Reagan Friend Merv Griffin Blasts CBS for "Cowardly Act"

Veteran television host and producer Merv Griffin, a long-time friend of Ronald and Nancy Reagan, appeared Tuesday night on MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann and used the opportunity to blast CBS for "the most cowardly thing I've ever heard" over the reported tone and content of CBS's upcoming mini- series, The Reagans. "It's a cowardly act," he charged, asking: "Is that what the 'C' stands for in CBS?"

Griffin, the owner of the Beverly Hilton who created the Wheel of Fortune game show after many years as host of his own daytime Merv Griffin Show, relayed how Nancy Reagan feels "hurt" by the distorted portrayal.

Griffin laid into CBS for denigrating the Reagans when they "can't fight back" since Ronald Reagan is "on his deathbed" and Nancy Reagan is taking care of him all day. An angry Griffin asserted: "Here is a man who is on his deathbed. He's in the last stages of Alzheimer's, and a woman who has been sitting by the bedside there holding his hand for nine years, they can't fight back. From what I've read, I have not seen the film, I have not read the script, but I have certainly seen enough excerpts from it in the promos. I mean it's, I think it's cowardly. I think it's the most cowardly thing I've ever heard. I don't understand my own medium which I've been in since the Dumont network. How can it be so cruel? That's not, from what I've read in the scenes, that's not Nancy and the President at all."

But MSNBC delivered a cowardly act itself. As Griffin spoke, MRC analyst Brad Wilmouth noticed, on-screen text, below some historic video of Ronald and Nancy Reagan, read: "30 Members of Reagan Admin. Spent Time in Prison."

That was the fourth an final information line MSNBC placed on screen toward the start of Griffin's appearance by satellite from California. The previous three: -- "A U.S. Aircraft Carrier is Named After Reagan" -- "Nancy Reagan Refused to Live in CA Governor's Mansion" -- "Reagan Was Named Spokesman for General Electric in 1950s"

And then in what to MSNBC is one of the four most important and/or interesting facts about Reagan, beneath video of Ronald and Nancy descending plane stairs, viewers were treated to: "30 Members of Reagan Admin. Spent Time in Prison"

If MSNBC ever goes 24-7 with "Time & Again" and "Headliners and Legends," maybe Olbermann's producer could get a job writing screenplays for CBS.

The Reagans is scheduled to air on CBS on Sunday, November 16 and Tuesday, November 18.

Olbermann set up the October 28 segment: "It's been more than 14 years since he left the White House, yet in the last six months, more books have been written about his presidency than the more recently concluded administration of Bill Clinton. Our number two story tonight, the dark side of the Reagan revival, it continues to swirl. Next month, CBS Television will air a two-part miniseries about the lives of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. Beyond the predictable made-for-TV sensationalism, the series seems to highlight what even Mr. Reagan's historian critics agree are some of the less verifiable stories about the former President, certainly the less flattering ones.

"In one scene, Reagan, as played by actor James Brolin, describes AIDS as religious retribution, telling his wife that, quote, that ‘They that live in sin shall die in sin.' In another exchange in the movie with his wife, Reagan, at least the character, describes the Iran-Contra affair in apocalyptic terms, saying, 'It's Armageddon. The leader from the West will be revealed as the anti-Christ, and then God will strike him down. That's me. I am the anti-Christ.' Scenes like that have fans of the former President, and even some who would not call themselves fans, up in arms. There is now even a Web site calling for people to boycott the network's advertisers. CBS has answered today. 'As broadcasters,' its statement reads, 'it is our job to put forth programming that informs, entertains and, hopefully, stirs meaningful discourse.'"

Olbermann introduced Griffin: "Joining us now to assess just how meaningful that discourse might be is Merv Griffin, long-time host of his own successful nightly talk show, even more successful television producer, and personal friend to the Reagans."

Olbermann's first question with a cryptic reference to the DrudgeReport.com: "Let me start with your involvement in this. It was reported on an Internet site that Nancy Reagan had asked friends of hers in Hollywood, yourself included, to intervene with CBS in hopes of preventing or editing this miniseries. Is that true?"

Griffin denied the claim as he launched into a lengthy criticism of CBS: "No, not at all, nor have I tried to intervene with CBS. It's a friendship that's been for a long time, and anybody who knows the Reagans is horrified by what they're about to see. Here is a man -- let me see if I can paint the picture -- here is a man who is on his deathbed. He's in the last stages of Alzheimer's, and a woman who has been sitting by the bedside there holding his hand for nine years, they can't fight back. From what I've read, I have not seen the film, I have not read the script, but I have certainly seen enough excerpts from it in the promos. I mean it's, I think it's cowardly. I think it's the most cowardly thing I've ever heard. I don't understand my own medium which I've been in since the Dumont network. How can it be so cruel? That's not, from what I've read in the scenes, that's not Nancy and the President at all.

