1971-1986
Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr. (1925 – 2007) was an American television host and media mogul. He began his career as a radio and big band singer who went on to appear in film and on Broadway. From 1965 to 1986, Griffin hosted his own talk show, “The Merv Griffin Show.” He also created the internationally popular game shows “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” through his television production companies, Merv Griffin Enterprises and Merv Griffin Entertainment. Both game shows are still airing as of this writing.
“The Merv Griffin Show” ran from October 1962 to March 1963 on NBC; May 1965 to August 1969 in first-run syndication; from 1969 to 1972 late night weeknights on CBS; and again in first-run syndication from 1972 to 1986. The show’s longtime bandleader was Mort Lindsey. Griffin frequently clowned and sang novelty songs with trumpeter Jack Sheldon. Griffin’s conversational style created the perfect atmosphere for conducting intelligent interviews that could be serious with some and light-hearted with others. Rather than interview a guest for a cursory 5- or 6-minute segment, Merv preferred lengthy, in-depth discussions with many stretching out past 30 minutes. In addition, Griffin sometimes dedicated an entire show to a single person or topic, allowing for greater exploration of his guests’ personality and thoughts. More than 25,000 guests appeared on “The Merv Griffin Show” including numerous significant cultural, political, social and musical icons including four U.S. Presidents. From 1974 to 1986 the show won twelve daytime Emmy Awards.
“The Merv Griffin Show: A Salute To George Marshall” ~ July 29, 1971
Guests: Lucille Ball, George Marshall, Edgar Buchanan, Glenn Ford, William Holden, Mort Lindsay & His Orchestra
Director George Marshall worked with Lucille Ball on Fancy Pants (1950), Valley of the Sun (1942) and 11 1969 episodes of “Here’s Lucy,” mostly location shoots.
“The Merv Griffin Show” ~ October 12, 1973
Guests: Lucille Ball, Gary Morton, Desi Arnaz Jr., Lucie Arnaz, Gale Gordon, Robert Lewin, Ronald Reagan (recorded voice message)
A Salute to Lucille Ball featuring her husband and children, and her two most famous co-stars. Ronald Reagan, then Governor of California, calls in.
Lucy says she has finished Mame which won’t be released for six months. Merv says the buzz is that the film is one of the best musicals in history. Lucy refutes the rumor that Lisa Kirk dubbed her singing voice. As for dancing, Lucy credits choreographer Ona White with getting her in shape after breaking her leg. Lucy says she wore eight to ten wigs in the picture.
Ball says she usually refers to the ‘Lucy’ character in the the third person.
Lucy says the Goldwyn Girls never wore costumes, only wigs [a slight embellishment]. She mentions Eddie Cantor and Roman Scandals (1933, above).
Merv: “Did a man one day say ‘Make her a star?’”
Lucy: “No, he said ‘make her.’”
Lucy references the “Here’s Lucy” episode in which Lucie Arnaz imitates Cher: “The Carters Meet Frankie Avalon” (HL S6;E11) aired a month after this interview, on November 19, 1973.
Lucy says that she met Gary Morton while doing Wildcat on Broadway. She says that she wasn’t feeling at her best at the time and had taken on too much. Merv says he knew Gary Morton before Lucy did. Morton jokes that Merv had one voice for speaking and another for singing; the ‘Jim Nabors’ of his time.
Lucy: “The one thing I’m very proud of is that I know my craft.”
Lucy says that her daughter is the more successfully independent. She says her son is independent, but not sure how successful it is.
They talk about their neighbor, Jimmy Stewart and how he walks his big dogs around the block. Lucy says that Jimmy and Gloria Stewart have a huge vegetable garden. A Romanian neighbor did not recognize Stewart and turned him away when he came to the door trying to give away some of their surplus crops.
Lucie and Desi Arnaz Jr. join the conversation. Lucie says that she sees her mother frequently because they work together. Desi and Merv talk about tennis, a sport they both played avidly. Once again, Desi says that he did not play Little Ricky on “I Love Lucy,” although they were born on the same day.
Lucie recalls her first appearance on her mother’s show: as Cynthia on “The Lucy Show.” Merv puts up the now familiar (but colorized as the original was in black and white) publicity photo of Lucy and her children taken during “Lucy is a Soda Jerk” (TLS S1;E23) when Lucie was eleven years old. Although this is her first ‘named’ character in the series, Lucie was an extra in “Lucy is a Referee” (TLS S1;E3) in 1962.
Desi Jr. says that he left “Here’s Lucy” during season three in order to do a film, but by the time the shooting was over, his contract had expired and he decided to move on to do other things. Desi Jr. went to college for a short period of time – a week and a half.
Lucie: “I think I’ve been to the best dramatic school by just being on her [Lucy’s] show for six years.”
Gary Morton tells how he and Lucy flew to Warrensburg, Ohio, to see Lucie do a summer stock production of Once Upon a Mattress. He then talks about how proud he is of Desi Jr.’s performance as Marco Polo in the film Marco (1973).The film wasn’t actually released until two months after this interview. Lucy hosted a home screening of the film.
