It taped in Los Angeles after initial reports that it would be produced at WMAQ-TV in Chicago. There was Peter Lawford, Robert Walker, Gordon Scott the then-Tarzan. June 15, 2020 11:21 am ET. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. On November 21, 2022, Marlo Thomas celebrated her birthday by turning 85! during the weekend of August 1819, 2007. Top-rate talent rarely visited Dayton, Donahue says, and those who did would ask him, "What am I doing here?" He also created the game shows Jeopardy! . And he seems without shame: "I would be afraid I'm going to die if someone told me I had leukemia. [15] He also had an uncredited role as a radio announcer in the horror/science fiction film The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953). Griffin became the host of The Merv Griffin Show, which was his own talk show. The audience is small and compact, practically sitting in the guest's lap. Griffins gay brothers his friends, his lovers, his people across America, around the world suffered and met horrific deaths. First off, Griffins closet kept him shockingly silent while he had access to the president of the United States as his own people were dying. Merv Griffin began his career as a singer on the radio at the age of 19. Griffin, who died of prostate cancer Sunday at 82, stayed in the closet throughout his life. In addition, he produced two different shows for NBC, such as Lets Play Post Office in 1965 as well as Reach for the Stars in 1967, plus for ABC; he produced One in a Million in 1967. She noted how no one wanted to be a stepmother cause they were seen as villains in children's stories. "We're talking about a medium that evaluates people according to the force with which they can communicate ideas," Donahue explains. ", Joel Swerdlow; Joel Swerdlow is the coauthor of "Remote Control: Television. "That's not going to happen," he explains. His abilities as a pianist played a part in his early entry into show business. NBC-owned and -operated stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Dallas carried it, with many stations airing two episodes per day. He was 82. Merv Griffin is a television host and media tycoon of America. Merv Griffin, talk show host and game show creator, is shown on his talk show 'The Merv Griffin Show' which aired from 1962-1986 in this undated publicity photograph. The Hollywood mogul Merv Griffin died at the age of 82 over the weekend after a battle with cancer, and I was amazed to see The New York Timesactually discusshis sexual orientation, the palimony lawsuit and the male-on-male sexual harassment lawsuit. His funeral was held at the Church of Good Shepherd in Beverley Hills which was attended by several celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jack Klugman and Catherine Oxenberg. The star had spent decades covering up his sexuality and even married comedienne Julann Wright, who gave him a son. Griffin characterized both lawsuits as extortion. Brent Plott, who had been his employee, also accused him of harassment. Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr. (July 6, 1925 - August 12, 2007) was an American television show host and media mogul. Every comedian ends up, one day, taking a pie in the face. (VH1, 1998) for pop-music trivia fans; Click!, a teen-oriented game that introduced Ryan Seacrest as its host; and, in association with Wink Martindale, Headline Chasers (1985). In an Associated Press profile released before it premiered, he discussed the show's origins:[1]. 10k followers . Griffin was introduced to the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1974. She explained how she felt a union of two whole people could work compared to one of one and a half. Though dismissed, the lawsuits put Griffin on the spot, and while he never denied being gay, he didnt own it either. Marlo Thomas Was Scared of Being Stepmom to Phil Donahue's 5 Kids They Are Proud of Gaggle of Grandkids Now, Why Is Robin Always on Dr. Phil's Show? It was good television. The couple had one son. The resulting blurred image meant that Hoffman's voice emanated from a "jumble of lines". But he is Man-Child in Television Land, and viewers get to know him not as they know Walter Cronkite, but as they know Archie Bunker and Hawkeye Pierce. Whatever the goal of any particular program, Donahue is an emotional fellow traveler -- involved, sympathetic, respectful. But he should also be held up as man who, like Malcolm Forbes before him, was hugely influential and powerful and yet still allowed the closet and homophobia to manipulate his life, and to cause him to do harm to his own people. Merv Griffin