"I mean, I knew her mother and father well, I mean, father a distinguished doctor, head of Passavant Hospital in Chicago and Northwestern before that, and Edie, her mother, who was just great fun, one of the great ladies. They didn't talk like that, nor would a distinguished doctor talk like what they portray them as in that scene, that Hollywood, 'What are you so involved with Hollywood, Nancy, it's full of Jews and queers?' Why, they would never talk like that. I doubt, there wasn't a prejudiced bone in Ronald Reagan's body, you know. I know, I know that people have gone after him and certain liberal Hollywood stars and say, 'Oh, he did nothing, I'm ashamed of him as a fellow actor, he did nothing about AIDS.' Well, it's on the record in 19-, I think '84, '85, he said it's the worst enemy in America, were AIDS. That just wasn't Ronald Reagan.

"And I spent enough quality time with them alone, away from it all, and I really feel after doing 23 years as a talk show host, you do get kind of a third eye, an insight into people and stuff, and I never, I don't recognize anything about what I read."

Olbermann suggested conservative critics consider it a conspiracy: "We live in a time of assumed conspiracy, especially politically. Do you think, as many of the critics of the CBS series have suggested, that this is some kind of left-wing media revenge, or is it the oldest of entertainment conspiracies, something to make more money with?"

Griffin: "Well, I think, you know, I think Les Moonves, who's head of CBS, that's always been a very distinguished network. I mean, it gave us Walter Cronkite, who was almost the father of our nation, and has always been distinguished. Why would they resort to putting it into sweep month, which is November, where everybody tries to beat the heck out of each other for ratings and for money, obviously, why would they, why would they do that? I mean, it's a cowardly act. Is that what the 'C' stands for in CBS? I don't know. I can't imagine it. Why have we all gotten so mean? Why is everything mean on television? Number one, the reality shows are fading and falling out. So they have to be replaced with something, but do they have to be replaced with trash television?"

Olbermann's third and last query: "Let me ask you one final question about this, Mr. Griffin. Although we discussed it briefly before, can you synopsize or just give me a feeling of how Mrs. Reagan has reacted to you about the advance publicity for this series?"

Griffin: "I talk to her quite often, and she's, she's hurt. And that's so understandable. She doesn't understand them. I mean, Nancy is nothing like how she is portrayed in this series coming up. And I guess I'm the one who started it all on the Scarborough report when I heard about it a couple of months ago and mentioned it on the air with Joe, and he looked shocked and said, 'They're gonna do what?' And I think that has, you know, and then with Larry Elder's radio show, he picked up the baton and he ran with it. Now, everybody's in on, 'How can they do this to a man with a great legacy?' Look what he did. You know, he was not in his, they say in his second term as President that he wasn't focusing on anything. Well, those were the greatest four years of his presidency. Look what he did."

Merv Griffin has children and grandchildren.

MERV GRIFFIN BIOGRAPHY

Over the years, Merv Griffin has been described in a variety of ways: television critics have called him "the total performer," newspaper writers and editors have described him as an "entrepreneurial powerhouse," celebrities, world leaders and Presidents call him "friend and confidant." He is regarded as the man that, for 24 years, brought kings, presidents, and international heads of state into America’s living rooms as host of the Emmy Award winning "The Merv Griffin Show."

He is known for creating the two most popular game shows in television syndication history: "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy!" watched by hundreds of millions of people all over the world. In the business community, he is identified as the Chairman and visionary of The Griffin Group. Any way you describe him, Merv Griffin, the genial host, entertainer, or businessman, continues to be one of this country’s most popular personalities.

Born in the San Francisco, California, suburb of San Mateo, Merv "came up through the ranks" in the classic sense, entering talent contests, writing songs, singing on the local radio station (KFRC) in San Francisco and later touring with "Freddy Martin and His Orchestra."

Merv became increasingly popular with nightclub audiences and his fame soared among the general public when he struck gold in 1950 with "I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts," reaching the number one spot on the Hit Parade and selling three million copies. He continued to record hits, including "Wilhelmina" and "Never Been Kissed," until Doris Day saw his nightclub performance and was so impressed she arranged a screen test for Merv at Warner Bros. Studios. While under contract at Warner Bros., Merv appeared in a number of hit movies including "So This is Love" with Kathryn Grayson, "The Boy from Oklahoma" with Will Rogers, Jr., and Lon Chaney, Jr.

Television then discovered Merv. As a regular performer on "The Arthur Murray Show," "The Jack Paar Show," and others, he was offered the opportunity to host his own television show in 1958 called "Play Your Hunch." The success of this show led to another Merv-hosted program, which he produced in 1963, called "Word for Word." It was during this period that Merv conceived the idea for what was to become one of the most successful gameshows in television history, "Jeopardy!," which first aired in 1964.

However, it was in 1962 that Merv’s career would take its most dramatic turn. He became a substitute host for Jack Paar on "The Tonight Show" and the "Merv-phenomenon" swept the late night audience, scoring some of the highest ratings the show had ever seen. As a result, that year NBC gave him his own hour-long talk show

program and "The Merv Griffin Show" was born. Over the years, Merv would pioneer a talk show format that has become the prototype for every successful talk show aired since. Merv’s comfortable but probing interviewing style often prompted candid, revealing responses from people of all walks of life. Peter Ustinov once commented that he enjoyed appearing on "The Merv Griffin Show" because "I find out what I think about things." (Many of the shows will soon be seen again on PBS stations throughout the country).

