TV Review: The Gong Show with Dave Attell
Rate This Article
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that nothing is sacred in this
late-night hybrid that's equal parts talent competition and
three-ring circus. On any given episode you might see wrestling
midgets who beat each other over the head with metal trays,
magicians who pull bloody rabbits out of their stomachs with a
knife, or a man dressed as a monkey doing impressive acrobatics
with a scantily clad jungle girl who removes her bra. Sexual
content is pretty explicit for basic cable (one of the judges
French kisses a model during the closing credits), and the
language (including the frequent-but-bleeped use of "f--k")
truly pushes the envelope.
Families can talk about the fine line between exploiting yourself and sharing your talents with the rest of the world. How does this show compare to other TV talent competitions? What criteria do you think the producers use to screen contestants? Who do you think the target audience is? And do you think this show truly takes itself seriously? Parents who remember watching the classic 1970s variety show that this remake is based on can also share their memories of the original, noting which elements have been updated for today's audience.
Common Sense Media Review
In THE GONG SHOW WITH DAVE ATTELL, stand-up comedian
Dave
Attell (best known for his series
Insomniac with Dave Attell
) hosts a raucous, raunchy remake of
The Gong Show, a classic 1970s variety series that
showcased amateur performers and antics from a rotating slate
of celebrity judges. Attell's version scores contestants on a
scale of 0 to 500. But if acts are truly bad, judges can grab a
mallet and bang a large gong, taking contestants out of the
running for the top prize: a glittering Gong Show prize belt,
some cash ($600), and, often, fun extras -- like a back rub
from outlandish judge Andy Dick.
With its over-the-top acts and envelope-pushing sexual content and language, The Gong Show isn't for kids, including older teens. Frankly, a few of the acts are so graphic that they'd probably gross out most grown-ups. (Imagine Andy Dick chewing on a blood-soaked stuffed rabbit, and you'll begin to understand what we mean.)
As for whether this remake is worth watching for anyone, well ... it's bound to be an acquired taste. While a few talented contestants are mixed into the line-up, most have obviously been selected for their shock value -- like a rock band that sings a lewd song about lollipops, complete with dancing girls who seductively lick said lollipops during the performance. Sure, there are laughs to be had. But since it's unlikely you'll see any feats that will truly blow your socks off, you won't be missing much if you skip it altogether.
For a much more family-friendly talent competition, try America's Got Talent or American Idol .
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
