October 1, 1962 - March 29, 1963

Merv Griffin's guests on his first talk show day time series are Jack E. Leonard and Ann Sothern.  

NOTE: 
All but one of the 125 NBC Daytime THE MERV GRIFFIN SHOW broadcasts are NOT know to exist. The Network wiped them as was the current practice at the time to reuse the 2" quad video tape. 
The one extant broadcast...Danny Kaye appearing November 9, 1962.  
However, Phil Gries founder of ARCHIVAL TELEVISION AUIDO, INC. is personally responsible for audio taping 35 of these shows, direct line on to 1/4" reel to reel audio tape, during the original airing of these shows...historically remaining the only broadcast record (approximately a third) of Merv Griffin's first television talk show series.                                  

Elwood P. Goodman (Jonathan Winters), poses as Merv Griffin's uncle and opens the show. Winters, Griffin, and Carol Channing take on numerous comedy improvisations. 
Note: Originally scheduled guest Woody Allen could not make the show at the last minute and Jonathan Winters filled in. One of the most hilarious appearances on the Merv Griffin NBC show. It would be Winter's only appearance.             

Guests are Henry Morgan, Jimmy Piersall, Adam Keefe and Woody Allen.             

October 1, 1962 - March 29, 1963

Excerpts from two programs. Jan. 31, 1963 comic & impressionist, Adam Keefe. Feb. 1, 1963 Merv Griffin's guests are Edward Everett Horton, Buddy Hackett and Bobby Breen. Mrs. Miller tells a joke to Merv who also plays the piano. 

NOTE: All but one of the 120 NBC Daytime THE MERV GRIFFIN SHOW broadcasts are NOT know to exist. The one extant...Danny Kaye appearing November 9, 1962.  However, Phil Gries founder of ARCHIVAL TELEVISION AUIDO, INC. is personally responsible for audio taping 35 of these shows direct line on to 1/4" audio tape, historically remaining the only broadcast record.                                                                   

Merv Griffin's guests are Montgomery Clift and Don Adams. 

Note: In Merv Griffin's 1980 Autobiography "MERV" he states:
"Of all the remarkable guests on my NBC talk show, one appearance remains in my mind as the most memorable, Montgomery Clift." He did very few televisions interviews in his life, and arrived at the studio, intoxicated, while Griffin was already on the air. However, when Merv introduced him, Clift walked on stage like he had pushed a button inside his brain that brought self-control. Montgomery Clift gave Merv Griffin, that afternoon, a lucid, fascinating interview including anecdotes about his relationship with Marilyn Monroe. By the end of the interview they both shook hands. Monty waved to the audience and strode offstage...collapsing against a wall the moment he was off camera. 


             

October 1, 1962 - March 29, 1963

Merv Griffin's guests are Jack Benny, Peter Lorre, Dr. Joyce Brothers and Bobby Breen. 

A rare interview appearance for Bobby Breen.

NOTE:  All but one of the 125 NBC Daytime THE MERV GRIFFIN SHOW broadcasts are NOT know to exist. However, Phil Gries founder of ARCHIVAL TELEVISION AUIDO, INC. is personally responsible for audio taping 35 of these shows, direct line, on to 1/4" audio tape when these broadcasts originally aired. They remain the only broadcast record.                                      

Merv Griffin's guests are Joan Crawford, Allen Drury, appearing on March 7, 1963 and  Adela Rogers St. John, Bert Lahr, Walter Slezak and William Saroyan, appearing on March 8, 1963. 
Two shows combined.              

Merv Griffin's guests are Shirley Booth, Peter Cook, Louis Lomax,
and Marilyn Lovell.             

Merv Griffin's guests are the Smothers Brothers.             

October 1, 1962-March 29, 1963 (NBC); 1965-1969 (Syndicated); August 18, 1969-February 11, 1972 (CBS); 1972-1986 (Syndicated).

Host: Merv Griffin. 

Merv's ninth show since his return to syndication.                                    

October 1st, 1962-March 29th, 1963-NBC Daytime
1965-1969 Syndicated
August 18th, 1969- February 11th, 1972- CBS
1972-1986- Syndicated.

From August 18th, 1969- February 11th, 1972 Merv Griffin appeared in a late-night talk show format on CBS-TV. It's believed that all of his CBS talk shows were bulk-erased by the network. In 1972, Griffin returned to the syndication market where he remained until 1986.

Topic: The step-up in the Vietnam war.
                                     

October 1st, 1962-March 29th, 1963-NBC Daytime
1965-1969 Syndicated
August 18th, 1969- February 11th, 1972- CBS
1972-1986- Syndicated.

