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Gong This Book! The Uncensored History of Television’s Wildest Talent Show
Once you watched The Gong Show, you could never forget it! All at once, it was trippy 1970s time capsule, a variety show, a showcase for new talent, a party, and a playground for its creator and star, the one and only Chuck Barris.
Gong This Book is a celebration of this unique oddity in television history and the extraordinary staff of people — “Chuck's Lemmings”— who made it happen. Among those sharing their recollections for this book are celebrity judges Jamie Farr and Jo Anne Worley, Scarlett O'Hara, Rhetch Butler, Confusion the Philosopher, Larry and His Magic Trumpet, The Cowardly Lion, The Women of NBC, The Brothers Vert, Mike the Vike, Count Banjola, Dr. Flame-o, and even “The Prince of Puns! The Wizard of Whoopie! THE UNKNOWN COMIC!” Illustrating many of their tales is Vince Longo, the staff photographer for Chuck Barris Productions, whose camera lovingly captured every day on the set.
Adam Nedeff is a researcher and archivist for the National Archives of Game Show History, part of the Strong National Museum of Play, in Rochester, New York. He's also worked behind the scenes on many game shows, including College Bowl, Double Dare, Idiotest, Master Minds, The Price is Right, and Wheel of Fortune. He's the author of several books about game shows, including Game Shows FAQ, Okay? Okay! Dennis James' Lifetime of Firsts, and Monty TV's Big Dealer.
Gong This Book is a celebration of this unique oddity in television history and the extraordinary staff of people — “Chuck's Lemmings”— who made it happen. Among those sharing their recollections for this book are celebrity judges Jamie Farr and Jo Anne Worley, Scarlett O'Hara, Rhetch Butler, Confusion the Philosopher, Larry and His Magic Trumpet, The Cowardly Lion, The Women of NBC, The Brothers Vert, Mike the Vike, Count Banjola, Dr. Flame-o, and even “The Prince of Puns! The Wizard of Whoopie! THE UNKNOWN COMIC!” Illustrating many of their tales is Vince Longo, the staff photographer for Chuck Barris Productions, whose camera lovingly captured every day on the set.
Adam Nedeff is a researcher and archivist for the National Archives of Game Show History, part of the Strong National Museum of Play, in Rochester, New York. He's also worked behind the scenes on many game shows, including College Bowl, Double Dare, Idiotest, Master Minds, The Price is Right, and Wheel of Fortune. He's the author of several books about game shows, including Game Shows FAQ, Okay? Okay! Dennis James' Lifetime of Firsts, and Monty TV's Big Dealer.
- GenresTvNonfiction
533 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 16, 2024
55 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Adam Nedeff
30 books4 followersAdam Nedeff grew up in Vienna, West Virginia, and spent his childhood infinitely more interested in late night comedy & game shows than afternoon cartoons.
He majored in radio & television at Marshall University and spent a few years toiling as a disc jockey before moving to Los Angeles to see if he could make a career out of his childhood obsessions.
He has appeared as a contestant on three game shows, worked behind-the-scenes for "Wheel of Fortune" and "The Price is Right," and even co-founded a small business, Home Game Enterprizes (www.homegameenterprizes.com), which stages live game shows for private parties and corporate functions.
With encouragement from late night star Conan O'Brien, he finally began writing books about game show history, starting with "Quizmaster," a comprehensive biography of beloved game show host Bill Cullen, and followed that with the four-volume set "This Day in Game Show History."
He majored in radio & television at Marshall University and spent a few years toiling as a disc jockey before moving to Los Angeles to see if he could make a career out of his childhood obsessions.
He has appeared as a contestant on three game shows, worked behind-the-scenes for "Wheel of Fortune" and "The Price is Right," and even co-founded a small business, Home Game Enterprizes (www.homegameenterprizes.com), which stages live game shows for private parties and corporate functions.
With encouragement from late night star Conan O'Brien, he finally began writing books about game show history, starting with "Quizmaster," a comprehensive biography of beloved game show host Bill Cullen, and followed that with the four-volume set "This Day in Game Show History."
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 11, 2024
A very entertaining account of a very strange show. I was in elementary school during The Gong Show’s run, and it definitely made an impression on me. It was silly & fun, and met a 12-year-old’s definition of entertainment. As this book maintains, Chuck Barris was really the star, even though he wasn’t even meant to host it. After reading this book, I rewatched some old clips and it was exactly as I remembered it from decades ago.
February 9, 2024
Fun History
I loved the show as a young teen, so I look back on it fondly. It was a well written, well researched trip down memory lane.
I loved the show as a young teen, so I look back on it fondly. It was a well written, well researched trip down memory lane.
October 30, 2025
GONG! delivers a behind-the-scenes ride through television’s most outrageous talent shows that’s as wild as the acts themselves. With sharp wit and uncensored insight, it peeled back layers I didn’t even know existed, revealing the crazy creativity, the chaos, and the sheer showmanship that make reality TV what it is. Whether you’re a casual viewer or a media junkie, this book offers a vivid, entertaining, and surprisingly heartfelt chronicle of TV’s most memorable moments. Highly recommended if you love the glitz, the mess, and the grit of what happens when the spotlight hits.
