himself seriously all the time. And thanks for showing us the power of the gong. God knows, we could use one today...

Mike

FYI

The Unknown Comic is still alive.


RIP Chuckie Baby!

quote:

Originally posted by chuck416:
Does anyone know if there is any substance to the reporting that he (Chuck Barris) was a hit man for the CIA?
Serious question.

(Almost) certainly not.

quote:

Originally posted by Butch 2340:
FYI

The Unknown Comic is still alive.


RIP Chuckie Baby!

The Unknown Comic is still alive.

Yep.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Unknown_Comic

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
At least the Unknown Comic is still alive.

Or is he?

It's rumored that he made a tragic attempt to switch to plastic...

Lolol

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
At least the Unknown Comic is still alive.

Or is he?

Who knows

quote:

Originally posted by rat2306:

quote:

Originally posted by nhtagmember:
I had a crush on Jaye P. Morgan

ah, the good old days

I thought it was Linda Ronstadt at first in the video above of Gene Gene The Dancing Machine (loved him on the show...). She (Jaye P.)was smoking back in '76, I watched the show a good bit back in high school, but during the Navy years it was rare that I saw it.

There was a Gong Show Movie made in '80. Amazon I hope has copies of it. RIP Chuck.

She was famous for flashing her bewbs at the audience during the show.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
At least the Unknown Comic is still alive.

Or is he?

If his initials are C.B., maybe not.

I remember seeing this on TV.

Embedding disabled.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...taAR17ESeRwEBXejT6NL