reaches only 3.9 million viewers, Mike Douglas 3.7 and Dinah Shore 2.8 million. Rumors about Griffin's sexuality followed him for much of his life. Although Griffin married and reportedly had affairs with several women, including Judy Garland, his A relationship that should be renewed and examined can't grow as long as we're not telling our women how we feel. [52], Some of the songs Griffin recorded were:[citation needed]. He certainly didnt owe us an explanation, but maybe he owed it to himself to remove the suffocating veil hed been forced to hide behind throughout his adult life. His first encounter, a boyhood friend he grew up with, later tried writing a book about Merv. Furthermore, he also remained the host of another game show Keep Talking released on ABC. An avid fan of puzzles since childhood, Griffin first produced a successful game show in 1964, Jeopardy! He married Julann Griffin, whom he divorced after some time. This being an era when male actors felt homosexuality was a danger to their career, lawyers shot down that book fast.. He had an older sister, Barbara. In addition, he served as a producer for several game shows such as Reach for the Stars and One in a Million. LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Merv Griffin was gay. ACTRESS, Marlo Thomas, has been married to former daytime talk show host, Phil Donahue, for over 40 years. However, he soon became disillusioned with movies and bought his contract back from Warner Bros, after which he decided to focus on television. And Mervs brush with tabloid scandal no doubt only drove him further into the closet. To prove his point, Donahue does a Kissinger imitation, complete with heavy accent. No name. His height was 1.75 m tall and weighed 70 kg. Griffin himself was an enthusiastic meditator.[27]. 24K views, 950 likes, 99 loves, 117 comments, 155 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Marlo Thomas: #TBT to this scene from That Girl. Also, he achieved the degree Doctor of Laws from the National University of Ireland, Galway, in 2005. But each of the more than 200 "Donahue" stations -- including flagship WGN in Chicago -- buys it on his terms: If any station manager wants to pull the plug, fine. Not one to shy away from controversy, Griffin began to be harassed by CBS censors who objected to the antiwar statements of his guests and ordered him to feature pro-war guests for balance. . I noticed that my children weren't really sharing feelings with me -- and one of the reasons was I don't do a hell of a lot of sharing with them in terms of feelings. In 1975, NBC canceled Jeopardy! His program is television's most consistent forum for provocative, controversial subject matter: lesbian couples adopting children; parents of homosexuals; breast-feeding mothers; unwed mothers; elderly people living together out of wedlock; victims of incest. She further elaborated, "I had to meet the right kind of man, and the world had to change a lot, and I had to change a lot." Griffin's announcer/sidekick was veteran British character actor Arthur Treacher, who had been his mentor. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. He also hosted a primetime ABC game show, Keep Talking. After eight years he quit and tried his hand as a traveling salesman. We should point to his life for GLBT youth and say, Dont let this happen to you. He married Julann Griffin, whom he divorced after some time. Griffin wrote the 30-second piece of music heard during the show's Final Jeopardy! Griffin was married to the former Julann Wright from 1958 to 1976; they remained friends after their divorce. Danny said the female audience was lucky to spend an hour with "two of the world's most attractive men." He earned a whole heap of publicity b hosting and producing several different television shows. Besides Resorts International, the holding company for casinos in Atlantic City and the Bahamas, three company affiliates also filed for Chapter 11 protection: Griffin Resorts Inc., Resorts International Financing Inc. and Griffin Resorts Holding Inc. An active desert resident, Griffin was a supporter of the La Quinta Arts Festival and the owner of the Merv Griffin Givenchy Resort & Spa in Palm Springs, now The Parker. When guests verge on breakdowns or exhibitionism, Donahue becomes a combination parish priest and understanding neighbor. He gave hog prices on the radio at 5:30 a.m., and his hand appeared twice on film used on the CBS Evening News. "We had a woman whose baby was taken back by the adoption agency. The theme returned to the show in 2021 at the start of season 39. [6], Griffin and First Lady Nancy Reagan