The Merv Griffin Show

The Merv Griffin Show
Genre	Talk show
Written by	Jerry Bresler Ernest Chambers Lyn Duddy
Directed by	Dick Carson
Presented by	Merv Griffin
Country of origin	United States
Language(s)	English
Production
Executive producer(s)	Merv Griffin Bob Murphy
Producer(s)	Ernest Chambers David S. Williger
Running time	60 minutes
Production company(s)	National Broadcasting Company (1962-1963) Columbia Broadcasting System (1969-1972) Merv Griffin Productions (1965-1969; 1972-1984) Merv Griffin Enterprises (1984-1986)
Distributor	Group W Productions (1965-1969) Metromedia Producers Corporation (1972-1983) King World Productions (1983-1986)
Broadcast
Original channel	NBC (1962-1963) Syndication (1965-1969, 1972-1986) CBS (1969-1972)
Original run	October 6, 1962 – June 6, 1986

The Merv Griffin Show was an American television talk show, starring Merv Griffin. The series ran from October 1, 1962 to March 29, 1963 on NBC, September 20, 1965 to September 26, 1969 in first-run syndication, from August 18, 1969 to February 11, 1972 at 11:30 PM ET weeknights on CBS and again in first-run syndication from February 11, 1972 to September 5, 1986.

Series history

In 1965, Griffin launched a syndicated version of his talk show for the "Group W" division of Westinghouse Broadcasting. The Merv Griffin Show aired in multiple time slots throughout North America (many stations ran it in the daytime, some broadcast it opposite Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show, and it was carried for many years in prime time on WNEW in New York). Stations had the option of carrying either a 60-minute or a 90-minute version. Merv's announcer-sidekick was the veteran British character actor Arthur Treacher, who had been his mentor. Treacher would introduce Griffin with the phrase: "...and now, here's the dear boy himself, Meeeer-vin!" after reading off the list of guests for that evening's show. After Treacher left the show, Griffin would do the announcing himself, and walk on stage with the phrase: "And now..., here I come!"

Overview

A typical show would begin with a short introduction by Griffin, during which he would sometimes sing a song. Various celebrity guests would follow, conversing with Griffin. Generally the show originated in Los Angeles, but Griffin often taped in Las Vegas. In addition, from 1969 to 1970 the show was located at the Cort Theatre in New York City and would return to the Big Apple in the 1970s and 80s for special shows in the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center. One set of popular and regularly returning artists were Motown's premier girl-group, The Supremes who made guest appearances in 1971, 1975 and 1976, with a rotating line up in each show.

From the 1970s to the early 1980s, the show was taped at Caesars Palace.^[1] Over the 25 years, Griffin interviewed 25,000 guests.

The Merv Griffin Show was originally produced by Griffin's own made company, Merv Griffin Productions. It later became Merv Griffin Enterprises in September of 1984 (at the end of this show, the theme for MGE was a bombastic, jazzy like horn theme that was only seen on the Merv Griffin Show), and produced the final two seasons. Sony Pictures Television now handles the TV rights to the series, while Griffin's other company Merv Griffin Entertainment owns the series.

Griffin's longtime bandleader was Mort Lindsey.

In popular culture

Seinfeld spoofed the show in Season 9, Episode 6, “The Merv Griffin Show,” in which Cosmo Kramer pretends that he hosts his own talk show using discarded material from the Merv show.

Andy Kaufman's appearance on the show was edited into the 1999 biopic Man on the Moon, with Griffin being played by character actor Mike Villani. The movie claims that all guests of the show receive an autographed photograph of Dicker and Dicker of Beverly Hills (furriers known for their fur coats, mainly as prizes on game shows), coupons, and Turtle Wax.^{[citation needed]}

Awards and nominations

See also

• List of late night network TV programs

References

External links

• The Merv Griffin Show at the Internet Movie Database
• The Merv Griffin Show at TV.com