Here's To The Marvelous Merv Griffin.

[Borderstone]

Early this morning talk show host,sometimes singer,game show producer
(Wheel Of Fortune,Jeopardy!) and business tycoon,Merv Griffin has passed away only a month and 6 days after turning 82.

In an ironic co-incidence,exactly 1 year to the week that Mike Douglas passed away in 2006. (Mike Douglas died on his birthday August 11th at age 81.)

Merv's long lasting talk show ran until the early 1980s and while I wasn't a regular viewer,I did see his show now and then. I'm sure most of you here know more of his show than I.

He lived a great life and so should he rest in peace.

[charlene]

Merv was my fave..he had a great laff and interview style..I'd watch after school..he'll be missed...

[Auburn Annie]

Raising a cup (of cocoa, at the moment) to Merv!

I think he said he's done 25,000 interviews over his career. I personally always got a kick out of the occasional feature they had with Arthur Treacher reading pop rock lyrics aloud - straight-faced but he (Arthur)could just barely hide his disdain while Merv quivered with silent laughter from the sidelines.

[RM]

He also wrote the theme song for Jeopardy.

Salute !

[The Rez]

A Remember of Merv

The Merv Griffin Theater is on Vine Street, just a few steps from Hollywood Blvd. Up Vine St [to Yucca] was The West Coast Offices
of The Musician's Union. The President detailed me to deliver
a packet to Merv at his Theater Office

I was ushered into Merv's office [his back to me]
Before I mentioned The Musician's Union, I told him my name

He turned slowly round in that Big Easy Chair . . .
gazed at me for a *forever* moment and said:

SSSSSSSSSSSSSO?
[He milked that word a long-long-long time]

Upon retrieving my britches from round my knees, I unceremoniously
exited - forgetting to give him the packet
I threw it on the receptionist's desk and bolted for the door

Merv called Vic [the Pres] and told him he may have scared one of his
employees into cardiac arrest. He wasn't far from wrong.

He'd meant the *SO?* in jest.

I was already shakin' in my boots so bad,
it took two full moons to recover

It's wonderful, this night, for me to have That Remember . . .
and laugh with the very Joyful Merv Griffin

Truly a man to be Celebrated

[and not just a *sometime-singer* . . .

He was featured vocalist w/ The Freddie Martin Orchestra in the Big Band Era. Did numerous films -sang in 'em, too - long before finding his Calling in TV]

Rez

[Auburn Annie]

LOL - thanks for the memory, Rez. I can hear Merv stretching out that "sooooooo???"

[charlene]

LOL - look up SCAMP in the dictionary and I'm sure Merv's pic is there!
lolol

[Borderstone]

Hey Rez,I know he was not just a sometime singeer but my overall knowledge of him is what I have in my message up there.

I do remember now the Arthur Treacher lyric readings. (I think Steve Allen did the same bit too.)

Can you imagine if Merv's show had been on in the 1990's and there's Aurthur reading "No Diggity" and Merv barely being able containing himself! :D

[Affair on Touhy Ave.]

I don't know how accurate the IMDB page is on his talk show history but even though he wasn't the 1st I read in 1969 he was hired by CBS to host a late night talk show up agaist JC. Other than Joey Bishop on ABC I don't know how often the other to networks at that time scheduled late light talk shows but it was one of the earliest examples I know of.

[The Rez]

That's cool, Borderstone. He sang before *even I* was born . . . !
But, it was the Big-Time. The real Big Band Thing

Merv Griffin's vocal Claim-o-Fame was:

Get ready . . .

*Owwwwwwwwwwww, Ahhhhh've
Got a Loverly Bunch-o-Coconuts*

Rez

[Borderstone]

Oh I know!! LOL! I laughed a long time ago when I found out that was his "big' number. I love how they used that song in "The Lion King". :D