Here’s Mike Myers’ The Gong Show host character Tommy Maitland explained. Mike Myers first broke through during his time on Saturday Night Live, where the popular Wayne’s World sketch debuted. The latter was later adapted into a film of the same name in 1992, which became an enormous success and is now a classic comedy. Myers and co-star Dana Carvey returned for a sequel the next year. Myers would create another iconic franchise with 1997’s Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery, a spy comedy where he plays the dashing and permanently horny British spy of the title and his nemesis Dr. Evil.
Mike Myers later returned for sequels Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and Austin Powers In Goldmember. While talk of a fourth entry has come up in the years since another movie has yet to happen. He replaced the late Chris Farley to voice the title ogre in 2000’s Shrek, which launched yet another major franchise that spawned three sequels, TV specials and video games. Mike Myers has mostly stepped away from leading roles in recent years and instead features in smaller parts in projects like Terminal or Bohemian Rhapsody.
Mike Myers certainly raised eyebrows when he took over as host for a reboot of game show The Gong Show, following in the footsteps of hosts like Chuck Barris. It wasn’t exactly Mike Myers hosting, however, but an alter-ego named Tommy Maitland. Myers underwent extensive make-up to play Maitland, including wearing contacts and altering his jawline. Despite it being well known before the show even aired that Myers was playing Maitland, neither the star nor anyone involved with The Gong Show would confirm it.
Mike Myers got so deep into the Tommy Maitland character for The Gong Show that he concocted an elaborate backstory, which can be found on ABC’s website. It reveals he was born in 1944 and joined the British Army when he was a teenager, before his talent for comedy lead to a career in radio and acting, including roles in the Carry On movies. He also penned a book on his Army days dubbed The Mau Maus are Revolting, and did a stint making films in Italy, including James Bond parody From Russia, Luv. Tommy Maitland became best known in the U.K. for hosting the game show Tell You What, and also fronted an Australian game show called Dingo’s Got The Baby.
Tommy Maitland’s bio ends revealing he retired before big fan Will Arnett (The LEGO Batman Movie) convinced him to return and front The Gong Show. As if that backstory wasn’t enough, Mike Myers is said to have rarely broken character while hosting the show either. The comedian later confessed to playing Maitland and explained it as a fun piece of performance art. The Gong Show wasn’t renewed for a third season, so presumably, Tommy Maitland has returned to retirement.
Next: Shrek 5 Is Happening: Is It A Sequel Or Reboot & When Will It Release?
