Sunday, August 12, 2007

Merv Griffin goes to the big bonus round in the sky

From the news wire, just minutes ago:

A spokesman for Merv Griffin says the entertainer turned businessman has died.
Griffin created the game shows "Jeopardy" and "Wheel of Fortune" and parlayed them into a multi-million-dollar entertainment empire.
A statement from Griffin's family says he died of prostate cancer.
He was 82.


Put the clicker down and follow the light, Merv. Final Jeopardy is over.

3 comments:

JB said...

Vanna White (who I've had the pleasure of meeting and working with, a number of years ago on a wheel-spinnin' lottery show back in Halifax) had great things to say about Merv Griffin. She loved him, and she also always remembered that, if it weren't for him, she would have never had the chance she did in showbusiness. Every time I saw him interviewed, he seemed like a man who absolutely loved life. Rest In Peace, Mr. Griffin.

Sean Newbury said...

I'm young, but so young that I do not remember watching the Merv Griffin Show... and giggle as I remember all the Ouuuuuuuuuuuu's
And personally
I am a HUGE fan of Jeopardy and have to say that IMHO, more than anything, that will be his greatest masterpiece.

To the Tournament of Champions....

Anonymous said...

Don't take this as morbid, because it has become a tender memory:

Jeopardy was my Mom's favourite TV show. The nightly routine was for she and my Dad to have 5:30 supper, watch their youngest son (me) anchor the six o'clock news, do the dishes and then watch Jeopardy. The routine stayed basically the same, after their son left the limelight for a national writing gig.

About a year and a half later, as Mom and Dad were watching Jeopardy and sharing a joke, Mom suddenly gasped and slumped over dead.

That night, my Dad told me that an enduring comfort to him -- after being happily married to Mom for 50 years -- would be the memory of them laughing, sharing a joke and watching their favourite show together when Mom died.

So thanks, Merv. I hope you have now met my Mom. You'd like her a lot.