With Attell at helm, new 'Gong Show' goes for grittier feel
Something to think about if you're considering launching a new reality/talent show: Is there anyone left in America who hasn't already been on TV? That was the question facing Dave Attell and Comedy Central when they put together the new incarnation of "The Gong Show," which airs Thursdays at 10 p.m.
Attell had only a short time to put together his version of the iconic '70s show, stepping into the shoes of original host Chuck Barris. Created for a short summer run, the current season was taped in just four days, after Attell had put some sweat equity into watching a few days' worth of tape for potential contestants.
"Everybody has a YouTube clip, everybody has a manager now, everybody has all these different things," says Attell, who plays Showcase Live at Patriot Place tomorrow. "Chuck Barris didn't really have to deal with that. He just had, like, a party, and people showed up. And I think we try to create our own version of the mayhem that the original 'Gong Show' was, but it's hard."
Although he says it wasn't an easy process - some potential contestants actually objected to the idea of being gonged - Attell is satisfied he found something different from your usual reality fare. Contestants have included "The Human Floor," whose trick is having people stand on him, a burlesque dancer who battles an evil monkey around a volcano, and a man who kicks his own head. He should know by next month, when the ratings come back, if the acts attracted enough viewers for a second season.
"They are like vaudevillian, dirty, grungier acts, and God bless them, because they're good," he says. "And that's something you won't ever see on network television. Is there an audience for it? We'll see. But that's how I wanted to do it, those are the acts I wanted use."
He's also happy that the celebrity judges like Adam Carolla and Andy Dick got to be honest, even if Attell had to soften the blow on occasion and defend the acts. "It's not like the faux critics you see on these other shows where they're like, really trying to help the juggler," he says. "Here it's like, 'Dude, how old are you, and you're juggling? Get a job.' That kind of stuff."
One other plus for Attell is that the show, if it lasts, will be taped in one place, unlike his previous show, "Insomniac," which makes it easier to tour. Attell's stand-up career is on the upswing, as evidenced by "Captain Miserable," last year's hourlong HBO special.
"That was always the sign that you'd made it, doing the hour special on HBO," he says. "I'd say now there's a lot of places to do an hour, but still HBO's the one place where there's no restrictions. Whatever you want to do. And I got no notes in terms of content."
Perhaps because of the late-night party atmosphere of "Insomniac," Attell has traditionally attracted a rowdy crowd to his shows, and he has been happy to oblige. His sense of humor can be rough, with extended riffs on drinking, drugs, and sex. Lately, though, he has noticed his audience is getting older.
"I see a lot of the guys who I can tell five years earlier were the drunk/party guys and now they're married and their wife's nervously sitting next to them going, 'You think this is funny?' " he says.
While he acknowledges that no one can replace Barris, Attell hopes to bring a bit more of the party atmosphere of his stand-up act to "The Gong Show" if it's renewed. He figures the show got about halfway to where he wanted it to be, and he's got some ideas for the second season.
"I would take the winners and train them for a CIA mission led by Chuck Barris to go find bin Laden, and that would be your season cliffhanger," he says. "That's how you get ratings."
Around town
Tom Dustin, E.J. Murphy, Alvin David, Shawn Donovan, and Joe List are recording their comedy album, "The Everett House of Comedy," tonight and tomorrow at the Comedy Studio. . . . Kevin Knox headlines Dick's Beantown Comedy Vault tonight with Myq Kaplan. . . . Get a preview of next month's Boston Comedy Festival tomorrow at the Stoneham Theatre with Tony V., Jimmy Dunn, Joey Carroll, Josh Gondelman, and Maureen Langan. . . Brian Regan plays the South Shore Music Circus Sunday. 