...IT'S GENE GENE THE DANCING MACHINE!!!

...The only reason I ever watched that damn show was because of Gene, Gene, The Dancing Machine lol...

I loved it when he'd tip his hat while dancing ...

And watch Helio as he dominates DWTS!

Gosh, that took me back!

Thanks, man...

This was before my time.

Sweeny79 said:

just imagine "american idol" with a sense of humor and LOTS of cocaine, and you have the gong show!

Anxiety said:

I might actually like that.

Sweeny79 said:

We're too cool and good-looking to be called geezers, young lady...

ThreadBare said:

Byron said:

that came on when i was a kid, and i used to throw my toys at the tv and dance along when he'd come on.





ok, i still do that when i watch him on youtube

Oh wow, I thought that the dumbing down of america was a fairly recent phenomenon.

Apparently I was wrong.

JustErin said:

You gotta admit, though, the snappy remarks made by the Gong Show judges were really, really clever.

I miss that show, come to think of it.

JustErin said:

well, at one time at least it was fun enough that we didn't care.

JustErin said:

and ya know, as a matter of fact, i don't think the gong show was a dumb show at all. the humor was absurd and irreverent, but it was an anti-talent show/anti-beauty show that gave a lot of improv performers, comedians, and assorted entertaining freaks a place to be as wild and weird as possible. it's where paul reubens got his start. david letterman was also a judge on the gong show before his career took off. i'm not saying it's high caliber comedy, but i think it was edgier and more refreshing than just about anything that's supposed to be "funny" on television today.

so, uh...there!

ThreadBare said:

I didn't have cable growing up so I never got to see it. Heard of it, but never saw it.

Anxiety said:

Uh...ok.

I dont know who's dancing was funnier, the guy in the Green Jacket or the Compare

chillichocaholic said:

the Compare??

Anxiety said:

Very true...The Gong Show was like the punk version of all the game shows out there ...a number of famous singers performed on that show, too, I think...well, before they were famous.

It was all about the unknown comic

JustErin said:

Nah...it was just silly fun. More of a talent show that really didn't take itself seriously.

JustErin said:

I thought it was on network TV before cable. theat or one of the UHF channels

Anxiety said:

Sounds really Rainbow Children too me.

superspaceboy said:

I dunno, my family seriously watched very little tv growing up. I think we got cable for the first time in 1988.

superspaceboy said:

The Gong Show was definitely broadcast on network TV. I used to watch the show a lot in the 70s long before I ever had cable.

The show What's Happening! had a crossover episode where Rerun was on The Gong Show.

sextonseven said:

My absolutely favorite Gong SHow moment was when the Eunis character from Carrol Burnett show (mama's family had yet to spin off, but it was close) goes on to sing Feelings and even has this horrible soliloquy in the middle.