Watch The Merv Griffin Show
- TV-PG
- 1965
- 1 Season
-
6.6 (572)
The Merv Griffin Show was a television talk show that aired from 1962 to 1986. Hosted by Merv Griffin, the show featured a wide range of guests from different fields, such as actors, musicians, politicians, and athletes. The show was produced by the Morton M. Goldberger Company and distributed by Metromedia Producers Corporation. Mort Lindsey was the musical director of the show and led the Mort Lindsey Orchestra, which provided live music for the guests and the audience. The show's theme song was "I Got A Secret" by Henry Mancini. The format of the show included interviews, musical performances, and comedy segments. Merv Griffin was known for his friendly and engaging interview style, where he would often ask guests about their personal lives and experiences in addition to their professional accomplishments. One of the show's most famous segments was the "Audience Reactions" segment, where the camera would pan to the audience and show their reactions to the guests or topics being discussed. The segment became so popular that it was eventually turned into a game show called "Click" in 1964. The Merv Griffin Show was also known for its regular guests, including Carol Burnett, Bob Hope, and Muhammad Ali. The show was a platform for many up-and-coming musicians, such as Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Billy Joel, who made some of their first television appearances on the show. In addition to entertainment, the show also addressed social and political issues of the time. Merv Griffin was a vocal supporter of the civil rights movement and featured many African American guests on his show, including Martin Luther King Jr. and James Baldwin. The show's popularity waned in the 1980s as it faced competition from other talk shows such as The Oprah Winfrey Show and Late Night with David Letterman. The show aired its final episode on September 5, 1986. Overall, The Merv Griffin Show was a groundbreaking talk show that showcased a diverse array of guests from different fields and tackled important social issues. Merv Griffin's affable interview style and Mort Lindsey's skilled musical direction made the show a beloved part of American television history.