Mr. Barris himself was the brash, irritating host. Critics complained about its crassness and cruelty, but Mr. Barris, like purveyors of burlesque and circus sideshows in earlier generations, knew there was a large audience for lowbrow. The film brought Mr. Barris, by now in his 70s, a fresh round of attention and endless variations on the obvious question: Was it true? Mr. Barris generally played coy, delivering elliptical answers that neither confirmed nor denied. was more direct: various spokesmen said Mr. Barris had had nothing to do with the agency.

Source: New York Times March 22, 2017 07:07 UTC