The Gong Show

I am a fan of the original Gong Show from the days that Chuck Barris put in on TV in the mid 70's and am probably one of the toughest critics of any reboots of the show.I did not like the 80's version or the Extreme Gong Show.So when I decided to check out the 2017 version,I expected not to like it.

However, it surprised me.The set ,the style the mood and most importantly the acts were reminiscent of the original .The acts had the crazy feel that I thought would be lost in any new versions of The Gong Show.

The weak link, in my opinion , is the host. He is kind of lackluster ,but that doe snot lessen the show for me.

It is definitely a good 21st century version of The Gong Show.

It's a given that some people will not get this show. But you can't call a show "cheesy" that aspires to be cheesy. There is some real talent on stage, but "The Gong Show" is not about that. As host Tommy Maitland (wink) states, "It's for funsies." What I like best about this show is that it successfully captures the spirit, the mien if you will (or even if you won't) of the original Chuck Barris clapfest. Expect the unexpected--with a helping of whipped cream and a pair of jockey shorts.

I do miss Gene, Gene, The Dancing Machine, but they have done their best to recreate the whimsy of the original show. And even if The Unknown Comic never graces this stage, Murray's spirit still shines through every clever punchline.

Besides the terrific host-age of Tommy, the guest panelists are fantastic, fully embracing the craziness for its own sake. Elizabeth Banks even evokes the horny orneriness of J. P. Morgone.

Take off your thinking cap, abandon all hope of tasteful talent and embrace the tongue-in-cheek-and-elsewhere extravaganza that is "The Gong Show".

This is a sad reconstruction of the 1970's show. The producers completely missed the mark on why the original was a hit...the original did not take itself too seriously, the host loved the show and did not mock it, the judges seemed real and unscripted.

This version has big, big production values (a huge stage, a huge gong, and an audience made up of good-looking Millennials (why no older people or no schlubs?). Mike Myers parades around mocking the show, himself, the acts, and the judges. The camera cuts to him whenever he does some lame schtick. The judges laugh at EVERYTHING? The audience laughs at EVERYTHING. I guess the producers feel that if everyone is laughing the show MUST be funny! Many acts on the original, although dumb, were at least entertaining. Most of the acts on this show are dumb for the sake of being dumb. The judges, who do not look like they really want to be there, in an attempt to be funny, will gong acts just because they think its funny to gong acts. However, the downside of this, is that a couple of genuinely clever acts were eliminated while other, less creative, acts got high scores.

Finally, the show seems to be completely fabricated in the editing room. Reaction shots from the audience do not feel real...they seem like they were acted out on direction of the producers ("now, we want you to laugh as if you just saw something funny."). And acts are cut out...at the end of the first show and at the end of the second show, when all the acts are brought out on stage, there are a few that were never seen during the show.

Expected so little,got so much. You can tell the judge's remarks are are real and unprepared. The acts are not always great but they are always entertaining. Some of the judges are very kind,funny and humble(Brie,Dr Ken,Arnett), just like Tommy. Others are cold. and to self absorbed to be bothered by these acts(J Aniston,J Black), sadly both were on same episode.All the episodes are really good except the one with Aniston and Black. Best Hour of Summer T.V.

I used to watch the original with my Dad. All the talents that envisioned bringing it back are spot on. Thank you all for producing a program that I can share with my kids.