Laugh Into Spring with 3 Classic Comedy Performances

From 1963 through 1986, over 5000 guests appeared on The Merv Griffin Show. So many of them were beloved talented performers in comedy, and a great number of these appearances have now turned into treasures to be shared and enjoyed.

Many of the most famous comedians who appeared on the show were new at the time, and the show was a perfect platform to share their talent. 

Here on the blog, we regularly feature some of the most memorable guests who appeared on the show.

In this post, we feature a 1965 early stand-up performance by George Carlin (he was a regular on the show in the mid-1960’s), Penn & Teller in an early showing of their fun blend of magic and comedy, and a 1965 performance by the legendary Phyllis Diller, who proves why she was known as the Queen of Stand-Up Comedy in her day.  

We encourage you to share and enjoy these classic appearances, and leave comments to tell us what you think.

For more interviews and fantastic show clips, subscribe to us on YouTube here.

 

Celebrating Women’s History Month – 3 Inspiring Interviews

March is Women’s History Month, and we couldn’t think of a better way to honor it then to celebrate some of the inspiring women Merv had the privilege of interviewing over the years.

Below are three classic, fascinating interviews with comedy icon Lucille Ball, Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Pearl S. Buck, and legendary actress Sophia Loren (who talks about turning 50). 

For more interviews with fantastic women, see our post from last March featuring trailblazers Maya Angelou, Arianna Huffington and Rosa Parks. And, be sure to subscribe to our official YouTube channel for endless clips, interviews, and classic performances from some of your favorite all-time comedians and musical acts. 

Enjoy the interviews!

 

 

 

Incredible and Timeless Wisdom to Get You Motivated

From 1963 to 1986, Merv Griffin had over 5,000 fascinating guests appear on his show. Isn’t that incredible when you think about it? So much was shared on the show. Not just actors promoting movies or musical performers showcasing their talents, but also some of the most highly regarded public figures in U.S. history.

Activists, artists, political figures, and many others shared stories and wisdom with Merv over the years, and we have many of these interviews showcased for everyone to enjoy over on your YouTube channel (you can subscribe here). We’ve also got an amazing box 12-DVD set featuring a special collection of the greatest episodes of The Merv Griffin Show with over 200 of the best interviews (find it here).

Below are just three examples of the inspiring, wisdom-packed interviews (we consider them all treasures). They’re great motivation and food for thought. For more great interviews, be sure to check out all the wonderful music, talk, and comedy we’ve got for you on our YouTube channel. Watch and enjoy!

 

5 Famous Quotes from Merv Griffin

With all the popular quotes and classic clips of Merv floating around online, we thought it would be fun to do a roundup here of just a few of his most popular quotes. Witty, wise, and no-nonsense, here are six of the biggest fan favorites:

“What have I learned from talking to all these famous people? That there’s a major story behind everyone.”

“Unless it’s an emergency, don’t bother me after 6pm and on weekends.”

“If you make the customer a promise, make sure you deliver it.”

“I refuse to be bored.” 

“Luck comes in if you’re well equipped to deal with it.”

“It’s always been my philosophy; turn the page. If something falls through, turn the page. It’s over with. Get used to it, get on with it. Very simple. It’s always worked for me.”

On Twitter? Post your favorite Merv Griffin quote and tag us for a retweet! Follow @OfficialMerv here. 

For endless entertainment and classic clips, be sure to follow us on your YouTube channel where we’ve posted some of our favorite performances and interviews from The Merv Griffin Show. Join us here. 

Happy Birthday Merv – Five Fun Facts

Happy birthday Merv Griffin! Merv was born on July 6th, 1925. In celebration, we thought we would post five fun facts about his life and accomplishments that you may not have heard about.

  1. Merv had a passion for singing and got his start as a singer on the radio at the young age of 19.
  2. His 1950 hit song “I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts” sold 3 million copies!
  3. After appearing in a few films, Merv developed a liking for television and made his first appearance in 1954 on a show called “Summer Holiday.” 
  4. The Merv Griffin Show was on for 21 years and showcased many of the biggest stars and luminaries in entertainment, art, music, and politics. Over the years the show received 11 Emmy Awards. 
  5. Merv wrote the famous “Think Music” for his gameshow Jeopardy in just 90 seconds! Hear Merv’s son Tony Griffin share the story about the creation of this famous song in this fun short video we’ve posted below. Thanks for stopping by our blog to help us celebrate this special day! 

 

Wisdom and Straight Talk from Merv via Esquire Magazine

In one of his last interviews (originally running in September of 2006, less than a year before his passing), Merv shared some witty and real thoughts with Esquire Magazine.

A few of his most well-loved quotes come from this very article including, “I know that when I get bored, no matter what I do on television, they’re gonna get bored.”

Have a read and get to know a few things about Merv you may not have heard before – including that he was a fan of American Idol (we suspect he’d be happy about the upcoming reboot on ABC). 

Click here to read the Esquire interview.

Which Comedian from The Merv Griffin Show are You?

Ready for a little fun? Our friends at getTV have created a quiz where you can find out which comedian from The Merv Griffin Show you are most like! 

You can take the quiz here.

And, be sure to tune in to getTV Sundays at 11:00 PM ET to catch classic episodes of The Merv Griffin Show! See the schedule here.

And, be sure join our ongoing conversation over on Facebook about all things Merv. 

Wishing everyone a wonderful spring!

Classic Interviews with 3 Academy Award Winning Icons

This weekend marks the 89th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood celebrating outstanding achievements in the motion picture industry. Merv interviewed many Academy Award winners throughout his years as a TV host, so we thought we’d share three classics here for you to enjoy.

The legendary Bette Davis talks with Merv about her Academy-Award-winning role in Jezebel, and her director on that film, William Wyler.

And, a rare early interview with the legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola. He talks about his films, his studio, his vineyard home, actors, George Lucas and his then-current movie Apocalypse Now.

Finally, Robert DeNiro chats with Merv about his Academy Award winning performance in Raging Bull.

Enjoy and we’re sending best wishes to all of the nominees at this weekend’s celebration!

You can find these interviews and many more greats in the official Box Set collection.

 

 

Goodbye to Mary Tyler Moore

Mary Tyler Moore

This week we pay tribute to the legendary Mary Tyler Moore, a wonderful woman who brought smiles to so many throughout her incredible career.

Mary appeared on The Merv Griffin Show with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, at the height of the Transcendental Meditation movement in 1975 (photo above).

Trivia: The famous Mary Tyler Moore episode, “Chuckles Bites the Dust,” was penned by David Lloyd, one of three young writers of The Merv Griffin Show in 1962. The other writers were a couple of guys named Dick Cavett and Pat McCormick.

Mary will be Tremendously missed. 

Preview the Merv Griffin Show Box Set

Merv_3D-2-smallHappy Holidays Everyone! With the search for the perfect holiday gifts in full swing, we thought we would share this fun and entertaining preview of The Merv Griffin Show Box DVD Set, featuring a fantastic collection of all the greatest episodes from 1962 through 1986.

The set makes a great (and unique!) holiday gift that will be treasured for years to come. Episodes in the set feature classic performances and engaging interviews with iconic celebrities, political figures, and cultural thought leaders.

Sit back and enjoy this very special preview for the Box DVD set, which offers over seven minutes of commentary, laughter, and touching moments. Visit this page to read more and order your copy.

 

Merv-Griffin-Box-Set-600x525