OFFBEAT: 'Game Show' parody is light fun; Jackson author in Gary this week

I've always been a fan of TV game shows.

After all, I grew up as a child of the 1970s and early 1980s when game shows thrived and flourished with every excess and countless celebrity guest stars.

If you are a fan of games shows and irrelevant, simple clean fun, you'll enjoy the new live stage show parody about contestants, audience challenges and cast-member caricaturization galore.

It's called "The Game Show Show ... and Stuff" and it's co-created by Chicago southsider James Anthony Zoccoli, of Oak Lawn.

It opened Saturday at Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport, near Wrigley Field, and continues through Dec. 31.

Damian Arnold of The British Stage Company is the man behind the launch for the 80-minute audience interactive game show where guests get a chance to be contestants in the silly games. The other creator is Anderson Lawfer. It's directed by Noah Simon, and it first premiered at Strawdog Theatre Company in 2006. It also had a previous run at The Lakeshore Theatre in 2009 and then played The House Theatre of Chicago at The Chopin in 2010.

It's billed as a blend of "The Price is Right" and "Double Dare" and best of all, only those who opt to include their name in the lobby "contestant drum" have the possibility of being prompted to come on stage.

It's not a life-changing experience, nor is it intended to be. But it does offer an of light-hearted diversion. And though intended for adults, it's surprisingly "clean," while featuring some clever writing.

In addition to the live band on stage, the other featured personalities who guide guests through the night are creator Zoccoli, in the guise of the very funny game show announcer/sidekick, Anderson Lawfer as the Chuck Barris-eque ("The Gong Show") host joined by back-up singers Nikki Klix and Anne Sheridan Smith.

The actual game show challenges (there's about four of them offered a night) aren't earth shattering. One was simple "All-America" questions we as "good citizens" should all know (but many people, sadly don't) another an old-fashioned guessing game and the finale, a "dance-off." But the entertainment value comes from how the talent on-stage interacts with the audience selected to participate. The prizes were decent too, with $50 and $100 restaurant gift certificates handed out quite generously.

And best of all, there's plenty of affordable parking meter parking and tickets are just $15, with all performances Fridays and Saturdays at 11 p.m.

Visitor this week

Ben Brown, of SuperGold International and founding president of Steeltown Records, the first company to sign Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5, is inviting music fans to review and download chapters of his new audio book "In the Eye of the Storm" at no cost.

The free audio chapters are posted on his Facebook page, found by searching Ben Brown's Personal Tribute to the King of Pop.

Brown, who recently received two awards for his work with James Brown, The Jackson 5, in addition to the late Michael Jackson, is in the region this week for a visit to Gary, his home town, and is meeting with Gary Mayor Rudy Clay today. While in Gary, he said he'll also visit his his family's home, and the family home of the Jackson Family, as well as the site of Bud Pressner's famous recording studio.

He said this is his first "official visit" to the area since his 1994 visit, which he reminds is when he discovered "the lost Jackson Tapes." 

He said he plans to film portions of his visit to Gary during this homecoming trip.

Brown's audio book was official introduced at a July 10 event at King Ink at Mirage Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas and is available through Amazon.com.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at philip.potempa@nwi.com or (219) 852-4327.