RIP Mike Douglas

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Seventies talk shows wouldn't have been the same without you.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 11 August 2006 19:38 (nineteen years ago)

"People still believe 'The Mike Douglas Show' was a talk show, and I never correct them, but I don't think so," Douglas said in his 1999 memoir, "I'll Be Right Back: Memories of TV's Greatest Talk Show."
"It was really a music show, with a whole lot of talk and laughter in between numbers.
...
In his memoir, Douglas fondly recalled when Tiger Woods, who as a preschooler was already drawing attention, appeared on the same 1978 show as Bob Hope, an avid golfer. "I don't know what kind of drugs they've got this kid on," Hope quipped, "but I want some."
Douglas was genial most of the time, but confided in his memoir that his composure was sorely tested one week in 1972 when former Beatle John Lennon and wife, Yoko Ono, were his unlikely guest hosts. One of the guest celebrities they selected was well-known anti-war activist Jerry Rubin.
"He just got on my nerves. It sounded like this guy hated the president, the Congress, everyone in business, the military, all police and just about everything America stands for," Douglas said.

He recalled becoming confrontational with Rubin. But Lennon "picked up the mantle of Kind and Gentle Host, and he did it quite well, reinterpreting Jerry's comments to take some of the sting out and adding a little humor to keep things cool," Douglas said.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 11 August 2006 19:39 (nineteen years ago)

omg, my grandma watched it without fail. I remember Brando being on and she had no idea who he was.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 11 August 2006 19:47 (nineteen years ago)

Ned - ILE's Grim Reaper

― Mr Jones (Mr Jones), Friday, 11 August 2006 19:58 (nineteen years ago)

"You're next."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 11 August 2006 20:02 (nineteen years ago)

Not even death can stop me

― Mr Jones (Mr Jones), Friday, 11 August 2006 21:09 (nineteen years ago)

I don't want to defame a dead man -- Mike Douglas led a full and fruitful life -- but his song "The Men In My Little Girl's Life" really used to creep me out as a little kid.

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Friday, 11 August 2006 23:31 (nineteen years ago)

"it makes us want you to die"

i'm extremely worried now.

― Louis Jagger (Haberdager), Friday, 11 August 2006 23:36 (nineteen years ago)

I was reading the obit and kept thinking Merv Griffin had died. The article goes on to explain that the two were often mistaken for each other. Yeah, I guess.

― jim wentworth (wench), Saturday, 12 August 2006 00:04 (nineteen years ago)

I know I watched his show a lot in the years before I went to kindergarten, but I remember very little of it other than having a toddler-crush on the man.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 12 August 2006 00:16 (nineteen years ago)

LOOK AT THIS LIST OF HIS MUSIC GUESTS. LOOK AT IT ALREADY.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 12 August 2006 00:19 (nineteen years ago)

Not too shabby. Cornelius Brothers AND The Cowsills!

― Ruud Haarvest (Ken L), Saturday, 12 August 2006 00:26 (nineteen years ago)

He came out on stage in a bathing suit and barefoot, swinging a microphone. HORRORS.

Hey - didn't he host "That's Incredible"?? With Cathy Lee Crosby! Until "Unsolved Mysteries" no show terrified me so much.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Saturday, 12 August 2006 01:36 (nineteen years ago)

are you getting fran tarkinton, jon davidson and robert stack all confused with mike douglas?

― chaki (chaki), Saturday, 12 August 2006 01:41 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, I did! It's John Davidson on "That's Incredible." Disregard my thought. Carry on.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Saturday, 12 August 2006 01:56 (nineteen years ago)

Aside from being John Davidson what did he ever do?

― jim wentworth (wench), Saturday, 12 August 2006 02:29 (nineteen years ago)

Isn't being John Davidson enough?

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 12 August 2006 03:30 (nineteen years ago)

He was the male equivalent of Bonnie Franklin.

― Ruud Haarvest (Ken L), Saturday, 12 August 2006 04:35 (nineteen years ago)

woah mike douglas is dead! that's like...i dunno, ted koppel passing away.

― trees (treesessplode), Saturday, 12 August 2006 04:46 (nineteen years ago)

Mike Douglas was not nearly as flagrantly stupid or fawning as Merv Griffin, and hence much less entertaining.

I also remember an opening gag to his show where he was outside the studio waiting for a guest's arrival... and jack Benny got off a Philadelphia city bus. (Kids, ask yr parents why that's funny.)

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 13 August 2006 03:55 (nineteen years ago)

cuz jack benny IS funny.

― Igor Adkins (Grodd), Sunday, 13 August 2006 04:38 (nineteen years ago)

There's a great show from '78 or so with Tom Waits and Marvin Hamlisch both on the set. MD engages Waits on Johnny Mercer, while Hamlisch complains about Waits' smoking.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Wednesday, 16 August 2006 01:39 (nineteen years ago)

John Davidson had a daytime talk show at some point in the early 80's. I lived through that.

― Maltodextrin (Maltodextrin), Wednesday, 16 August 2006 02:30 (nineteen years ago)

I bought Mike Douglas' book today at the local used bookstore. The proprieter asked "I wonder whatever happened to him?" Wellllll.......

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Wednesday, 16 August 2006 19:05 (nineteen years ago)

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