exchanged birthday greetings each July 6 for their shared birthday. Round, which became the iconic melody of the theme for the syndicated version of the show hosted by Alex Trebek in 1984. In 1974, under intense pressure to "put some glitter in the show," he moved to Chicago, hoping to attract better guests and big-city flair. There was one major difference, though. In 1969 "Donahue" (until 1974 called "The Phil Donahue Show") entered national syndication, but half a decade later his salesman quit because the show was stuck at around 40 markets and "just couldn't sell." I like someone to love me," Thomas replied. "The irony of the situation wasn't wasted on me", Griffin recalls in his autobiography. . Griffin's prostate cancer, treated originally in 1996, returned and he was admitted to Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where his condition deteriorated, leading to his death on August 12, 2007 at the age of 82. He started his professional life by joining the radio as well as by singing in collaboration with a big band. Those who dont cant really be faulted, as rarely do honesty and full disclosure prove a boon to ones showbiz livelihood. His charges are ridiculous and untrue. After 17 years, his wife left him. Age, Height, and Weight. His father was a stockbroker while his mother was a homemaker. "Milestones of Motoring (1954)" sponsored by Standard Oil of Ohio, Hagley Library Digital Archive. The star complained at the time that no one asked men if they wanted to be fathers of doctors, and she felt women's choices shouldn't be that linear either because she wanted it all. I keep it to his A-list dates like Rock Hudson, whom he met through Henry Wilson, Rocks agent, and who advised him to keep his sexuality quiet. He works live (most markets broadcast an unedited tape). Merv Griffin was married to Julann Griffin from 1959 to 1976. Donahue asked her on the air. "When half of America is saying, 'That guest got him,' believe me when I tell you it's fine with me." In 1991, Deney Terrio, host of the Griffin-created Dance Fever, sued Griffin, alleging sexual harassment, but the suit was dismissed. Tony Griffin appeared in the movies Evil Laugh in 1986, Spaceballs in 1987, Aspen. The song reached the #1 spot on the Hit Parade and sold three million copies.[13]. Ten months later he moved to a CBS radio-television affiliate in Dayton, Ohio. It was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and numerous Emmy Awards, out of which it won eleven. He resolved to change his appearance, and lost 80 pounds in four months. Some of his talk show remained a big hit and gained considerable rating all over the world. Over the years, it made a record of winning 33 Emmy Awards. On the other hand, Phil had been married before and welcomed five children, making his new wife a stepmother. He rose as far as possible in Dayton -- anchoring the television news and hosting a radio call-in show. . This weekend venue, fashioned after Hollywood's famed Coconut Grove (where Griffin headlined as a boy singer with The Freddy Martin Orchestra) features live Big Bands, Swing Orchestras, and Rock Bands amidst a glamorous nightclub setting.He was honored with the prestigious 1994 Broadcasting and Cable "Hall of Fame" Award, alongside such figures as Diane Sawyer and Dan Rather. In 1977, Thomas was a guest on the daytime TV television show called Donahue. Rumors about Griffin being gay arent new, and they werent helped by two lawsuits (a palimony claim, and a sexual harassment charge) by two dudes in the 90s. It gained traction in 1991 when he was targeted in a pair of lawsuits: by Dance Fever host Denny Terrio, alleging sexual harassment; and by assistant Brent Plott seeking $200 million in palimony. were produced: one on NBC that ran for five months in late 1978/early 1979, with Art Fleming returning as host; and the other airing in first-run syndication beginning September 10, 1984, starring Alex Trebek. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); You have entered an incorrect email address! 