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Rhiannon12866

(202,960 posts)
Wed Mar 22, 2017, 04:15 AM Mar 2017

'Gong Show' creator Chuck Barris dies at 87

Source: ABC News

Chuck Barris, whose game show empire included "The Dating Game," ''The Newlywed Game" and that infamous factory of cheese, "The Gong Show," died at 87.

Barris died of natural causes Tuesday afternoon at his home in Palisades, New York, according to publicist Paul Shefrin, who announced the death on behalf of Barris' family.

Barris made game show history right off the bat, in 1966, with "The Dating Game," hosted by Jim Lange. The gimmick: a young female questions three males, hidden from her view, to determine which would be the best date. Sometimes the process was switched, with a male questioning three females. But in all cases the questions were designed by the show's writers to elicit sexy answers.

Celebrities and future celebrities who appeared as contestants included Michael Jackson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Steve Martin and a pre-"Charlie's Angels" Farrah Fawcett, introduced as "an accomplished artist and sculptress" with a dream to open her own gallery.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/gong-show-creator-chuck-barris-dies-87-46292682




FILE - In this Dec. 20, 2002 file photo, Chuck Barris, the man behind TV's "The Dating Game," poses in the lobby of his apartment in New York. Game show impresario Barris has died at 87. Barris, the madcap producer of "The Gong Show" and "The Dating Game," died of natural causes Tuesday afternoon, March 21, 2017, at his home in Palisades, New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)
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'Gong Show' creator Chuck Barris dies at 87 (Original Post) Rhiannon12866 Mar 2017 OP
Rest in peace shenmue Mar 2017 #1
Guess it was just announced, and I thought this would resonate with many DUers... Rhiannon12866 Mar 2017 #5
Anyone over the age of 50 remembers the Gong Show phenomenon. Cooley Hurd Mar 2017 #20
The point is, it was a cultural phenomenon Rhiannon12866 Mar 2017 #24
Damn. beam me up scottie Mar 2017 #2
Yes! I do remember him, LOL! Rhiannon12866 Mar 2017 #4
I wasn't very fond of the show but I did like the Unknown Comic. beam me up scottie Mar 2017 #6
That's true, I know there were parts I couldn't stand Rhiannon12866 Mar 2017 #9
Gene, Gene the Dancing Machine Yupster Mar 2017 #52
Here ya go! LOL! Rhiannon12866 Mar 2017 #53
Murray Langston Cooley Hurd Mar 2017 #22
Quite an accomplished man. beam me up scottie Mar 2017 #25
How about Gene,Gene the dancing machine?? Bengus81 Mar 2017 #33
. littlemissmartypants Mar 2017 #40
he was irritating and entertaining at the same time Skittles Mar 2017 #3
Exactly! Rhiannon12866 Mar 2017 #7
Exactly! Skittles Mar 2017 #8
When that show was on, murielm99 Mar 2017 #10
I know! Rhiannon12866 Mar 2017 #12
Wow. BumRushDaShow Mar 2017 #11
That's true, game shows had a real heyday back then Rhiannon12866 Mar 2017 #14
Cross gently, Chuck... Cooley Hurd Mar 2017 #13
You're right! Rhiannon12866 Mar 2017 #16
Todd, but he looks healthy enough... Cooley Hurd Mar 2017 #19
You've got to admit this is funny! Rhiannon12866 Mar 2017 #21
Yeah, but he's still an asshat... Cooley Hurd Mar 2017 #26
He made me laugh BeyondGeography Mar 2017 #15
... Rhiannon12866 Mar 2017 #17
still remember the 'feelings' show. i want the gong show. pansypoo53219 Mar 2017 #18
It was just meant to be funny! Rhiannon12866 Mar 2017 #23
I loved "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind", the George Clooney movie catbyte Mar 2017 #27
So did I The Blue Flower Mar 2017 #29
+1 Blue_Tires Mar 2017 #46
I loved The Gong Show! Are_grits_groceries Mar 2017 #28
When shows like American Idol premiered... cab67 Mar 2017 #30
I always thought The Gong Show was funny n/t lordsummerisle Mar 2017 #31
Very few people outside the TV industry give Chuck Barris credit beastie boy Mar 2017 #32
I remember "Back with more ... stuff", as he went into commercial VWolf Mar 2017 #34
Yeah, me too... llmart Mar 2017 #49
We liked the show.. Jaye P. Morgan was a favorite. LakeArenal Mar 2017 #35
Article didn't mention Tom Sellek being on the Dating Game. He lost........... Bengus81 Mar 2017 #36
His show and the Laugh In were just hilarious turbinetree Mar 2017 #37
My partner just reminded me that Barris said he was a hit man for the CIA. nt LakeArenal Mar 2017 #38
This message was self-deleted by its author LudwigPastorius Mar 2017 #44
Thanks for the laughs. hamsterjill Mar 2017 #39
Factoid: Chuck Barris wrote Freddy Cannon's Palisades Park Brother Buzz Mar 2017 #41
Gene Gene The Dancing Machine! denbot Mar 2017 #42
From Hollywood, almost live, Throckmorton Mar 2017 #43
Kick for Gene Gene the dancing machine and the Unknown Comic. sarcasmo Mar 2017 #45
Who wouldn't have loved the Bait Brothers? Judi Lynn Mar 2017 #47
Thank you! Rhiannon12866 Mar 2017 #48
The first band I was ever in was on the Gong Show... GReedDiamond Mar 2017 #50
That's incredibly cool! I think you win the thread! Rhiannon12866 Mar 2017 #55
Oingo Boingo on The Gong Show... GReedDiamond Mar 2017 #51
My sister and I could watch and goof on the show together jeanmarc Mar 2017 #54
Message auto-removed Name removed Mar 2017 #56
 

