News

‘The Gong Show’ Premiere Recap: 1970’s Show Returns With Mike Myers As ‘Tommy Maitland’

One of the strangest game shows in TV history came back on the airwaves Thursday night. The Gong Show, a competitive game show in which contestants perform odd tricks and talents – if you can call them that – premiered on ABC last night and appeared to be just as weird as ever.

Like the original Gong Show, which ran from 1976-1989, three celebrity judges give each act a score of 0-10, unless, of course, they grow tired of the act – or, more likely, they get too weirded out by it – and hit a giant gong, ending the performance.

Last night’s premiere was judged by Ken JeongZach Galifianakis and Will Arnett, who also serves as on of the show’s executive producer. Another star was part of the show, although he was never mentioned by name during the show or in the credits: the show’s host, Tommy Maitland, an aging British comedian, is actually Mike Myers.

The show started when Maitland exclaimed, “We’re just here for the funsies!”

First up, a man who called his act “Piano Sutra,” played the piano from several different positions, contorting his way all the way onto the floor at one point. Although he wasn’t gonged, he received mediocre scores from the judges.

The second act, which could be considered the strangest, if not the most creative, of the night was called “Mary Bleeds.” A woman, wearing a bonnet and a large blue dress came onto the stage singing, “Mary had a little bug, little bug, little bug.” She then introduced Midas, a tarantula, who Mary “loves very much.” Mary then proceeded to put the spider in her mouth and play “Mary Had a Little Lamb” on the harmonica. Repulsed, the judges all sprinted to the gong to end the performance, but before they reached it, Mary had finished.

Jeong, who is a licensed doctor as well as an actor, said of the performance, “As a physician and entertainer, it is the worst thing I’ve ever seen.”

The act that would go on to win the $2,000.17 prize, called themselves “Married with Bananas.” The couple, who have been married for 15 years, took turns spitting chunks of bananas into the other’s mouth. Getting the judges involved, only Arnett successfully completed a toss. The act grew increasingly more disgusting every second, until the end, when the couple was transferring an entire mushed up banana between their mouths.

Remarkably, the judges each awarded the act a score of ’10’ which was enough to secure them the victory.

One of the more “traditional” acts involved a man in an ape suit riding on a unicycle playing the bagpipes. During his routine, fire shot out of the bag pipes, he threw cigars at the judges, and slammed a cream-pie into his own face. “What a pay off,” Galifianakis yelled.

The show ended with the audience, the judges, and their wacky host singing along to a camp song with a guy named Albert – presumably, this is how every episode will end.

The Gong Show will return next Thursday at 10 p.m. EST on ABC. The guest judges for the second episode will be Fred ArmisenElizabeth Banks and Will Forte.

Jacob Kaye

Recent Posts

VIDEO: Hurricane Rafael Topples Stadium Floodlight Pylon Toppled in Cuba

https://youtu.be/0Ajjle4Kmq4 Dramatic footage shows winds from Hurricane Rafael toppling floodlights at a baseball stadium in…

29 mins ago

VIDEO: Road Worker Narrowly Dodges Truck On New York Highway

https://youtu.be/zv6oTyRE18w A road worker narrowly missed being hit by a truck in upstate New York…

1 hour ago

Brian Austin Green Tells Tori Spelling He ‘Doesn’t Recall’ First Time He Slept With Her

Spelling further recalled that the two then started kissing, and Green interrupted, “Wait, what? I…

2 hours ago

Influencer Matt Choi Banned From NYC Marathon For Having 2 Cameramen On E-Bikes Follow Him During Race Endangering Runners

While Choi’s behavior in the race was rightfully admonished, his honest apology serves as a…

3 hours ago

Elon Musk Says Jennifer Lopez Should Have Warned The Public About Ex Sean Combs

Combs and Lopez were romantically involved between 1999 and 2001.

4 hours ago

Tyler, The Creator Announces 2025 Concert Tour Dates – Setlist & Ticket Info

Born Tyler Gregory Okonma, the rapper, director, producer and designer is regarded as a pivotal…

19 hours ago