I do not know how they make their scheduling decisions or why certain shows are removed or added.

(Occasionally, a man asked questions of three women.) When The Dating Game premiered on ABC in December 1965 ("from Hollywood, the dating capital of the world"), critics called it a new low in television.

Any of the three judges (a roster that included Jaye P.

Morgan, Rex Reed, Rip Taylor, Jamie Farr, Arte Johnson and David Letterman) could send the bad performers packing by striking a large gong.

"Everybody could relate to somebody wearing a lampshade and dancing around," Barris said.

"Bad acts are inherent in everyone." Acts who appeared included The Unknown Comic (Murray Langston), Danny Elfman, Paul Reubens and Barris' own mother, and at random moments, the host would call out Gene Gene the Dancing Machine (stagehand Gene Patton) to boogie for the audience to the tune of "Jumpin' at the Woodside." On one particularly crazy show, Morgan unbuttoned her blouse to reveal her breasts to the cameras, and Barris said she never worked on again.