Page "Chuck Barris" Paragraph 10

Barris ' jokey, bumbling personality ; his accentuated hand-clapping between sentences ( which eventually had the studio audience joining in with him ); and his catchphrases ( he would usually go into commercial break with, " We'll be right back with more er ... STUFF ...", occasionally paired with shifting his head to reveal the ubiquitous sign behind the stage reading simply " STUFF ," and " This is me saying ' bye '" was one of his favorite closing lines ) were the antithesis of the smooth TV host ( such as Gary Owens, who hosted the syndicated version in its first season ).

Barris joined in with the eccentricity of the format, using unusual props, dressing in colorful and somewhat unusual clothing ( such as the occasional hat pulled over his head, if not his eyes ), he became yet another performer of the show, and for many, quite a cult hero.

Dubbed " Chuckie Baby " by his fans, Barris was a perfect fit with the show's goofy, sometimes wild amateur performers and its panel of three judges ( including regulars Jamie Farr, Jaye P. Morgan and Arte Johnson ).

In addition, there was a growing " cast of characters " including an NBC electrician who played " Father Ed ," a priest who would get flustered when his cue cards were deliberately turned upside-down ; Canadian comedian Murray Langston, who as " The Unknown Comic " wore a paper bag over his head ( with cut-outs for his eyes, mouth, and even a box of Kleenex ), and " Gene Gene the Dancing Machine " ( Gene Patton ), arguably the most popular member of the " cast ", another NBC stagehand who would show up and dance whenever the band played the song " Jumpin ' at the Woodside ".

In the early 1980s, Patton was even pointed out by tour guides of incoming NBC tours as his onscreen character, while at the same time adhering to his more typical off-camera work duties.

Siv Åberg, a one-time Miss Sweden, was also on hand, acting more or less as the show's hostess.