From August 18th, 1969- February 11th, 1972 Merv Griffin appeared in a late-night talk show format on CBS-TV. It's believed that all of his CBS talk shows were bulk-erased by the network. In 1972, Griffin returned to the syndication market where he remained until 1986.

Merv's guest is comedian Jackie Mason.
                                                  

October 1st, 1962-March 29th, 1963-NBC Daytime
1965-1969 Syndicated
August 18th, 1969- February 11th, 1972- CBS
1972-1986- Syndicated.

From August 18th, 1969- February 11th, 1972 Merv Griffin appeared in a late-night talk show format on CBS-TV. It's believed that all of his CBS talk shows were bulk-erased by the network. In 1972, Griffin returned to the syndication market where he remained until 1986.

Merv interviews Captain Mitsuo Fuchida commander of Japanese planes that attacked Pearl Harbor 
                                                               

October 1, 1962-March 29, 1963 (NBC); 1965-1969 (Syndicated); August 18, 1969-February 11, 1972 (CBS); 1972-1986 (Syndicated).

The 1967 Photoplay Awards are featured representing TV broadcasting excellence as voted by the public (1966/1967).
 Guests include David Janssen, Marty Allen, Ginger Rogers, Phyllis Diller and Barbara Stanwyck. 

Winners: David Janssen Favorite Male Star for "The Fugitive."
Ginger Rogers: Editor's award for "Hello Dolly" on Broadway.
Barbara Stanwyck: Most popular female star starring in "The Big Valley."
Phyllis Diller: Best Comedy Star. 

Host: Merv Griffin. 

Arthur Treacher opens the The Merv Griffin Show. Merv talks to audience promising tonight's show to be special. Editor of Photo
Play Awards, Fred Klein, discusses the history of the magazine which votes on best TV programming by the public. 
Awards are announced and introduced by Fred Klein.
Favorite Male Star David Janssen shares thoughts with Merv and confirms that the final episode of The Fugitive is already conceived. Ginger Rogers receives the 4th Special Editors Award. She thanks her fans. Phyllis Diller receives Best Comedy Star award and does a stand-up comedy routine. 
Fred Klein introduces Miss Barbara Stanwick who receives a Most Popular Female Star Award. She thanks her public and mentions how much such an award means to her. Stanwick' sit-down interview with Merv Griffin is brief but salient and one that is rare. This is only one of two formal sit-down interviews that Barbara Stanwick has been known to accept. The other was with Joey Bishop.
Merv Griffin states to Barbara Stanwick what a great thrill it is to have her grace  his stage. She states that this is the first time in many years that she has been on stage. She does remember and talks about starring in Burlesque Queen, and her first job as a chorus dancer, filling in one day with a dramatic part replacing another actor and remaining in the part. She states that when the show moved to Broadway, New York, director Willard Mack, who died at the age of 61 in 1934, suggested she change her name to Barbara Stanwick. She expands on the circumstances. 
                                                                                           

October 1st, 1962-March 29th, 1963-NBC Daytime
1965-1969 Syndicated
August 18th, 1969- February 11th, 1972- CBS
1972-1986- Syndicated.

From August 18th, 1969- February 11th, 1972 Merv Griffin appeared in a late-night talk show format on CBS-TV. It's believed that all of his CBS talk shows were bulk-erased by the network. In 1972, Griffin returned to the syndication market where he remained until 1986.

Merv's guests are comedienne Totie Fields, actor Elliott Gould, and producer David Merrick. 
                                                            

October 1, 1962-March 29, 1963 (NBC); 1965-1969 (Syndicated); August 18, 1969-February 11, 1972 (CBS); 1972-1986 (Syndicated).

Guest: 35-year-old comedian Dick Gregory who lost 49 ibs as a result of a twenty-day food feast in protest of the Vietnam war.                                                                                                           

October 1, 1962-March 29, 1963 (NBC); 1965-1969 (Syndicated); August 18, 1969-February 11, 1972 (CBS); 1972-1986 (Syndicated).

A musical celebration of St. Patrick's Day.                          

Merv Griffin's guests are entertainer Orson Bean and Ted Sorensen former Presidential advisor of the late John F. Kennedy and a current major campaign adviser of Senator Robert F. Kennedy currently running for office of President of The United States. 
Sorensen touches on many topics, including,

- Robert Kennedy's strength running for the Presidency is with the people. However, unfortunately, it's the politicians who dominate a convention. 

-  Comparisons of the 1960 Presidential campaign and the present 1968 campaign. 

- Religious issues still a factor?

- RFK college campus campaigning to get large crowds and insure the importance of young people to join the party to work on the campaign as volunteers. 