2 Phil Donahue is a daytime television icon Credit: Getty Images - Getty Who is Phil Donahue? Family. The well-attended service included Nancy Reagan; Arnold Schwarzenegger, who gave the eulogy with Tony Griffin; Maria Shriver; and various actors, television stars, employees, and friends, including Pat Sajak, Vanna White, Alex Trebek, Dick Van Dyke, Jack Klugman, Dick Van Patten, Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, Ryan Seacrest, Johnny Mathis, Catherine Oxenberg and Casper Van Dien. He died on August 12, 2007. Of Griffin, Porter says, We met in 59 when he sang for my senior prom and the student committee paid him $500. He became increasingly popular with nightclub audiences and his fame soared among the general public when he struck gold in 1950 with "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts", which reached the number one spot on the Hit Parade and sold three million copies.Continuing to record hits, including "Wilhelmina" and "Never Been Kissed", Griffin made a foray into motion pictures after Doris Day saw his nightclub performance and arranged a screen test for him at Warner Bros. Studios. He attended San Mateo Junior College and then the University of San Francisco. Open homosexuality is a threat to the closeted, and powerful people in the closet like Merv Griffin will often do whatever it takes to squash those who are open and who might advocate that all among the powerful should come out. It was these games which inspired him to create the game show Wheel of Fortune in 1975. There are his experiences at Liberaces all-male orgies. ", "Palm Springs Walk of Stars by date dedicated", "Merv Griffin reported in grave condition", "Hundreds Pay Final Respects To Merv Griffin", "Merv Griffin Estate Sells for $7 Million", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Merv_Griffin&oldid=1142400827, "Banned in Boston" (#101, Pop Charts, 1961), "Changing Keys" (longtime theme music for, This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 05:10. Finally, Griffins closet had him firing gay men whod actually made it up through the ranks of his own company, simply because they were openly gay. His roommate a year and a half was Montgomery Clift. The two powerhouses spun off numerous programs, for which Griffin often signed on as a creative consultant. The kiss was a first in Hollywood film history since the introduction of the Production Code in 1934. His funeral was held at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills. "It's not important to me when we are on that I win. "To say 'yes' to that question flatters me," he says, pausing to look at the wall as though hoping to see the proper answer. "Today's subsequent instructions to Donahue: "No clinical sex.". "He speaks in tablets. He was commended for booking such guests, but also widely criticized for it. [2] He began his career as a radio and big band singer, later appearing in film and on Broadway. Among his private passions are his family, son Tony Griffin, daughter-in-law Tricia, and grandchildren Farah and Donovan Mervyn, his long-haired sharpei dog Charlie Chan, his La Quinta ranch near Carmel, where he raises thoroughbred racing horses, and his 135 foot, four-story high ocean going yacht, Griff. . Donahue feels his success has given other talk shows "more courage" and that the public will soon see fewer entertainers talking about "how long it took to make their last movie." It became the first US Album to be recorded on a magnetic tape. [17] He landed a job as the host of a new television show, CBS-TV's Summer Holiday, a summer replacement for Jane Froman's U.S.A. Canteen and Jo Stafford's The Jo Stafford Show, which he co-hosted with Betty Ann Grove. Says Donahue, "Well, what does that mean? If you get anything else you think we can use, call me personally. Though hed quietly led a gay life and had his pool parties filled with hot young men in years past, as well as a parade of boyfriends that was viewed as private information that was not discussed in mixed company. But in a New York office recently, Donahue looked much more subdued that he does goes on television, his eyes more pale and penetrating. There is a story in Queer in America about a man identified as The Mogul who did just that. "Donahue" is unlike any other talk show. His 7-year-old grandson Donovan Mervyn was an honorary pallbearer, as was Nancy Reagan. On his retirement, Griffin sold his production company, Merv Griffin Enterprises, to Columbia Pictures Televisionthen a unit of The Coca-Cola Companyfor US$250million on May 6, 1986. From December 1975 to January 1976, it was expanded to an hour, in response to the successful 60-minute version of The Price Is Right on CBS. Griffin disliked the censorship imposed by CBS and complained. (1984), which are watched by hundreds of millions of people all over the world. Movies. "In a network situation," Donahue says, "one guy can end your career while he's shaving." [6] He was a member of the international fraternity Tau Kappa Epsilon. However, in 1997 she thought she still had a chance, but she and Phil never had any of their own. In 1965, Griffin launched a syndicated talk show for Group W (Westinghouse Broadcasting) titled