H GOOD AS ‘GONG’
Demented variety show makes unlikely summer comeback
THE GONG SHOW Thursday, 10 p.m., ABC
OSTED by Chuck Barris, “The Gong Show” (1976-1980) was a circus sideshow with some of the weirdest acts of the day. Though the series lived on with other hosts, it is most closely identified with Barris, who died this past March. A new iteration of the show was already in the works when he passed, reveals Will Arnett, who does double duty as executive producer and judge on the ABC series. “It has an evergreen quality,” he says. “What sold me is that every time you say ‘The Gong Show,’ it makes you smile. Or at least I do.”
Hosted by Mike Myers masquerading as fictitious British comedian Tommy Maitland, the first episode features a married couple performing a choreographed banana-spitting routine and a unicycler playing flaming bagpipes. Arnett spoke to The Post about the revival.
How did you manage to convince your fellow judges that this was a worthwhile endeavor?
This is the benefit of having a little dirt on everybody [laughs]. Everybody knows Zach Galifianakis is a funny guy. I knew he would be great, but I also knew he’d have a good time. I said, “Come do this thing. Just watch these weird acts.” We have Jack Black, Jennifer Aniston, Will Forte and Maya Rudolph. Funny people being funny.”
Do you have a role in find-
ing contestants?
I have no role, mainly because we knew I would be the only judge who appeared in multiple episodes. I had to stay as neutral as I could. It’s really a variety show. I trusted my partners to cultivate the best acts and they found people who could be gong-worthy.
Are they for real or are they hired actors?
They’re for real.
So the lady who plays the harmonica with the tarantula in her mouth does that for a living?
We never found out. Watch- ing her come out at the beginning of her act in her costume, I thought, “What’s this going to be — Little Bo Peep?” She pulls out a tarantula. Then she puts it in her mouth. I was like, “What is the thought process here?” Then it crawls out. Of course it crawls out. How do you train a tarantula?
Will any judges from the original show, like Jaye P. Morgan, come on?
This season, I wanted to get a bunch of people I knew. Going forward it would be interesting if we could fold in some original elements, including those judges, into the show.
Steve banjo Martinon the originalplayed the “Gong Show” and Paul Reubens appeared as half of a duo called Betty and Eddie. Did you find anybody of that caliber of talent for the new shows?
Absolutely not.