January 21, 2024
Great BTS account of the classic 70s game show
Fascinating look at a classic show. Couldn’t stop reading. It really makes you wonder how we look at reality tv today.
Fascinating look at a classic show. Couldn’t stop reading. It really makes you wonder how we look at reality tv today.
February 14, 2024
Awesome book. Well researched. It was a great trip down memory lane.
March 2, 2024
Really well written, as are all of Adam's books; a fun read with many photos!
August 31, 2024
Great book.
I would recommend this book anyone who enjoyed the zanyness of this show. It made lunchtime in the Navy enjoyable.
I would recommend this book anyone who enjoyed the zanyness of this show. It made lunchtime in the Navy enjoyable.
July 2, 2024
You wouldn't think that anyone could translate the craziness of The Gong Show from TV screen to written page, but here it is.
I must have been seeing the show in re-runs because for me the timing just doesn't seem to work out. I was simply too young when the show started. I can tell you that my dad and I watched it together when I was very young and that some of the utter silliness has stuck with me through time. That said, I now know who Gene, Gene the Dancing Machine really was, thanks to this book, which may or may not be a good thing. A little mystery in life is a good thing. But so, as the show proves, is a little zaniness.
How much was too much? I think that's the story of this book. Chuck Barris learned the hard way, sadly. The author documents his struggles with fame, and the need to pursue it. He delves into what that maniacal pursuit did to Barris' family, including, tragically, his daughter. It's almost like for every laugh there was a tear.
As far as cultural impact goes, though, I can tell you that The Gong Show resonated (haha). I may have been young, but the insanity of it all, especially seeing Gene dancing at the end of the show as all manner of props were thrown his way (I'll never forget a plastic leg tossed at him) has stuck with me for more than 40 years.
I must have been seeing the show in re-runs because for me the timing just doesn't seem to work out. I was simply too young when the show started. I can tell you that my dad and I watched it together when I was very young and that some of the utter silliness has stuck with me through time. That said, I now know who Gene, Gene the Dancing Machine really was, thanks to this book, which may or may not be a good thing. A little mystery in life is a good thing. But so, as the show proves, is a little zaniness.
How much was too much? I think that's the story of this book. Chuck Barris learned the hard way, sadly. The author documents his struggles with fame, and the need to pursue it. He delves into what that maniacal pursuit did to Barris' family, including, tragically, his daughter. It's almost like for every laugh there was a tear.
As far as cultural impact goes, though, I can tell you that The Gong Show resonated (haha). I may have been young, but the insanity of it all, especially seeing Gene dancing at the end of the show as all manner of props were thrown his way (I'll never forget a plastic leg tossed at him) has stuck with me for more than 40 years.
February 2, 2025
Awful title for an excellent book about one of the funniest shows ever. "The Gong Show" was like the later "Mystery Science Theater 3000" in that people either got it or were baffled by its appeal, although "MST3K" never inspired the sort of rage that Chuck Barris' talent/comedy show drew from those paid to type about TV.
If you happen to be one of the people who laughs themselves sick at the YouTube clips, you'll appreciate this book -- nearly an oral history, considering how many interviews Nedeff conducted with surviving contestants, judges, staffers and network types. It doubles as a Barris bio, well worth reading despite the existence of three memoirs (two of them semi-fictional) by the man himself. As connoisseurs of Barris' novels and nonfiction books already know, he was, for all his oddities, smart and introspective; what's new here is how creative and charismatic he could be, running a production company staffed by people, mainly in their 20s, who adored him and found themselves capable of, if not greatness, then at least hilarity under his guidance.
The accounts of acts that appeared and of the tapings are almost as funny as the shows themselves, and Nedeff demolishes one of the main arguments used by those who loathed Barris: his supposed cruelty. The tuneless singers, musical belchers, two-headed dancers, tragic standups, the guy who stuck his hands in flames of varying heights while screaming out the melody of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" -- they were only rarely innocents convinced of their genius and devastated when they were gonged. More often than not they were aspiring entertainers who understood the premise and were motivated by the fact that Barris, being no fool, paid real money to members of performers' unions who appeared. And whether they were pros or not, he seems to have loved them all.
If you happen to be one of the people who laughs themselves sick at the YouTube clips, you'll appreciate this book -- nearly an oral history, considering how many interviews Nedeff conducted with surviving contestants, judges, staffers and network types. It doubles as a Barris bio, well worth reading despite the existence of three memoirs (two of them semi-fictional) by the man himself. As connoisseurs of Barris' novels and nonfiction books already know, he was, for all his oddities, smart and introspective; what's new here is how creative and charismatic he could be, running a production company staffed by people, mainly in their 20s, who adored him and found themselves capable of, if not greatness, then at least hilarity under his guidance.
The accounts of acts that appeared and of the tapings are almost as funny as the shows themselves, and Nedeff demolishes one of the main arguments used by those who loathed Barris: his supposed cruelty. The tuneless singers, musical belchers, two-headed dancers, tragic standups, the guy who stuck his hands in flames of varying heights while screaming out the melody of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" -- they were only rarely innocents convinced of their genius and devastated when they were gonged. More often than not they were aspiring entertainers who understood the premise and were motivated by the fact that Barris, being no fool, paid real money to members of performers' unions who appeared. And whether they were pros or not, he seems to have loved them all.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews