Mike Myers hosted a game show in disguise for six months!
Mike Myers, is a terrific comedian, actor, and writer, most notably famous for his roles in Wayne’s World, Austin Powers Franchise and Shrek. However, despite his fame, he vanished for some time, his whereabouts unknown and not really making any news stories. Till now.
Myers, it turns out has actually been on American television screens for the past few months, as a 72 years old ‘British’ presenter, called Tommy Maitland on the recently revived, amateur talent show called ‘The Gong Show’ on ABC.
His skin is orange, two greys, bushy eyebrows grace his icy blue eyes and on top of his head is a god-awful toupee. His catchphrase “whose a cheeky monkey?” makes him every inch a tv show presenter.
And yet a majority were none the wiser that it was never Tommy Maitland.
It was not until recently, that his name Mike Myers was added to the credits, before then he was always Tommy Maitland.
In response to the change in the credits, executive producer Will Arnett made this statement:
“I was just as surprised as the next guy when I heard The Gong Show’s host, Tommy Maitland, was a character portrayed by the insanely talented Mike Myers. Despite this shocking news, I’m in total awe of the man, and we are so fortunate to have him as our brilliant host.”
It was never a surprise to Arnett however because they were all on board, they littered Myer’s alias with fake social media accounts, public appearances, and a very detailed fake autobiography:
Born on July 7, 1944, Thomas Winston Maitland (his middle name is a tribute to Winston Churchill) grew up in Neasden, GLC, Borough of Brent, where his father was an actuary and in the Merchant Marine and his mother was in the RAF.
After a failed stint as a pipe fitter’s apprentice, Tommy joined the British Army at the tender age of 15. He later joined the Entertainment National Service Association (ENSA), where he got to know some of the UK’s biggest comedians.
He played the ukulele, told jokes and drummed (though he drummed badly), and he ended up hosting the show – a talent he would later be known for.
He was voted ENSA Entertainer of the Year, for which he was given a guarantee to appear on British radio.
He later worked as an announcer for the British radio show, “The Whosey Whats,” and got small roles in the “Carry On” films – either as the over anxious compart at a men’s club or the strict union pipe fitter. He also appeared in the TV series, “The Lord Mayor,” as the cheeky mayor of a mythical town in East Anglia, who struck it rich because they sat atop an oil field.
As ridiculous as the Autobiography is, it was still evidently believable because they managed to get away with it for six whole months!
See him in action in this clip:
‘The Gong Show’ has been renewed for Season 2 and will return in 2018.
Even though this prank has been rewarded the title of Best Prank in 2018 so far, don’t forget to check out this video of Seth Rogan, pranking fans by pretending he is dead.
