Q&A With Leslie Gold of THE GONG SHOW LIVE

Gong Show Live is the only Sony-authorized stage presentation of the iconic, pioneering '70s TV show, The Gong Show. It showcases a modern-day cast of offbeat, professional talent acts that have appeared on Americas Got Talent, The Late Show with David Letterman, 30 Rock, My Strange Addiction and more.

In addition to its talent acts, Gong Show Live features comedian Ray Ellin as host/emcee; three judges (Chuck Nice, Leslie Gold "The Radiochick" and Dan Naturman) known from their work in standup comedy, TV and radio; casting by Robert Russell, renowned for the New York casting of hit reality TV shows including The Bachelor, The Apprentice, Big Brother, The Restaurant, Moment of Truth, and NBC's Phenomenon; and the four-piece Gong Show Ten Orchestra, led by veteran drummer Sandy Gennaro (Cyndi Lauper, Bo Diddley, Joan Jett). In the following interiew, producer Leslie Gold chats abot the revamped show.

What gave you the idea to bring the Gong Show back?

I was a huge fan of the original show, and revered Chuck Barris and his kooky genius. Chuck had been a guest on my radio show several times to promote his books and eventually I convinced him to participate in a live Gong Show event in conjunction with my radio show. The live event was a huge success and listeners talked about it on air for days afterward. Even those that were too young to remember the original Gong Show were raving.  It started me thinking.

Why now when we're seemingly saturated with other talent shows?

Think about what people talk about and respond to today; the bad auditions of American Idol, the rejects of America's Got Talent, the nuts on Youtube. These occupy the dead center of the entertainment universe today and if you trace their roots, they all lead straight back to the Gong Show.  The Gong Show was the first show to put real people on TV,  and allow them to show off or humiliate themselves, as they wished. It laid the foundation for virtually every reality show competition on TV today. To take that concept, elevate it polish it, theatri-cize it and do it live, seemed like a natural to me.

How will it pay tribute to the classic show?

It was our goal to capture the deranged charm of the original show, so Gong Show Live is kooky without being mean. It is at times, astonishing, charming, horrifying or hilarious, as was the original show. Our genial host, comedian Ray Ellin, is wired similarly to Chuck Barris.  We feature current answers to Gene Gene the Dancing Machine and The Unknown Comic, two favorites from the original show. Our judges are all name comedIan Judges, with quick wits and funny points of view.

What will be new/different?

The Gong Show Live is not an amateur talent contest - although it masquerades as one.  Robert Russell, our casting director, went through a lengthy and rigorous casting process to find the precise variety and sequence of acts to deliver the most outstanding entertainment value. We auditioned over 400 different acts to get to a mix of 14 that were right for it.

What acts are on the tour? 

Chipps Cooney, the magician that amazes no one - an Americas Got Talent finalist.  The Amazing Amy, an elderly, toothless contortionist that performs in a Spock outfit to a Star Trek theme, a Ralph Kramden impersonator delivering Shakespeare,  Hotbot and org*sma the Robot Strippers, The Amish Comic,  Wonder Boy the Intrepretive Dancing Angel/Viking.  I could go on, but that would spoil all the surprises. 

How will you be ensuring it has the feel of spontaneity as well as rehearsal that the TV show had?

As in any professional theatrical show, we have rehearsed every move, cue, act and musical number within an inch of its life. But then, we mix it up. The judges, who are professional comedians, write their own material, which changes for every show. We rotate in one or two new acts for every performance to keep it fresh and keep the competition to be anyone's game. Some of the acts performed can be difficult and dangerous, so we are never entirely sure if they will successfully complete it from night to night. And the audience's reaction is always a wildcard; what delights an audience one night can have them screaming for the gong the next one. 

Complete information about Gong Show Live is available at http://www.gongshowlive.net.