tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post5485900410048190395..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Weekend PostBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38979031908027640282021-07-03T00:40:44.520-07:002021-07-03T00:40:44.520-07:00I'm reading this post after seeing Confessions...I'm reading this post after seeing Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, from Chuck Barris's autobiography of the same name. Supposedly the trips got better to give Chuck cover on his supposed hit jobs for the CIA. Whether it was true or not, the movie is always worth watching for the great Sam Rockwell.MikeKPa.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-80395150062133007102021-06-29T15:02:42.110-07:002021-06-29T15:02:42.110-07:00Mike Doran said:
What I remember about The Gong S...Mike Doran said:<br /><br /><i>What I remember about The Gong Show was that the worst things that would happen - the humiliating things - always happened to Chuck Barris himself.<br /><br />Chuckie Baby was the one who would get pies and/or seltzer in the face, who would get knocked around by stagehands (actually stuntmen engaged for that purpose), who would get props thrown at him, who would have to stand there as scenery collapsed around him, etc.</i><br /><br />I've read before one of the reasons Barris felt he needed to host the program (much to the dismay of Gary Owens, who hosted the evening syndicated version from 1976-1977, only to have Chuck push him out) was the actual contestants on the show needed an anchor of sorts. They were up on stage with a live band, a bunch of television cameras, a studio audience screaming at them, and three hammy celebrities who wanted to get them off the stage. Barris was always there throughout the entire audition process, and by that time the contestants thought of him at least as a familiar face, if not a friend.<br /><br />(I believe in most cases he and the other staffers would talk to the untalented contestants in advance and tell them, "Look, you're probably going to get gonged, so don't get pissed off and do something stupid; if you do we're going to have to cut it from the show.")Curt Alliaumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05875046706746482871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22047148506342575752021-06-29T01:44:04.288-07:002021-06-29T01:44:04.288-07:00"Mike Doran said...
I read an interview with ..."<i>Mike Doran said...<br />I read an interview with Rip Taylor, a frequent flyer on The Gong Show, and the host of The $1.98 Beauty Pageant, both for Chuck Barris.<br /><br />According to Taylor, everybody on these two shows was paid.<br />Remember the oddly-totaled "prize money" on Gong? That was AFTRA scale after the FICA tax was deducted - and every contestant got it (only the "winner" got the trophy).</i>"<br /><br />I was a contestant on <i>The Gong Show</i> once. (Gonged) I was not paid.D. McEwannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70481026360922640102021-06-27T16:52:39.038-07:002021-06-27T16:52:39.038-07:00Now for something completely different:
Perhaps a ...Now for something completely different:<br />Perhaps a bit late on this idea, but how does "Take-Out Plays" grab'ya? ;>)<br /><br />https://nowtoronto.com/culture/stage/plays2performhome-is-takeout-theatre-for-your-bubble?utm_source=nowtoronto.com&utm_campaign=148fef1ee2-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2021_06_27&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_bfaa0e1d4c-148fef1ee2-81139154<br /><br />DrBOPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07179469265158025584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-64403585582531420432021-06-27T09:19:36.657-07:002021-06-27T09:19:36.657-07:00I was a “civilian” and did the Dating Game twice: ...I was a “civilian” and did the Dating Game twice: won once, lost once. And other than the prizes, I wasn’t paid. It was my understanding that Union or guild members (SAG, AFTRA, hell, maybe even SEG and IATSE) were paid for the same reason they’d be paid on any other Union show.Todd Everettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88748921429056283132021-06-26T20:00:18.908-07:002021-06-26T20:00:18.908-07:00Semi-relevant, perhaps ...
I read an interview wi...Semi-relevant, perhaps ...<br /><br />I read an interview with Rip Taylor, a frequent flyer on <i>The Gong Show</i>, and the host of <i>The $1.98 Beauty Pageant</i>, both for Chuck Barris.<br /><br />According to Taylor, <i>everybody</i> on these two shows was paid.<br />Remember the oddly-totaled "prize money" on <i>Gong</i>? That was AFTRA scale after the FICA tax was deducted - and every contestant got it (only the "winner" got the trophy).<br /><br />What I remember about <i>The Gong Show</i> was that the worst things that would happen - the humiliating things - always happened to Chuck Barris himself.<br /><br />Chuckie Baby was the one who would get pies and/or seltzer in the face, who would get knocked around by stagehands (actually stuntmen engaged for that purpose), who would get props thrown at him, who would have to stand there as scenery collapsed around him, etc.<br /><br />That <i>means</i> something - I think ...Mike Doranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14427528138598549103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-80920292834131243212021-06-26T19:48:16.578-07:002021-06-26T19:48:16.578-07:00Friday Question:
I'm reading Judd Apatow'...Friday Question:<br /><br />I'm reading Judd Apatow's book about his working with Garry Shandling (great read BTW). In the book, he mentions how Garry had difficulty landing gigs at the Comedy Store because at the time he was still a sitcom writer, and Mitzi Shore had difficulty taking comedy <i>writers</i> seriously as comics.<br /><br />Did you ever have comedians try to write for you or vice versa, or was it a non-issue as long as you were funny?Brandon in Virginianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-29136886073065942352021-06-26T19:12:10.764-07:002021-06-26T19:12:10.764-07:00""Mike Bloodworth said...
