Merv Griffin dies at 82

[itsrobert]

Source: MSNBC/AP

Merv Griffin dies at 82
Entertainer turned multimillionaire produced 'Jeopardy,' 'Wheel of Fortune'


LOS ANGELES - Merv Griffin, the entertainer turned impresario who parlayed his "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune" game shows into a multimillion-dollar empire, has died. He was 82.

Griffin died of prostate cancer

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20236685/

---

RIP

[Catchawave]

1. Link here:

http://cbs13.com/topstories/topstories_story_223163105.html

[ronnykmarshall]

2. I loved The Merv Griffin show

He always had the best guest on his show. Charo was always on it.

[Auggie]

8. Merv helped many in their careers like Charo,

and breathed life into the fading careers of Orson Wells, Tony Randall, Arthur Treacher...

Good for him.

[ronnykmarshall]

13. She was always a scream on his show.

Merv always seemed to enjoy having her on.

[PSPS]

15. Arthur Treacher

I remember him introducing Merv at the beginning of his show. (Treacher was Griffin's "Ed McMahon.")

"Heeeeer's Meeeeerrrrvin!"

It was about this time that the chain of "Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips" started up. (Now part of TruFoods http://www.arthurtreachers.com/about-at.htm.)

[Auggie]

17. Holy Malt Vinegar! That's still a franchise???

Probably only 5% of the population knows who A.T. is too!

[lpbk2713]

16. I wonder what ever became of Mrs Miller?

:shrug:


She had a reserved seat for every show.

[valerief]

29. I have a Mrs. Miller CD. She was fabulous. nt

[niceypoo]

21. I remember my Grandmother cracking up because, she said, he...

...had a talent for making his guests go at each others throats. She told me that he got a married couple into an arguement on his show and they ended up getting a divorce over it. Now thats talent! No wonder he was so successful at business.

[liberalmuse]

3. That is sad.

He lived a long life, but it's still sad when anyone dies. It's also sad that he was never able to be open about his sexuality while he was alive.

I found a week ago out that my best friend's dad is dying of the same. He's in his sixties. :(

[John Kerry VonErich]

7. I don't get it

What about his sexuallity?

[fightthegoodfightnow]

20. He Was a Closeted Homosexual

.........who despite his millions could value his own dignity by coming out.

[niceypoo]

22. I heard he was gay back in the early 80s

So he couldn't have been that closeted....if the whole planet knew it. I remember my Mom being surprised to find out that Charles Nelson Reiley was gay. Times and people change, I guess.

[fightthegoodfightnow]

25. He Was a Prisoner of His Own Warped Mind and His Entertainment Network

He Was a Prisoner of His Own Warped Mind and His Entertainment Network

[valerief]

30. I knew he was gay for a very long time, but I think just because

a lot of the public knows you're gay, you're not really officially gay until you come out. He never did come out. He must have been a staunch Republican. Or Scientologist.

[fightthegoodfightnow]

43. The GOP Loves the Closet

........and he allowed them to lock him into his own.

[brentspeak]

23. And you know this...how?

[fightthegoodfightnow]

26. He Loved Nancy Reagan

LOL.

[John Kerry VonErich]

27. Despite the fact he has a son Tony Griffin?

nt

[valerief]

31. You're funny. Like being a daddy refutes being gay. I know gay men

who have had sooooooo much sex with sooooooo many married men and fathers.

[fightthegoodfightnow]

33. LOL............

..............and "THAT" is evidence of being heterosexual?

That might come as a surprise to the tens of thousands of gay men who have sons and daughters.

[derby378]

4. My condolences to his family and friends

I used to use this cartoon panel from Evan Dorkin as a humorous poke at your extensive television career. I'll share it with DUers once more in your honor:



God speed, Merv.

[OnyxCollie]

14. The tribute in all it's glory (gory?)

[lpbk2713]

5. *IS Merv Griffin dead at age 82?*

Must be phrased in the form of a question.

[iamjoy]

12. Not Exactly

The "question": Dead at 82
The "answer": Who is Merv Griffin?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

6. So, The Pride of Teetertown Gap has left us.

The man made Welsh Farms Ice Cream successful.

Teetertown was near where I grew up. The gap was, and still is gorgeous. I met him once, when I was a kid, because all the locals knew him. He was a very nice man.

[yasmina27]

9. RIP Mr. Griffin and

sincere condolences to his family. Here's to a man who touched so many lives in so many ways, and was loved by many all across the political spectrum. Yes, I donned the gas mask and ventured over to Freeperdumb, and they are in grief-hysterics over his death

[fightthegoodfightnow]

19. When You Say Family, do you mean the Man in his Life?

He pandered to the political right by selling his soul to the closet.

[Wilber_Stool]

10. I'll crack open a coconut

for you Mr. Griffin. RIP.

[applegrove]

11. RIP Merve

[fightthegoodfightnow]

18. Maybe Now the Closet Case Can Come Out

He made millions while marking down the value of his own life.

[John Kerry VonErich]

28. evidence? links?

nt

[fightthegoodfightnow]

32. Quarter Sexual, Evading, or Just Closeted?

Quarter Sexual, Evading, or Just Closeted?

ANSWER: Closeted.

