You know the current state of affairs makes the old Gong Show look like award winning stuff. BTW what don't they have reruns of the GS on some late night cable channel?
An I thought the unknown comic was Keith O's. father.
Well, I don't know everything, Grandpa D. But I was a big fan of The Gong Show.
In 1976 when I was a TV news anchor in Michigan, the news executive producer was Bob Horner -now president of NBC News Channel. Bob and I were hired at the same time. Talk about small world. If it weren't for Bob I'd never have moved to Falls Church, VA where he grew up. On his recommendation we moved there and turns out we lived four houses down from his best friend. Not only that I went to American U's journalism master's degree program which I found out later Bob had completed earlier.
Anyway. Bob and I always went to this bar - John's Bar - for lunch after the noon news. It was in the middle of a cornfield. We consumed what they called "shells" of beer and the best burgers on the planet. AND watched The Gong Show every day. Without fail.
I knew all the characters. Gene, Gene, the Dancing Machine. J.P. Morgoni (as Barris called the foul panelist).
Every time Bob and I get together -which is relatively frequent - we go back down memory lane to John's Bar with the linoleum floors and The Gong Show.
Bob left the NBC affiliate before me for Mobile, Alabama as CBS News bureau chief. I moved to Washington, DC.
How about I produce a new news show airing on Fox or somewhere with a panelist and host (me, maybe). And a gong. The audience (live) is permitted to gong the panelists, host, and stories.
We COULD have an unknown comic and unmask him after his or her shtick. Like some a-hole news source.
Gong show Gong show. I love the idea of you being the hostest and have a pannel doing commentary. When someone goes over the bullshit line, and you would be great determining that, you bang the gong! They then crash through the floor. Perfect. Immagine you might not get many takers to get their gong banged by you.
Ok Marty do you remember this Gong show episode. years ago I was the GSM of the NBC station in Cleveland. Our sister station in Chicago also ran the Gong Show. We ran the show on a one day delay. So I get a call from my counterpart in Chicago and he tells me to be prepared for some fall out from the next days show. It featured two great looking blonds who's entire act entailed them sucking on big red popsicles. the kicker was J.P. Morgan saying THAT'S HOW I GOT MY START IN SHOW BUSINESS" now by today's standards no big deal. back in the '70's in a Catholic mid-west city the phone's rang off the hook. Say hello to Horner for me,one of the last managers left at NBC with any class.
You know everything Marty. Who was the unknown comic?
ReplyDeleteOK. I read the tags. And Google.
ReplyDeleteSorry
You know the current state of affairs makes the old Gong Show look like award winning stuff. BTW what don't they have reruns of the GS on some late night cable channel?
ReplyDeleteAn I thought the unknown comic was Keith O's. father.
Jim Cramer doesn't need a paper bag over his head, he needs a muzzle, and a set of balls! (Sniff sniff, why are you bothering me Jon Stewart?)
ReplyDeleteWhen he dies on-stage, does he go to the Tomb of the Unknown Comic?
ReplyDeleteWell, I don't know everything, Grandpa D. But I was a big fan of The Gong Show.
ReplyDeleteIn 1976 when I was a TV news anchor in Michigan, the news executive producer was Bob Horner -now president of NBC News Channel. Bob and I were hired at the same time. Talk about small world. If it weren't for Bob I'd never have moved to Falls Church, VA where he grew up. On his recommendation we moved there and turns out we lived four houses down from his best friend. Not only that I went to American U's journalism master's degree program which I found out later Bob had completed earlier.
Anyway. Bob and I always went to this bar - John's Bar - for lunch after the noon news. It was in the middle of a cornfield. We consumed what they called "shells" of beer and the best burgers on the planet. AND watched The Gong Show every day. Without fail.
I knew all the characters. Gene, Gene, the Dancing Machine. J.P. Morgoni (as Barris called the foul panelist).
Every time Bob and I get together -which is relatively frequent - we go back down memory lane to John's Bar with the linoleum floors and The Gong Show.
Bob left the NBC affiliate before me for Mobile, Alabama as CBS News bureau chief. I moved to Washington, DC.
How about I produce a new news show airing on Fox or somewhere with a panelist and host (me, maybe). And a gong. The audience (live) is permitted to gong the panelists, host, and stories.
We COULD have an unknown comic and unmask him after his or her shtick. Like some a-hole news source.
Gong show Gong show. I love the idea of you being the hostest and have a pannel doing commentary. When someone goes over the bullshit line, and you would be great determining that, you bang the gong! They then crash through the floor. Perfect. Immagine you might not get many takers to get their gong banged by you.
ReplyDeleteCall Fox on Monday and pitch it.
Oh yes to top it off Jimbo could be your straight announcer aka Gary Owens of Laugh In Fame.
ReplyDeleteOk Marty do you remember this Gong show episode. years ago I was the GSM of the NBC station in Cleveland. Our sister station in Chicago also ran the Gong Show. We ran the show on a one day delay. So I get a call from my counterpart in Chicago and he tells me to be prepared for some fall out from the next days show. It featured two great looking blonds who's entire act entailed them sucking on big red popsicles. the kicker was J.P. Morgan saying THAT'S HOW I GOT MY START IN SHOW BUSINESS" now by today's standards no big deal. back in the '70's in a Catholic mid-west city the phone's rang off the hook. Say hello to Horner for me,one of the last managers left at NBC with any class.
ReplyDelete