In the high profile arena of gameshows, Merv was scoring big as well. "Jeopardy!" became a tremendous success and remains the second highest rated gameshow in television syndication. Other successes included "One in a Million" and "Joe Garagiola’s Memory Game" both airing on ABC; "Let’s Play Post Office" which aired on NBC; and "Reach for the Stars." And, of course, there is television’s most phenomenal hit ever, "Wheel of Fortune," which continues to be the longest running gameshow to hold the number one spot in TV syndication history.

Based on this success, in 1986, Merv sold his production company, Merv Griffin Enterprises, to Coca-Cola’s Columbia Pictures Television unit for $250 million as well as a continuing share of the profits of the shows. At that time, the transaction represented the largest acquisition of an entertainment company owned by a single individual. Subsequently, Sony Pictures Entertainment purchased Columbia and Merv retains the title of Executive Producer of both "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy!" (for which he still creates puzzles and questions.)

Merv continues to develop and produce gameshows and other forms of television programming as well as feature films through Merv Griffin Entertainment. He currently serves as Executive Producer of Men Are From Mars/Women Are From Venus. Looking toward the information superhighway, Merv is now creating new products for multimedia and interactive television based on a variety of subjects, including game and talk show formats. [Combine these activities with the release of a new home video series based on Merv’s interviews with many of the most well known personalities of our time and developing location-based entertainment concepts of his various properties]. It is clear that Merv continues to be on the cutting edge of entertainment opportunities.

From his years of touring and literally "living out of hotels," Merv’s passion for the hospitality business arose. He has often said that being in the hotel business is just like being in the entertainment business: "Bring the people in, entertain them, and give them a reason to come back." Merv’s aggressive hotel acquisition strategy began in 1987 with the purchase of The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. His active involvement in the management and promotion of the property, together with his extensive and imaginative renovation of the hotel has made The Beverly Hilton the venue of choice for virtually all of the Tinseltown’s most high profile events such as The Golden Globe Awards, The Soap Opera Digest Awards, The American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Awards, The Scopus Awards, a variety of George Schlatter and Dick Clark’s Specials, and the Carousel Ball.

Merv Griffin Productions organizes some of the most spectacular special events in the entire world, including A-list movie premieres, awards shows, concerts, and benefit galas. Most recently, the company has had a hand in producing, among others, the Grammys, the Golden Globe post parties, GQ Magazine’s "Leading Men of Hollywood" party, and the City of Beverly Hills Millennium Event.

In the realm of hospitality, Merv not only owns the Beverly Hilton Hotel, but also the Hilton Scottsdale Resort and Villas in Arizona, and St. Clerans Manor, an 18th century estate once owned by director John Huston which is located near Galway, the premier resort destination in Ireland. Merv Griffin’s Resort Hotel and Givenchy Spa in Palm Springs, (rated as one of the top 10 spas in America by "The Robb Report" "Condé Nast Traveler" and "Travel and Leisure" ).

In January 1998, Merv Griffin opened The Coconut Club, one of the country’s hottest swing/dance clubs, at his Beverly Hilton Hotel. This weekend venue, fashioned after Hollywood’s famed Coconut Grove (where Griffin headlined as the boy singer with The Freddy Martin Orchestra) features live Big Bands, Swing Orchestras, and Disco Bands amidst a glamorous nightclub setting.

Merv’s passion for fine food and wine led him to develop a private vineyard in Carmel Valley, California, where he oversees the bottling of wines distributed under his "Mont Merveilleux" label.

Merv was honored with the prestigious 1994 Broadcasting and Cable "Hall of Fame" Award, alongside such figures as Diane Sawyer and Dan Rather. Winner of 15 Emmy Awards, Merv was presented an Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show Emmy for 1993-1994 as Executive Producer of "Jeopardy!" Merv has also been the recipient of the coveted Scopus Award from the American Friends of Hebrew University, "The Duke Award" presented by the John Wayne Cancer Institute, and he has been honored by the American Ireland Fund and the SHARE organization. He is Lifetime Honorary Festival Chairman of La Quinta Arts Festival, presented by La Quinta Arts Foundation, a non-profit organization which promotes the work of local artisans and craftsmen through its annual art show in Palm Springs, California. He recently donated his Wickenburg Inn and Dude Ranch to Childhelp USA. The $10 million, 192 acre property will be used as a residential treatment facility for victims of child abuse. Childhelp’s Merv Griffin Village is expected to become a model for the treatment of severely abused children.

In March, 2001, The Gold Label released Merv Griffin’s new CD, entitled "It’s Like a Dream," (the title song was composed by Merv).

Among his private passions are his beautiful family – son Tony, daughter-in-law Tricia, and grandchildren Farah and Donovan Mervyn, his long-haired sharpei dog Charlie Chan, his ranch and thoroughbred racing horses in La Quinta, his ranch near Carmel, and his 135 foot, 4-story high ocean going yacht, Griff.

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