Cooley Hurd

(26,877 posts)
20. Anyone over the age of 50 remembers the Gong Show phenomenon.
Wed Mar 22, 2017, 06:22 AM
Mar 2017

...and it was good, if not slightly mean-spirited, fun.

Rhiannon12866

(202,960 posts)
24. The point is, it was a cultural phenomenon
Wed Mar 22, 2017, 06:27 AM
Mar 2017

I think we only had one TV, so if we watched it, my parents did, too!

Rhiannon12866

(202,960 posts)
4. Yes! I do remember him, LOL!
Wed Mar 22, 2017, 05:33 AM
Mar 2017

That show became an important part of our culture! I don't remember even particularly liking the show, but I watched it!

Yupster

(14,308 posts)
52. Gene, Gene the Dancing Machine
Thu Mar 23, 2017, 03:00 AM
Mar 2017

and the guy who was always almost ready to play a musical instrument.

The Golden Age of TV.

 

Cooley Hurd

(26,877 posts)
22. Murray Langston
Wed Mar 22, 2017, 06:24 AM
Mar 2017
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Unknown_Comic

<snip>

In 1970 Langston began his show business career on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In doing impressions of a fork, a tube of toothpaste and a grandfather clock.[1] Later—at the suggestion of Redd Foxx—he teamed with comedian Freeman King. After they both appeared on several episodes of The Midnight Special they were spotted by producers and soon became regular performers on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. Langston and King performed music and comedy sketches with the hosts and guest stars, alongside other regular performers as Ted Zeigler, Peter Cullen and Teri Garr.

After more than 100 appearances with Sonny and Cher, Langston began to make appearances on other prime time television shows, including The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show, The Wolfman Jack Show, and The Bobby Vinton Show.[1] He also worked with Foxx, Joan Rivers, Jim Carrey, Ruth Buzzi, and many other comedians, as well as creating comedic situations—appearing in several segments—for Candid Camera.

Early in his career, Langston had invested in a nightclub restaurant called "SHOW-BIZ." Several now-famous people worked there as servers, including Debra Winger, Michael Keaton (then known as Michael Douglas), David Letterman, Gallagher, Tim Reid and Freddie Prinze Sr.; however, the club closed within two years, exhausting Langston's savings.[1]

Strapped for cash, he accepted an offer to appear on The Gong Show. He was reportedly embarrassed about appearing on the show, so—with the director's permission—he put a paper bag over his head with holes for his eyes and mouth, that were cut by Paul Poeschl, memorized a few old jokes and burst onto the show as "The Unknown Comic." The character, a frenetic speed-jokester in smarmy attire, was a hit, and developed a cult following.[3]

"The Unknown Comic" appeared on more than 150 episodes of the Gong Show and also entertained as a celebrity judge on several other television shows. He also wrote for The Gong Show for a short time as well as appearing regularly in Las Vegas and making the rounds of many popular talk/variety shows. In the early '80s, Langston revealed himself as "The Unknown Comic" on an episode of Real People in which the show's hosts pulled off the bag on his head. He also revealed his true identity at the conclusion of a match on the celebrity edition of the game show Bullseye.

Langston later produced The Unknown Comedy Hour for Playboy TV, followed by The Sex and Violence Family Hour which starred a very young Jim Carrey. He also wrote the screenplays for the films Night Patrol (1984), Up Your Alley (1988) and Wishful Thinking (1997) as well as being the co-host of "The NEW Truth or Consequences" (1987). He also had a role in the children's TV series E.M.U-TV (1989) as "Murray the Technical Director."

Langston most recently reappeared as "The Unknown Comic" in the film Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002). He wrote, directed and performed in Dirty Jokes: The Movie and inspired by the hit stage show The Vagina Monologues he created and performed "one man's response" to the show, which he called The Weenie Man-o-logs.

</snip>

Bengus81

(6,907 posts)
33. How about Gene,Gene the dancing machine??
Wed Mar 22, 2017, 09:12 AM
Mar 2017

A black guy who worked on the show itself would come out and dance every so often. Jamie Farr and J.P. Morgan were on the show forever.

