When The Gong Show premiered on June 14, 1976, it didn’t seem like the type of show that would launch major stars … at first. Chuck Barris‘ chaotic talent contest was built around oddball acts, celebrity judges, and, of course, the giant gong that could end a bad performance in seconds. Some contestants were intentionally ridiculous to get attention, others were just plain bizarre, but some walked onto the stage with real talent and became stars afterward.
The show gave early TV exposure to several performers who later became famous in music, movies, TV, and Broadway. Here are some future stars who appeared on The Gong Show before becoming famous, and what their early acts were.