According to his obituaries I read today, Chuck was quite a Renaissance Man; songwriting, producing TV shows, running daytime programming for ABC and obviously performing. His most famous creation, The Gong Show, was often something my brother and I would watch during the Summer…without adult supervision too. I recall Gong being rather mind boggling because I was too young to understand irony, kitsch and “so-bad-it’s-good” programming. We did enjoy seeing the Unknown Comic (aka Murray Langston) and Barris helped launch UC’s career; he was also seen on Redd Foxx’s short-lived comedy-variety show on ABC.
Today, you can see clips of Gong on YouTube and witness the early careers of Pee Wee Herman and the band Oingo Boingo. All I ever remembered clearly was the day every act performed (or tried) “The Way We Were,” made famous by Barbara Streisand.
Back to Chuck. The man contributed much to the world of modern entertainment through books and game shows. Thus, I’m willing to let his claim to being a CIA hitman pass. Contrary to popular films and mythology, there is no such thing as an operative who just specializes in murder/assassination, this includes the Mafia.
Thanks for all the stuff you did Chuck. The Seventies wouldn’t have been the same without your idea of a free-for-all talent show in which the grand prize was “scale” for members of the Screen Actors (and TV) Guild.