The smoothest of them all.
But his biggest break financially came from inventing and producing "Jeopardy" in the 1960s and "Wheel of Fortune" in the 1970s. After they had become the hottest game shows in television, Griffin sold the rights to Coca-Cola for $250 million in 1986, retaining a share of the profits. He started spreading the sale money around in treasury bonds, stocks and other investments.He made Forbes' list of richest Americans several times and started putting money in treasury bonds, stocks and other investments. But he went into real estate and other ventures because "I was never so bored in my life.""I said, `I'm not going to sit around and clip coupons for the rest of my life,' " he recalled in 1989. "That's when Barron Hilton said, `Merv, do you want to buy the Beverly Hilton?' I couldn't believe it."
He made Forbes' list of richest Americans several times and started putting money in treasury bonds, stocks and other investments. But he went into real estate and other ventures because "I was never so bored in my life."
"I said, `I'm not going to sit around and clip coupons for the rest of my life,' " he recalled in 1989. "That's when Barron Hilton said, `Merv, do you want to buy the Beverly Hilton?' I couldn't believe it."
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 13 August 2007 05:09 (nineteen years ago)
RIP.
― Surmounter, Monday, 13 August 2007 05:10 (nineteen years ago)
RIP you old entrepreneurial Nancy Reagan-lovin' closet case
― Dr Morbius, Monday, 13 August 2007 13:22 (nineteen years ago)
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK -- not
― Dr Morbius, Monday, 13 August 2007 13:31 (nineteen years ago)
omg
― Surmounter, Monday, 13 August 2007 14:16 (nineteen years ago)
I can't think of his work without thinking of his competitors:
"A MARK GOODSON/BILL TODSON PRODUCTION!"
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 13 August 2007 14:19 (nineteen years ago)
Merv, thank you for inspiring one of the greatest one-page comics EVER
― Elvis Telecom, Monday, 13 August 2007 17:13 (nineteen years ago)
srch Rick Moranis in SCTV's "The Merv Griffith Show":
"Floyd, everybody loooooooves the haircuts you give..."
― Dr Morbius, Monday, 13 August 2007 17:16 (nineteen years ago)
a sad day for Botany 500
― gershy, Monday, 13 August 2007 17:23 (nineteen years ago)
show us your lining!
― Dr Morbius, Monday, 13 August 2007 17:25 (nineteen years ago)
Hahah, however did I forget the comic Elvis T. linked. Work of genius.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 13 August 2007 17:34 (nineteen years ago)
hahah I came here specifically to post that - foiled again
― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 13 August 2007 18:29 (nineteen years ago)
let's not forget his cameo in The Man With Two Brains
― Dr Morbius, Monday, 13 August 2007 19:10 (nineteen years ago)
and one of the greatest Minutemen songs
― Pete Scholtes, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 10:02 (nineteen years ago)
A friend connected to The Biz explained the Merv "chocolate bar" rumor to me. Whoa.
― Dr Morbius, Tuesday, 28 August 2007 19:41 (nineteen years ago)
please elaborate!
― latebloomer, Tuesday, 28 August 2007 20:09 (nineteen years ago)
-- Dr Morbius, Monday, August 13, 2007 7:10 PM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Link
weirdest movie ever
― s1ocki, Tuesday, 28 August 2007 20:14 (nineteen years ago)
Merv would 'audition' teenboy actors for his show (he seldom had unknowns on, so...) by placing a chocolate bar in them and then chowing down.
― Dr Morbius, Tuesday, 28 August 2007 20:21 (nineteen years ago)
whoa
― latebloomer, Tuesday, 28 August 2007 20:24 (nineteen years ago)
perv griffin!
― s1ocki, Tuesday, 28 August 2007 20:26 (nineteen years ago)
http://www.nationalenquirer.com/merv_griffin_tombstone_joke/celebrity/64462
― Dr Morbius, Thursday, 10 January 2008 16:15 (eighteen years ago)
wokka wokka
― n/a, Thursday, 10 January 2008 16:17 (eighteen years ago)
merv had a thing for my dad. years and years ago when my dad worked for the networks, merv tried really hard to get my dad to be his personal assistant. he would take him to lunch and send him lovely letters. dad didn't go for it. he was always a merv fan though.
― scott seward, Thursday, 10 January 2008 16:22 (eighteen years ago)
I hope the lovely letters didn't mention chocolate bars.
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 10 January 2008 16:22 (eighteen years ago)
did he show Merv his lining?
― Dr Morbius, Thursday, 10 January 2008 16:22 (eighteen years ago)