- The competition between Senator Robert F. Kennedy and Senator Eugene Mccarthy. 

- Senator Kennedy's ruthless reputation as a politician. 

- Myths about the Kennedy family.

- Reasons why RFK did not run in the New Hampshire primary. 

Orson Beans joins in the conversation by stating that the country has changed, and that dangerous anarchy has been recently demonstrated by riots at Columbia University which if continues unchecked can lead to a Fascist America. Bean objects to Senator Kennedy's stand on his permissiveness views allowing such protests to continue. 

There is a question and answer period where questions by audience members are asked of Ted Sorensen who replies to the following issues, which include, 

The current stand by Senator Kennedy on the USS Pueblo...Viet Nam de-escalation (15,000 American troops in Vietnam when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated and now there are 550,000 troops there)...Sorensin's opinion on how the Vietnam war has changed...would President Lyndon B. Johnson endorse Kennedy if he were the candidate running for President?...the advantages of the Kennedy name, and its mystique...why RFK is running in 1968 when originally he had indicated that he would run for the president in 1972...would Senator Kennedy accept a role as Vice President...

Commercials include, 
First National City Bank, Les Crane Show, Skippy Peanut Butter, Prell Shampoo, Bold Detergent, TV Guide, and L+M Cigarettes. 

  NOTE: This broadcast was aired just 19 days before Senator Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated.                                                                

October 1, 1962-March 29, 1963 (NBC); 1965-1969 (Syndicated); August 18, 1969-February 11, 1972 (CBS); 1972-1986 (Syndicated).

Guests: Muhammad Ali, Alan King, Skitch Henderson, Merv Griffin host.  

 Ali, who has not had a fight in two years, joined in progress.
Mentions that the best fighter in the world today is Joe Frazier.
Ali talks about the 8 million dollars he has lost due to his convictions. States that Black people want to be free. What he has done doesn't compare. "Money means nothing when you are prepared to die." 
Racial problems not what they should be at the present time. Ali discusses what real equality should be. 22 million black people in the USA and now there are only slight changes. Ali discusses the teachings of Elijah Muhammad and his virtues. 
Ali remembers what his grandfather and father went through. 
and does not believe in integrated marriage. 



                                                                              

October 1, 1962-March 29, 1963 (NBC); 1965-1969 (Syndicated); August 18, 1969-February 11, 1972 (CBS); 1972-1986 (Syndicated).

Host: Merv Griffin. Guests: Milt Kamen and Beatrice Lillie. 

                                                

October 1st, 1962-March 29th, 1963-NBC Daytime
1965-1969 Syndicated
August 18th, 1969- February 11th, 1972- CBS
1972-1986- Syndicated.

From August 18th, 1969- February 11th, 1972 Merv Griffin appeared in a late-night talk show format on CBS-TV. It's believed that all of his CBS talk shows were bulk-erased by the network. In 1972, Griffin returned to the syndication market where he remained until 1986.

Host: Merv Griffin.
                                                  

October 1, 1962-March 29, 1963 (NBC); 1965-1969 (Syndicated); August 18, 1969-February 11, 1972 (CBS); 1972-1986 (Syndicated).

Guests: John Cassavetes and Jack Carter.                                                                                                                                                  

October 1, 1962-March 29, 1963 (NBC); 1965-1969 (Syndicated); August 18, 1969-February 11, 1972 (CBS); 1972-1986 (Syndicated).

Guests: Jackie Mason.                                                                                                                                             

October 1st, 1962-March 29th, 1963-NBC Daytime
1965-1969 Syndicated
August 18th, 1969- February 11th, 1972- CBS
1972-1986- Syndicated.

From August 18th, 1969- February 11th, 1972 Merv Griffin appeared in a late-night talk show format on CBS-TV. It's believed that all of his CBS talk shows were bulk-erased by the network. In 1972, Griffin returned to the syndication market where he remained until 1986.

Guests: Peggy Cass, Herschel Bernardi, Sheilah Graham, and Dustin Hoffman. 
                                                               

October 1st, 1962-March 29th, 1963-NBC Daytime
1965-1969 Syndicated
August 18th, 1969- February 11th, 1972- CBS
1972-1986- Syndicated.

From August 18th, 1969- February 11th, 1972 Merv Griffin appeared in a late-night talk show format on CBS-TV. It's believed that all of his CBS talk shows were bulk-erased by the network. In 1972, Griffin returned to the syndication market where he remained until 1986.

Guest Host: Bob Crane. Guests: Henny Youngman, Paul Anka, Professor Irwin Corey.