Rhiannon12866

(202,960 posts)
7. Exactly!
Wed Mar 22, 2017, 05:39 AM
Mar 2017

I don't remember particularly liking the show - or him, actually - but I watched! Everybody did. It was something different - which was entertaining! ...

murielm99

(30,655 posts)
10. When that show was on,
Wed Mar 22, 2017, 05:56 AM
Mar 2017

I worked a mile from my home. I would go home for lunch, and watch the show while I ate. It was bewildering and funny to me. It was great comic relief and helped me maintain a good attitude when I finished my work day.

I remember the unknown comic. I remember seeing some guy with a mustache, dressed like a nun and singing the Whiffenpoof song. I thought, WTF? Absurd worked for me. It made the rest of life seem very normal.

Rhiannon12866

(202,960 posts)
12. I know!
Wed Mar 22, 2017, 06:01 AM
Mar 2017

That's why it was so popular, it was just silly entertainment, something everybody was ready for about then. And I think it resonated across demographics. Kids loved it and their parents watched, too...

BumRushDaShow

(127,258 posts)
11. Wow.
Wed Mar 22, 2017, 06:00 AM
Mar 2017

I remember watching all of those shows. I don't think too many of those old game show hosts are still around although I just checked and Monty Hall is still with us.

R.I.P.

Rhiannon12866

(202,960 posts)
14. That's true, game shows had a real heyday back then
Wed Mar 22, 2017, 06:05 AM
Mar 2017

I haven't watched one for years, but back then everybody watched, they were an important part of the culture. These days, there's just too much on...

 

Cooley Hurd

(26,877 posts)
13. Cross gently, Chuck...
Wed Mar 22, 2017, 06:03 AM
Mar 2017

Chuck Berry and Barris within days of one another...

The Gong Show was a phenomenon that was so uniquely "the 70's".

It single-handedly resurrected talent shows - I remember my middle school had a "Gong Show" talent show. My act was a manipulating a bird marionette to the tune of In The Mood. I think I got gonged...

catbyte

(34,165 posts)
27. I loved "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind", the George Clooney movie
Wed Mar 22, 2017, 06:56 AM
Mar 2017

supposedly based on his life. It was as twisted as he was. He was quite a character.

RIP

cab67

(2,962 posts)
30. When shows like American Idol premiered...
Wed Mar 22, 2017, 07:54 AM
Mar 2017

...I found myself only watching the first couple of weeks. They reminded me of the Gong Show.

beastie boy

(9,056 posts)
32. Very few people outside the TV industry give Chuck Barris credit
Wed Mar 22, 2017, 09:07 AM
Mar 2017

for being a television industry pioneer. He was the one who introduced the concept of "first run syndication" - basically a process of negotiating with and distributing original content to individual TV stations nationwide, thus bypassing the then all powerful TV networks who were in control the production and distribution of virtually all content other than local news.

Of course, he was also a self-described CIA secret agent. But if I go any further into this, I will "have to kill you"... ; )

VWolf

(3,944 posts)
34. I remember "Back with more ... stuff", as he went into commercial
Wed Mar 22, 2017, 09:13 AM
Mar 2017

I honestly felt he was drunk half the time on that show. But I loved it.

llmart

(15,499 posts)
49. Yeah, me too...
Wed Mar 22, 2017, 09:16 PM
Mar 2017

I used to say, "I think he's on some drugs or something." He was just wacky. But I just couldn't help but watch.

LakeArenal

(28,713 posts)
35. We liked the show.. Jaye P. Morgan was a favorite.
Wed Mar 22, 2017, 09:13 AM
Mar 2017

If only there was a political gong for today.. That gong would be worn out...

Response to LakeArenal (Reply #38)

hamsterjill

(15,214 posts)
39. Thanks for the laughs.
Wed Mar 22, 2017, 10:59 AM
Mar 2017

My sympathies to his family and friends. I remember The Gong Show well. We did a parody of it for a high school talent show.

Brother Buzz

(36,212 posts)
41. Factoid: Chuck Barris wrote Freddy Cannon's Palisades Park
Wed Mar 22, 2017, 12:56 PM
Mar 2017

I had no clue he actually lived in Palisades, New York. Rip, Ace CIA hit man.

GReedDiamond

(5,299 posts)
50. The first band I was ever in was on the Gong Show...
Wed Mar 22, 2017, 09:58 PM
Mar 2017

...the band was called Scott Thomas Lowe & Atascadero.

The brother of one of the guitar players taped the band's appearance on the show and posted it to YouTube a while back (which is why the title of the video is "Peter on the Gong Show&quot .

jeanmarc

(1,685 posts)
54. My sister and I could watch and goof on the show together
Thu Mar 23, 2017, 05:19 AM
Mar 2017

We could barely watch any shows together. It was kind of stupid, but stupid is fun sometimes. Irreverent might be a better word. It was a silly show.

Response to Rhiannon12866 (Original post)

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