$1.98 Beauty Show

Infobox Television
show_name = $1.98 Beauty Show


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genre = Game Show
creator =
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presenter =
starring = Rip Taylor
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country = USA
language = English
num_seasons =
num_episodes = approx. 78 episodes
list_episodes =
producer = Paul Pompian
executive_producer = Chuck Barris
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first_run =
first_aired = September 4, 1978
last_aired = September 1980
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imdb_id = 0076971
tv_com_id =

"The $1.98 Beauty Show" was an American weekly syndicated television show hosted by Rip Taylor. The show was a parody of beauty contests, featuring six female contestants (including the occasional overweight contestants, not-yet-famous Sandra Bernhard [http://blogs.outzonetv.com/andy/2006/04/10_questions_with_sandra.php] , and once, a male dressed in drag) competing for the title of "$1.98 Beauty Queen". The show first aired in September 1978, and the last episode in September of 1980. Johnny Jacobs announced and Chuck Barris was the creator and executive producer. [http://www.tvofyourlife.com/beautyshow.htm $1.98 BEAUTY SHOW ] ]

The show consisted of three rounds, during which each contestant was judged by three celebrity panelists. These included Jaye P. Morgan, Jamie Farr, Louis Nye, Marty Allen, and The Unknown Comic (Murray Langston). Emcee Taylor introduced the contestants one at a time. The second round featured each contestant showcasing their "abilities." The third round was a swimsuit competition: emcee Taylor would usher the contenders on stage, and announcer Jacobs cracked jokes about their vital statistics and hobbies.http://www.hellodere.com/dma9aba4b.html] At the end of each show, Taylor would announce the "$1.98 Beauty of the Week" (sometimes the show's ugliest contestant); that contestant was then presented with a tacky plastic crown, rotten vegetables as a bouquet, and a cash prize of $1.98.

Music cues used on this show included "Happy Days Are Here Again" (Taylor's theme song), "Oh You Beautiful Doll", "Isn't She Lovely?", and "Ain't She Sweet". In addition, Taylor would serenade the winning contestant, as a parody of Bert Parks having done the same on the "Miss America Pageant".

The ridiculous format was really Chuck Barris's very subtle way of turning TV beauty contests upside-down. The "least" attractive contestant often won the "beauty" prize. The "announcer" told the jokes, while the comedian did the announcing. The three celebrity guests did "not" judge the show; in fact, they didn't speak at all. The whole "contest" was a fake, because the outcome was previously arranged.

References