From the New York Times:

"Mr. Griffin and his wife, the former Julann Wright, were divorced in 1976. They had a son, Anthony, who survives him. Over the years, he squired many Hollywood actresses, including Eva Gabor, and he was close friends with Nancy Reagan, introducing her to Joan Quigley, the San Francisco astrologer.

But he was also dogged by sex scandals and insinuations that he was gay. In 1991, he was sued by Denny Terrio, the host of “Dance Fever,” another show Mr. Griffin created, for sexual harassment. The same year, Brent Plott, a longtime employee who worked as a bodyguard, horse trainer and driver, filed a $200 million palimony lawsuit. Mr. Griffin characterized both lawsuits as extortion; ultimately, both suits were dismissed.

Mr. Griffin consistently evaded questions about his sexuality. In a 2005 interview with The New York Times, he said: “I tell everybody that I’m a quarter-sexual. I will do anything with anybody for a quarter.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/12/arts/television/12cnd-griffin.html?_r=1&oref=sloginhttp://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/12/arts/television/12cnd-griffin.html?_r=1&oref=slogin”

[John Kerry VonErich]

34. Not convinced

How long were he and Julann married?

The lawsuits had no merit, thats why they were dismissed.

Anecdotal humor does not constitute proof he was closeted or gay.

Try again.

[ben_meyers]

35. Are we supposed to hate Merv because

He was successful, Republican or "undeclared"? It all seems rather petty to me.

[John Kerry VonErich]

36. agreed!!!

Just because we disagree with the opposition doesn't necessarily mean that person is a bad person. Merv was a television genius and leaves us a huge legacy. It is frustrating that a selected number of DUers can be total political biggots. Sorry for the rant. I know that wasn't necessary for a tribute.

[fightthegoodfightnow]

37. OH PALEEZE

The man had sex with men.

He was a closet case whose hypocrisy bankrolled his empire.

[John Kerry VonErich]

44. You have yet to convince me he was.

I am not gay bashing, and if he was, which is yet to be proven, then since he chooses to stay in the closet, that's his business.

[fightthegoodfightnow]

49. Until His "Beards" and Supporters Oppose ENDA, Hate Crime Laws, Gay Marriage and AIDS Funding

Until His "Beards" and Supporters Oppose ENDA, Hate Crime Laws, Gay Marriage and AIDS Funding

[fightthegoodfightnow]

39. Hate Him?

Hate? Oh, give me a break.

What's petty is the notion that he was hated for being a successful, Republican and 'undeclared'.

That's rich.

[ben_meyers]

40. OMG!! He had SEX WITH MEN?

Well thank you Minister Phelps. I can't attend the funeral, but spit on his grave for me too then, okay?

[fightthegoodfightnow]

42. Oh Good Grief

Protect the closet all you want, but SILENCE EQUALS DEATH.

Silence has killed more gay men and women in history more than anything else.

He was a prisoner of his own cell because he believed folks like Minister Phelps or did nothing about it.

[David__77]

46. I thought his being gay was common knowledge.

I didn't know it was really controversial. I had heard this many times. I just assumed he was so old school that being open about it was too much.

[Pastiche423]

24. Peaceful journey, Mr. Griffin

[TheWatcher]

38. Safe Passage to you, good man.

He will definitely be missed.

[FredfromSpace]

41. Professor Irwin Corey. Monty Rock III. Ultraviolet.

Jack Douglas and Reiko.

Moms Mabley.

Mrs. Miller.

And Zsa Zsa is with us!!!!

A great show.

The Abbie Hoffman appearance where he had the audience howling for his head was the best TV I ever saw.

Goodbye Merv.

Your show was the greatest.

[Endangered Specie]

45. Answer: "Sad."

How does Endangered Specie feel about this news.

[David Zephyr]

47. Little to no mention that Merv was gay. That's because he kept it to himself.

Whenever a closeted gay person dies that is held in esteem by the general public, it's always silence that I expect regarding their identity as a homosexual which has a little to do with one's general makeup: HOLLYWOOD PRODUCER AND ENTERTAINMENT GENIUS DIED LAST NIGHT.

Whenever a closeted gay person dies that is held in low esteem by the general public, it's always the lead in the story: HOMOSEXUAL CANIBAL WHO ATE AN ENTIRE CITY DIED LAST NIGHT.

[brentspeak]

48. Supposing he was a closeted gay person...

...why should the reports of his death have to mention anything about it? And the same question goes for if he was openly gay -- why would there be a reason to comment on it, if that wasn't why he was publicly notable?

[Raine]

55. I think it should be his choice

and his business only.

[customerserviceguy]

50. Truly an entertainment giant

I wasn't fond of Wheel of Fortune, but at least it entertained millions of people. And Jeopardy was one of the most intelligent game shows out there!

[Vidar]

51. RIP Merv. You were a class act.

[Mad_Dem_X]

52. Rest in Peace, Sir - You will be missed. n/t

[Dervill Crow]

53. I remember being at my first boy-girl party and leaving at 9:30

so I could go home and watch Merv Griffin on Saturday night. Yes, I was a dork at age 13.

With my fourth baby I had an epidural and was watching TV in the birthing room. I remember the Jeopardy theme song playing while I was pushing.

Merv will be missed. RIP.

[mvd]

54. R.I.P.

"Jeopardy" is a great show.