I've often..."<i>"Mike Bloodworth said...<br />I've often wondered if contestants on game shows got paid. Or maybe D.MCEWAN was a special case.</i>"<br /><br />I was not a "Special Case." Though most game shows do not pay contestants, <i>Dating Game</i>, after a decade on the air, began hiring paid AFTRA contestants, as they needed genuinely funny people. As I said in my above comment, at that time - late '70s to early 80s - <i>every</i> unmarried comic at The Comedy Store, both genders, did the show, and we all did it for the money.D. McEwannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-40191550938176846382021-06-26T12:00:52.810-07:002021-06-26T12:00:52.810-07:00I've often wondered if contestants on game sho...I've often wondered if contestants on game shows got paid. Or maybe D.MCEWAN was a special case. <br /><br />MCEWAN's "straight-for-pay" comment made me think of something. This latest version of "The Celebrity Dating Game" will probably be cancelled long before this ever becomes an issue. But how long will it be before the so called "gender fluid" and/or "non-binary" want to be on the show? It would be a great opportunity for woke Hollywood to pardon the cliché, "put it's money where it's mouth is."<br />Will they have to disclose that some contestants are "non-binary" or that they are in transition? Will a binary, hetero sexual male have to sign an agreement that a potential date may only appear female? Will a lesbian have to date a transgender female that still has a penis? Will a straight woman be O.K. with getting ELLIOTT PAGE as a date? Etc. Even the use of the wrong pronoun could get you kicked off the show. <br /><br />The big question is would anyone watch a "fluid" version of "The Dating Game?" I'm sure some would because to them it celebrates a long over due diversity. To others it may have a "Jerry Springer," *****show kind of vibe. However, I don't think it's something I would want to see.<br /><br />M.B.Mike Bloodworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04755626259169126800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-74208233105745581072021-06-26T11:49:58.358-07:002021-06-26T11:49:58.358-07:00I think it's funny that on shows like "Th...I think it's funny that on shows like "The Dating Game," they'd cast contestants who were good-looking, had big personalities and were comfortable on camera, so naturally they'd look to people in show business. But now, on programs like "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette," they still cast contestants who are super good-looking, have big personalities and are comfortable on camera, but then all those people have to insist they aren't in show business and never wanted to be -- they're really just marketers and dental assistants from Ohio and Alabama who are genuinely looking for their lifetime love match. (Ironically, the ones who can seem sincere enough about being there for "the right reasons" get further along in the show, increasing the chances that they'll end up mildly famous and be considered for, say, a hosting gig on "Extra." Or get to be on "The Celebrity Dating Game.")Ted.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-29895287190802025242021-06-26T11:29:17.654-07:002021-06-26T11:29:17.654-07:00Raiders of the Lost Ark or Last Crusade?Raiders of the Lost Ark or Last Crusade?DBAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-55262215282814962442021-06-26T10:25:28.631-07:002021-06-26T10:25:28.631-07:00Based on the books and films, and Al Michaels'...Based on the books and films, and Al Michaels's account of working for him, on another day, Chuck Barris might have tried to marry you.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-79766356599644022532021-06-26T09:48:39.648-07:002021-06-26T09:48:39.648-07:00Barris seemed like that type who could lose it in ...Barris seemed like that type who could lose it in a second.Mike Barerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14447874605833321732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-9513821732099768652021-06-26T08:00:06.998-07:002021-06-26T08:00:06.998-07:00In the days before eBay and streaming, there were ...In the days before eBay and streaming, there were a number of game show geeks (myself included) who taped shows faithfully. And while there were very few game show producers from the 1960s who kept copies of as many shows as they could (most of them thought it was disposable entertainment), Chuck Barris was one of them--so <i>The Dating Game</i> ran pretty often in the early days of Game Show Network (which is owned by Sony, which now owns Chuck Barris Productions). I just checked my list of <i>Dating Game</i>, and I have your episodes (unless you used a pseudonym). But do advise whether you used your real name, and I can ask around.Curt Alliaumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05875046706746482871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20247052700428024372021-06-26T07:27:28.872-07:002021-06-26T07:27:28.872-07:00Oh, and taping three shows would have meant 18 bac...Oh, and taping three shows would have meant 18 bachelors, not 9.D. McEwannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-56317641935742326352021-06-26T07:26:12.541-07:002021-06-26T07:26:12.541-07:00Ah, my first time on The Dating Game was the netwo...Ah, my first time on <i>The Dating Game</i> was the network night time version. That was the time I won.<br /><br />The second time was 11 years later; it was the daytime version, and I was <b>paid</b> AFTRA minimum. At that time (1979), desperate for genuinely funny bachelors, they were regularly shopping for paid contestants at The Comedy Store, and that year pretty much every unmarried comic at The Store did the show for the money. This was how I ended up as Bachelor #1 when the girl was future-<i>SNL</i> cast member Gail Mathias, whom I had been onstage with at The Comedy Store the night before. When I came around the partition on the set and we saw each other, it was so freaking obvious that we already knew each other that Jim Lange commented to that effect on the air.<br /><br />Some comics got invited back over and over. I forget how many times obviously gay Taylor Negron was a contestant, but it was at least four times.<br /><br />The Comedy Store was not the only place they shopped for contestants. Several times I spotted guys I'd seen doing gay porn as bachelors on the show. Sure, some were gay-for-pay, but some of them doing the show were basically being straight-for-pay.<br /><br />For me the highlight of this was when I saw a man I'd had an affair with as a contestant on <i>The Newlywed Game</i>. I ran into him about a year later in a gay bar and asked him about that. He said the marriage was quite short. They'd only gotten married to do the show and try to win some furniture they could sell and divide the money. (They lost.) They may well have been annulled before the episode ever aired. D. McEwannoreply@blogger.com