The Gong Show, despite having ratings and/or schedule issues in some parts of the country, merited its first spin-off in the winter of 1977-8. Unfortunately, it only served as a vanity vehicle for host-producer Chuck Barris, more than anything else.
The Chuck Barris Rah Rah Show brought back past contestants from Gong, as well as some more serious acts. Frequent Gong panelist Jaye P. Morgan did some musical numbers from her cabaret act, but the show was on at the wrong time. On the wrong night. As a result, it was fed, if you will, to ABC's comedy juggernaut (i.e. Happy Days/LaVerne & Shirley), and done in a couple of months.
As Gong itself was a parody of The Original Amateur Hour, best remembered for its TV run, hosted by Ted Mack, Rah Rah, taped on the same stage, came across as a self-serving shrine to Barris. If any one person could "jump the shark", Barris did it here.
I never saw the show, so there won't be a rating, but Gilmore Box offers an open:
Note that the band, which was off to the side on Gong, was more front & center here. More's the pity.
Updated, 12/4/18: I've found a network promo for the debut. Voice-over by Hanna-Barbera's Don Messick in what was probably his only studio job for NBC.
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