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.

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.

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".

Pros: Very nice set. Mike Myers mostly manages to play his character convincingly. Contestants are entertaining and often surprise.

Cons: There's more focus on our zany host and judges than the contestants. The show winks at itself so much that contestants can come off as contrived.

Overall Feel: A scripted wedding reception - without booze.

Takeaway: The show doesn't know what it wants to be. The bigger idea they are after here would be better constructed as a Mike Myers variety talk show: Mike Myers would host as different character each show, some we know, some we don't, maybe he'd host it as himself on occasion and bring in some SNL friends.

As The Gong Show currently stands, I'd like to ditch the judges in favor of audience approval and see how Austin Powers hosts it.

What I enjoy is simple entertainment at it's best. The Tommy Mateland character is funny and to watch him converse with the judges with simple adult humor is delightful. I also think the contestants are very brave to know they are performing in front of a real audience and on TV for the folks at home. Some contestants are very talented and this could be the venue to show off their craft. I also enjoy the good old fashioned sing-a-long, not found in too many establishments today. People of all ages are in the audience and they seem to enjoy themselves without any scripting. No laugh tracks it's amazing. Keep up the good work.