The Gong Show

The Gong Show was a TV series which combined an amateur talent show, specifically seeking the most absurd or less talented acts, with absurd running gags. The show used a gong, which dated back to radio's Major Bowes' Amateur Hour, hit by one of the celebrity judges to end an act. The series ran from 1976 to 1980, with periodic later revivals.
On occasion, genuinely talented performers did appear, with Paul Reubens and Danny Elfman (with a forerunner to Oingo Boingo) getting early exposure.
==References==
*At the close of The Muppet Show episode 505, James Coburn states that now he can say he's done The Muppet Show. Kermit quips, given the heavy use of the gong, that he could say he's done The Gong Show. 
*Caroll Spinney noted that the idea for Bruno the Trashman came from viewing a Gong Show contestant who simultaneously portrayed two characters (a clown pushing a baby carriage).The Wisdom of Big Bird. p. 61
==Connections==
*Phyllis Diller, frequent judge
*Jaye P. Morgan, regular judge
*Jamie Farr, regular judge
*Arte Johnson, frequent judge
*Mike Myers portrayed host Tommy Maitland in the 2017 revival
==Sources==
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Category:TV References