Merv welcomes a surprise guest, Bob Hope. They talk about Bob Hope’s house, which was under construction in Palm Springs when it was engulfed by fire, allegedly through arson. Joking, Gary Morton holds out a lit cigarette lighter!
Hope mentions the four films he did with Lucy, even the one they consider the least memorable, Critic’s Choice (1963). Lucy calls it a flop. During the filming of The Facts of Life, Lucy was always asking Hope if she had successfully shed the ‘Lucy’ character. Bob tells the story (which he has told before) of when a Desilu stockholder interrupted the filming with her super 8 camera.
Hope: (about Lucy’s reruns) “She’s on so much, you can just flip the dial and see her raise her children.”
Lucy compliments her writers, Bob (Carroll) and Madelyn (Davis).
Hope jokingly says they shouldn’t talk about his political affiliations with Washington because he’s having enough trouble with his taxes as it is. Lucie says that the President [Richard Nixon] is having trouble with his, too! In late 1973, Nixon was in the headlines for mistakes on his tax returns.
Merv runs the first clip of Mame, despite it not being completely finished in post-production. Lucy says it will be released at Easter. Even Lucy hasn’t seen it! [The MPI DVD version of this interview does not include the clip.]
After a commercial break, Merv introduces “Uncle Harry himself” Gale Gordon. Gordon says that he just adores Lucy, even after fifty years in the business. Lucy claims that Gordon is just as good at the table reading as at the final filming. He tells Merv that his mother Gloria Gordon played the landlady on “My Friend Irma” both in the 1949 film and the 1952 television series.
They talk about about Gale Gordon’s on-set nickname, ‘Old Soggy Crotch’, because he was constantly getting wet during episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” The show actually bleeps out the nickname because the word ‘crotch’ would not pass the censors! Merv puts up a still from “Lucy Makes A Few Extra Dollars” (HL S4;E6) which depicts Gordon covered with food!
Gary Morton relates that when Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor guest starred on the show, he complimented Gordon on his performance, and assumed that he must have been born in England. Although raised in England, Gordon was actually born in New York City. Lucy says he is now the mayor of Borrego Springs, California.
After a break, Merv introduces the President of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Robert Lewin, who presents Ball with a plaque of commemorating her 13 Emmy nominations since 1951. Lewin says the plaque has an ‘extension’ for her next 13!
Merv shows a clip of Lucy accepting her Emmy for Best Actress. He claims it is 1967, which Lucy questions: “67? I didn’t know I won one in 67.” Lucy is correct. The year was 1968.
“The Merv Griffin Show” ~ April 9, 1974
Guests: Lucille Ball, Bea Arthur, Gene Saks, Gary Morton
This show was taped on March 24, 1974, on location at the Hollywood premiere of Mame at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. Among those interviewed are Lucille Ball and husband Gary Morton; Beatrice Arthur and husband, director Gene Saks.
One of the many fans lining the red carpet for Merv’s interview with Lucy was Michael Z. Stern. He later wrote about the experience in his book I Had a Ball: My Friendship With Lucille Ball. Stern recounts that he made a large sign that read “WE LOVE LUCY” which (along with his arm) made it onscreen on “The Merv Griffin Show.”
“The Merv Griffin Show” ~ February 4, 1980
Guests: Lucille Ball, James Brolin, Michele Lee, Natalie Wood
Lucy talks about teaching comedy seminars in college, although the grading confounded her as it was solely a question and answer seminar. Lucy points out someone named Stuart (although he doesn’t appear on camera), one of her former seminar students who is in the studio audience.
Lucy compliments Merv as one of the best ‘listeners’ of all talk show hosts.
Lucy stresses that she’s not a funny person, but credits her daughter and Gary, her husband, with the attribute.
Merv begs Lucy to do the Lucy Ricardo “Waaaa” cry for him. Lucy is initially reluctant, but she does it for him.
Four days later, “Lucy Moves To NBC” was aired. Lucy’s visit is likely to promote that event.
In 2017, Get TV celebrated Lucille Ball’s birthday by airing this interview and the 1973 “Merv Griffin Show” interview of Lucy back to back, followed by a rare screening of Lucy’s appearance on “Van Dyke & Company.”
“The Merv Griffin Show” ~ June 24, 1982
Guests: Lucille Ball, Ethel Merman, Ginger Rogers
Lucy shares the stage with two powerhouse performers from her past. Merman guest-starred in two back-to-back episodes of “The Lucy Show” in 1964. Ball had done five films with Rogers during the 1930s. She guest-starred as herself on a 1971 episode of “Here’s Lucy” (S4;E11).
TRIVIA
Lucille Ball is responsible for Alex Trebek hosting “Jeopardy”! Lucy was a fan of the short-lived game show “High Rollers” hosted by Trebek. When Merv Griffin was looking to reboot “Jeopardy” Lucy suggested he consider hiring Trebek and the rest is history!
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