Chuck Berry and Chuck Barris in the same week.
Barris was great on The Gong Show...not high culture, to be sure, but fun to see “plain folks” get their 30 seconds of time in the spotlight.
RIP. One of the best shows ever. Never failed to get me laughing.
My favourite was the “1.98 Beauty Show”.
Creative genius.
Some of my favorite times included the banter Chuck had with his panel, one of whom was the bawdy Jaye P Morgan. Chuck once asked her, on air, if she was a “size queen”.
One of my college roommates made it to the show. He didn’t get gonged but he didn’t win either. He did a patriotic song dressed in an Uncle Sam suit, singing the entire song with perfect clarity through his nose while his lips were taped shut.
Chuck could have joked he’s now the latest contestant on The Newlydead Game.It was said he was a shy man—yet look at him as The Gong Show kept going.Is this what a camera pointed at you will do to you?Can imagine he could have gotten a certain celebrity to host Gong—after the contestant gets gonged (maybe all 3 panelists, a gang gong) this celeb host would turn to them and say, You’re Fired. Chuck’s hit Palisades Park came out in 62, same year I was born (he died in Palisades NY).I think his daughter Della (A Chuck Barris Production) was born in 62 also..and sadly died of a drug OD at 36.
The Gong Show - early YouTube.
Great Show. Remember Gene Gene the Dancing Machine, The Unknown Comic.
Thank you Chuck, for lovely memories, belly-laughs, just incredible joy watching your television show! Those were the days. .. this was an original, creative, wonderful way to spend time in the late afternoon after school. He was a genius - very funny!! JP Mor-gone! Oh my God they were all hilarious. Gene Gene the dancing machine, the popsicle twins, the whole gamut, the unknown comic... it goes on and onz they were the best!!!
RIP Chuck . . . one of the great creative geniuses of TV history
The Unknown Comic: Chucky, Chucky, Chucky . . . I hear your wife saying you like boating . . .
Chuck: How did you know?
UC: She said you have a little dinghy!
At Hobart, the first year of the show was my freshman year. At noon, when the show came on, a lot of us would gather in the TV room to watch it, then go to class, the library, etc., it was a great early example of appointment watching!
LOVE that guy!
And NOW when we really need him at the Congressional hearings!
Remember The Unknown Comedian? The guy who put a paper bag on his head and told jokes. Hilarious.
RIP, Chuck...You’ll be missed...