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 |
| Starring | Mort Lindsey (bandleader) |
| Narrated by |
Arthur Treacher Merv Griffin |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 4855 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Merv Griffin Bob Murphy |
| Producer(s) | Ernest Chambers David S. Williger John Scura |
| Running time | 45–48 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
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| Distributor |
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| Release | |
| Original network | |
| Picture format | |
| Audio format | Monaural |
| Original release | October 1, 1962 – June 6, 1986 |
| Website | |
The Merv Griffin Show is an American television talk show, starring Merv Griffin. The series ran from October 1, 1962 to March 29, 1963 on NBC, May 1965 to August 15, 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 14, 1972 to September 5, 1986.
After a short run on NBC from October 1962 to March 1963, Merv Griffin launched a syndicated version of his talk show produced by Westinghouse (Group W) Broadcasting, which made its debut in May 1965. Intended as a nighttime companion to The Mike Douglas Show, this version of the Griffin program aired in multiple time slots throughout North America (many stations ran it in the daytime, and other non-NBC affiliates broadcast it opposite The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson). Stations had the option of carrying either a 60-minute or a 90-minute version. Griffin'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.
Seeing his strong ratings, CBS offered him a network series opposite the powerhouse Tonight Show, and his program moved there in the fall of 1969, with his debut guest lineup consisting of Hedy Lamarr, Ted Sorensen, Leslie Uggams, Moms Mabley, and Woody Allen. Although the series did well enough to quickly force the cancellation of another Carson competitor, ABC's The Joey Bishop Show, it was unable to make much of a dent in Carson's ratings. Furthermore, the network was uncomfortable with the guests Griffin wanted, who often spoke out against the Vietnam War and on other taboo topics. When political activist Abbie Hoffman was Griffin's guest in April 1970, CBS blurred the video of Hoffman so viewers at home would not see his trademark American flag pattern shirt, even though other guests had worn the same shirt in the past, uncensored, and Pat Boone appeared in an automobile commercial on that very broadcast wearing a similar flag-motif shirt.
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Wikipedia