Extreme Gong

Extreme Gong
File:Extreme Gong.jpg Totally extreme! Except not.
Genre: Game show Running Time: 22-26 minutes Country: United States Release Date: October 5, 1998-August 26, 1999 Network(s): GSN Created by: Chuck Barris Distributed by: Scott Sternberg Productions Starring: George Gray Next show: The Gong Show with Dave Attell (2008)

Extreme Gong is a revival of The Gong Show that aired on GSN from October 5th 1998 to August 26th 1999. It was produced by Scott Sternberg Productions and was hosted by George Gray, it is the only version of The Gong Show to be broadcasted live, than rather pre-recorded or "almost live" as the announcer said, unlike "The previous Gong Shows", viewers has to pick up the hotline what they think of the act when they decide to "keep 'em" (green) or "gong 'em." (red), rather than having 3 celebrities judging the acts.

Why It Gong Extremely Wrong

1. As mentioned above, instead of the tried-and-true format of three celebrities judging the acts, contestants’ acts are judged by a home audience calling in to vote, thus eliminating the reactions.
2. Lame set.
3. Unfunny sketches and very dull performances.
4. It insulted a then-popular fan group, alt.tv.game-shows, for not liking it.
5. Shameless filler.
6. Its grand prize of $317.69 is even lower than the original’s already puny $516.32.
7. It didn't show the audience or the realistic Gong from the first half of the show despite it was live, but they later showed it when the show went on.
8. During the first episode, broadcasted on October 5, 1998, the host George Gray swears 3 times during the first half, such as "Pussy," Ass," and "Jackass" uncensored unlike other presenters, which could be offensive to some viewers, unfortunately, since this version of The Gong Show was live, it didn't get bleeped.

Redeeming Qualites

1. The show itself slightly improves itself in the 2nd season, which it includes the realistic gong prop being added and the live-studio audience being shown.
2. Some performances and sketches can somewhat be funny and amusing, especially when the Radioactive Chicken Heads (Joe and The Chicken Heads) performing Pest Control (Kill Chucky Cheese) and Carrot Topp tries to attack the (monstrous) version of a PTT design of Chuck E. Cheese on Halloween 1998 show.

Trivia

• Extreme Gong was the first game show that George Gray hosted.
• The Radioactive Chicken Heads (formerly known as Joe and the Chicken Heads at the time) that appeared on Extreme Gong on October 30th, 1998, later appeared in the 2017-2018 revival of The Gong Show in 2017.

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