Gong This Book! The Uncensored History of Television’s Wildest Talent Show

Once you watched The Gong Show, you could never forget it! All at once, it was trippy 1970s time capsule, a variety show, a showcase for new talent, a party, and a playground for its creator and star, the one and only Chuck Barris.

Gong This Book is a celebration of this unique oddity in television history and the extraordinary staff of people — “Chuck's Lemmings”— who made it happen. Among those sharing their recollections for this book are celebrity judges Jamie Farr and Jo Anne Worley, Scarlett O'Hara, Rhetch Butler, Confusion the Philosopher, Larry and His Magic Trumpet, The Cowardly Lion, The Women of NBC, The Brothers Vert, Mike the Vike, Count Banjola, Dr. Flame-o, and even “The Prince of Puns! The Wizard of Whoopie! THE UNKNOWN COMIC!” Illustrating many of their tales is Vince Longo, the staff photographer for Chuck Barris Productions, whose camera lovingly captured every day on the set.

Adam Nedeff is a researcher and archivist for the National Archives of Game Show History, part of the Strong National Museum of Play, in Rochester, New York. He's also worked behind the scenes on many game shows, including College Bowl, Double Dare, Idiotest, Master Minds, The Price is Right, and Wheel of Fortune. He's the author of several books about game shows, including Game Shows FAQ, Okay? Okay! Dennis James' Lifetime of Firsts, and Monty Hall: TV's Big Dealer.