The Gong Show TV show reboot, executive produced by Will Arnett. (ABC/Will Arnett)
Paging the Unknown Comic. ABC has ordered a reboot of The Gong Show TV series, from Will Arnett, who is executive producing for his Electric Avenue Productions.
Created and produced by Chuck Barris, the original version of The Gong Show premiered on NBC in 1976 and ran through 1978. It also aired in first-run syndication from 1976 to 1980 and 1988 to 1989. Barris hosted the amateur talent competition both on NBC, and in syndication, from 1977 to 1980.
Frequent celebrity guests panelists on the original series included: Trixie Dejonge, Jaye P. Morgan, Gary Owens, Jamie Farr, Arte Johnson, Rip Taylor, Phyllis Diller, Anson Williams, Jo Anne Worley, and Rex Reed.
Get the details from this ABC press release.
‘The Gong Show’ Is Back – Bigger, Bolder and Better Than Ever – Only on ABC
‘THE GONG SHOW’ IS BACK – BIGGER, BOLDER AND BETTER THAN EVER – ONLY ON ABC
Will Arnett’s Electric Avenue Productions to Executive Produce the Brassy Pop Culture Favorite
The ABC Television Network announced the return of television’s most irreverent talent show competition, “The Gong Show.” Executive produced by actor/comedian Will Arnett’s Electric Avenue Productions, Den of Thieves and Principato Young Entertainment, every episode will celebrate un-traditionally talented, unique performers plucked from the Internet and put on a primetime stage. A revolving panel of judges featuring Hollywood’s hottest stars praise, critique and gong contestants in one of TV’s all-time great variety shows.
“ABC has tapped into the nostalgia and excitement of primetime game shows,” said Rob Mills, senior vice president, Alternative Series, Specials & Late-Night Programming. “We are thrilled to add ‘The Gong Show’ to ABC’s schedule spearheaded by the incomparable Will Arnett.”
“The comedy culture we are living in has finally caught up to ‘The Gong Show,’ so the timing is perfect,” said Holly Jacobs, executive vice president, Reality and Syndication Programming for Sony Pictures Television. “We’ve found just the right partners to bring back this iconic original.”
Ten episodes of “The Gong Show” will be produced by Electric Avenue Productions, Den of Thieves in association with Sony Pictures Television, Principato Young Entertainment and will be taped in front of a live audience. “The Gong Show” is executive produced by Will Arnett, Evan Prager, Jesse Ignjatovic and Peter Principato. Jared Morell, Jordan Barrow and Marc Forman will co-executive produce.
What do you think? Were you a fan of the original Gong Show TV series? Do you plan to check out the new version on ABC?
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