The Merv Griffin Show. "Not everybody who writes a book is necessarily a good television persona. He started his professional life by joining the radio as well as by singing in collaboration with a big band. Marlo shared how her dreams of becoming a mother were frustrated by her ambitions and society. Griffin frequently chatted with audience members. In the 1980s, Griffin purchased the Paradise Island Resort and Casino in the Bahamas for $400million from Trump, but later sold it for just $125million. As he recalls the past, Donahue stands again and begins to pace. "Spokeswoman: 'Jeopardy' inventor Merv Griffin dies at 82", "Daily Press: Hampton Roads News, Virginia News & Videos", "Merv Griffin, Television Innovator, Dies at 82", "Frater Merv Griffin Passes into the Chapter Eternal", "Lean Days are Better; Griffin Shed Weight and Song to Be a TV Host", "Entertainment Legend Merv Griffin Dies At 82", "(Advertisment) Thanks: The Merv Griffin Show", "Maharishi Mahesh Yogi; founded Transcendental Meditation movement", "For Merv Griffin, 14 Seconds Can Last a Lifetime", "Griffin buys Resorts; Trump to get Taj Mahal", "Merv Griffin's Outrageous Fortune: When Millionaire Griffin Took on Billionaire Trump, They Said It Was a Mismatch. Griffin, as a radio announcer, played an unacknowledged part in the 1953 science/horror short story classic The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms. At the same time, however, in success he sees the seeds of destruction. In 1998, a Golden Palm Star on the Walk of Stars in Palm Springs was dedicated to him. While it would seem everything has changed today, little actually has. Similarly, he says he "showcases," rather than presents, issues and people. Playing to the camera unmercifully, he leans close, interrupts, turns his back and challenges. Brent Plott, who had been his employee, also accused him of harassment. Marlo Thomas was in a long relationship with playwright Herb Gardner, but they did not get married. After Griffin's death, The Hollywood Reporter published a report stating that he had been a closeted gay man. He next hosted the game show Keep Talking and also temporarily The Price is Right and To Tell the Truth. A staff of 15, mostly women, decides what gets on the show. Merv Griffin. Merv Griffin, the creator of Jeopardy! Merv understood himself as a celebrity (or, at least, as a hanger-on) and would casually mention that he had played tennis with Errol Flynn, or had sublet. This man was intimate with the Reagans (and Nancy Reagan in particular) during the height of the AIDS epidemic in 80s, with few treatments available and fear-mongering having gripped the media. The spin-offs included the children's shows Wheel 2000 (CBS, 1997), and the short-lived Jep! He eventually started his own show The Merv Griffin Show in 1962 which proved to be a huge success. Griffin never acknowledged he was gay, though it became widely known in Hollywood, even as Eva Gabor played his beard. He was a famous but unsuccesssful single until 1977, when actress Marlo Thomas made her second appearance on his program. The star said they connected "fantastically," but their first date was awkward, with them staring at each other! ", Donahue loves it. Also, he founded two TV production organizations Merv Griffin Entertainment and Merv Griffin Enterprises. But in 1978 New York's WNBC bought "Donahue" for the second time and he began to capture the nation's attention. . Public response wasn't always entirely pleasant, but continued commercial success gave Donahue confidence. "Let's put a ribbon on this," he tells the long-winded. Even in the capital of entertainment -- in a business where homosexuality isnt exactly a rare phenomenon -- its still spoken of in hushed tones or, more often, not at all. It ran for one summer. They had a deep conversation about divorce, marriage, and children; they were both Catholic. The star spent the day enjoying it with her long-term husband, Phil Donahue, with whom she celebrated decades of marriage. Picking up a desk stapler to act as a surrogate microphone, he stands, flexes his shoulders and acts out his "dialogues" with them. "We read a lot of magazines. And lots about Mervs prolonged sexual tryst with Marlon Brando. His last game show was a wild show called Ruckus, which emanated from the Resorts International Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, which he owned at the time. Mervyn Edward "Merv" Griffin, Jr. August 12, 2007) was an American television host, singer, and media mogul behind Merv Griffin Enterprises. If they're slow, he takes telephone calls. Imagine the amount of good Merv