King Of Schlock

Chuck Barris' Confessions from the Low End of High Art

By: W J O'Reilly

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

The King of Schlock: Confessions from the Low End of High Art
by W. J. O’Reilly

Chuck Barris built an empire out of noise, nerve, and unapologetic spectacle — creating television that critics mocked even as audiences couldn’t look away. The King of Schlock explores the life, mythology, and cultural impact of Barris and the strange territory where entertainment, art, and audacity collide.

Part memoir, part cultural investigation, and part insider confession, this book moves beyond nostalgia to examine how Barris reshaped popular culture by embracing what others dismissed as disposable. Through sharp observation and personal reflection, W. J. O’Reilly traces the uneasy boundary between high art and low entertainment, revealing the hustlers, dreamers, and rule-breakers who thrive in that uneasy space.

At its core, this is a story about creative survival — about what happens when an artist refuses permission, embraces ridicule, and builds something undeniable from the margins. It asks whether “schlock” is merely a label applied by gatekeepers, and whether authenticity sometimes hides behind glitter, chaos, and outrageous ideas.