could have done as a well-respected, hugely successful, beloved and uncloseted gay man in embodying a positive image. They moan, gasp and applaud, and surround him with a chorus of questions and arguments. The actress was so private but called the host's telecast when her father, Danny Thomas, noted a hilarious observation. Neither Cronkite nor CBS responded, a silence echoed by everyone else to whom the ambitious Donahue mailed resumes. They Were Wrong", "Griffin Wins Resorts in Deal with Trump", "Helicopter Service Shuttles Gamblers to Casinos", "Merv Griffin Becomes New Owner of Resorts International", "Merv Rolls the Dice: Griffin and his debt-ridden Resorts International hotel and casino face tough odds in upcoming meetings with bondholders", "Merv Griffin's Resorts Files for Bankruptcy as Refinancing Fails", "In the Chatting Olympics, Look for Merv Griffin", "Affable TV host built an empire on 2 hit game shows", "All About Eva: Zsa Zsa's Little Sister Says It Hasn't Always Been Easy Being the Other Gabor", "Griffin Never Revealed Man Behind the Curtain", "The 'Jeopardy' Creator: Who Was Merv Griffin? "Since 'The $64,000 Question,' the network won't let you do those . Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr. (July 6, 1925 August 12, 2007) was an American television show host and media mogul. One regular attendee, Lillian Miller, became a fixture on the show throughout its run. And yet, it is very important for reasons far beyond visibility or mere gossip. His voice becomes soft, "We have a lot to lose now. [48] In 2005 he accepted the degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) from the National University of Ireland, Galway; and in 2008 was posthumously inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. Griffin was also an honorary pallbearer at the funeral of President Ronald Reagan in 2004, having been the Reagans' friends for many years. GSN honored Griffin by airing ten-episode marathons of Wheel and Jeopardy! Griffin's three-year run at CBS was contentious; the network was uncomfortable with the guests he wanted, who often spoke out against the Vietnam War and on other sensitive topics. Although Marlo did not have kids of her own, she helped raise Phil's five children from a previous marriage. Such candor is not new to Donahue, but it usually comes from his guests and audience. Marlo was 40 when she married the talk show host, and it was her first marriage. In 1975 Donahue set up housekeeping in suburban Chicago, and the women's magazines dubbed him "Bachelor-Father." National magazines ran complimentary stories. Griffin was married to Julann Wright, and together they had a son named Anthony. He has parlayed their problems into the top spot in the dog-eat-puppy world of syndicated talk shows. And as any law student knows, you cant libel the dead. That's what I'm paid to do.". Also: speculation. [8] During the Korean War several years later, he was examined and deemed healthy enough to serve, but by that time was above age 26 and exempt from the draft. ", Donahue has been quoted as telling his staff, "I want all the topics hot . Brynn Hartman Struggled with Self-Esteem and Her Husband's Absence Who Was Phil Hartman's Wife? Men, he says, "have done an awful lot of oppression. Another was '79 Wistful Vista.' But it was in 1962 that his career took its most dramatic turn. The "Sunday Morning" interviewer wanted to know where Marlo got the idea. When philosopher and anti-war activist Bertrand Russell used the show to condemn the war in Vietnam, Griffin was criticized for letting Russell have his say. Merv Griffin might be best remembered as the guy who introduced Nancy Reagan to her astrologer were it not for a 1963 plane ride. That was Fibber and Mollie McGee's address. Why is it so difficult to write? He next appeared in the movie So This is Love in a main role. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. Now, someone else is doing it for him. As rewrds, he dispenses liberal "God bless you's" and "I love you's." The Merv Griffin Show is an American television talk show starring Merv Griffin.The series ran on NBC from October 1, 1962 to March 29, 1963, in first-run syndication from May 10, 1965 to July 4, 1969, at 11:30 PM ET weeknights on CBS from August 18, 1969 to February 11, 1972, and again in first-run syndication from February 14, 1972 to September 5, 1986. The new show featured live music with two singers while simulating a trip to various places in the world. There, she met the host, Phil Donahue, and became hopelessly in love with him from the start.
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