Mike Douglas Dies

[filkertom]

Sadness. Singer, performer, and longtime talk show host Mike Douglas has passed away at the age of 81. One of the last of his breed, a genial talk show host, he had a run of amazing guests comparable only to Johnny Carson's. And, while he was not as talented as Carson, I liked him a lot. To this day, I remember when he did a parody starring Fatman (and Bobbin', the Boy Blubber).

Dude could also sing a mean version of "Molly Malone".

Any of you remember The Mike Douglas Show, and do you have any favorite memories?

Comments

[valkyrwench.livejournal.com]

I remember The Mike Douglas Show, but I don't have any specific memories, other than loving the set. I can still see that set - I think it's burned into my retinas :)

[jss]

I remember The Mike Douglas Show, but I don't have any specific memories, full stop.

[hughcasey.livejournal.com]

I met Mr. Douglas when I was a kid... I grew up in Philly, where he broadcast his show from until 1978. My dad took me to the set at KYW one time. He was a very cool dude, and damned nice to a young kid.

My favorite memory was one time when they did a sort of "MAD LIBS" skit on the show, where the audience would fill in words, and then the guests acted out a scene with the words filled in. Douglas walked onto the stage in the middle of the scene (a standard soap-opera bit), and announced, "Hello, there! You can call me Cyclops!" I still laugh every time I think of that skit.

He'll be missed.

[tchall.livejournal.com]

I've two memories that come to mind right away. There was the week when John Lennon and Yoko Ono were the co-hosts. That was quite a week, with many of the guests being people who John and Yoko were interested in. That week of shows was out on video for awhile, and was also shown on VH1 some years back.

The other memory is when Ringo star was Mike's co-host. My memories are a lot more hazy about that week, though.

[scs-11.livejournal.com]

My favorite memory of Douglas is that week as well. Late in the week, Douglas was talking to Lennon about his musical roots and inspirations. This caused Lennon to go on at length about what a huge influence Chuck Berry was and how underrated he'd become by the '70s.

At which point Douglas gestures offstage, and Chuck Berry walks in.

It was both an emotional and musical high point on the show.

[sdorn.livejournal.com]

Yes, I remember Mike Douglas. I even remember the old SNL joke based on it.

[old-fortissimo.livejournal.com]

Prior to KYW moving to Philadelphia it was the NBC station for Cleveland, Ohio, whence Mike's show originated. Not so good as Johnny Carson, but beat Merv Griffin like a drum. No specific memories. I recently saw a clip from Mike Douglas with Bob Hope wise cracking about this child prodigy golfer on the show...one Tiger Woods....

Rest well, Mike.

[rook543.livejournal.com]

When I was a kid, I loved the 3 Stooges. And Mike had Moe Howard on several times, shortly before he died. Even at near 80 he was hillarious, and Mike, like Johnny Carson, was a host who if funney things were happening would let it go even if it was getting out of his control. He also had Soupy Sales on a lot and once had Moe & Soupy together which was hillarious.

Also he had a funny cameo in the movie The Incredible Shrinking Woman.

[aota.livejournal.com]

I remember watching his show with my Grandmother during the summer, when she was watching us while school was out. I liked how he treated his guests making them feel very welcome while on his show.

[purpleranger.livejournal.com]

The one memory I have of The Mike Douglas Show was when Moe Howard and Julie Newmar were the guests. What I really remember was that the three of them did the "Niagara Falls!" bit from one of the Three Stooges shorts.

[holmes365.livejournal.com]

I loved Mike Douglas! If there was an especially interesting guest, I would ditch school to watch ;) I Loved! David Brenner on the show, doing his man on the street stchick.

[selenesue.livejournal.com]

Funny concatenation... I was just working up my celebrity birthday list, came across his name for August 11 and had to look up whether or not he was still alive because he'd rather dropped off the radar. Sorry the answer is not the same today. :-(

[lothie.livejournal.com]

I remember him. *sigh*

[trektone.livejournal.com]

Y'know, I remember watching both Mike Douglas and Merv Griffin. Their shows seemed interchangeable to me, but I did like many of the musical guest performances.

[kshandra]

To this day, I remember when he did a parody starring Fatman (and Robin the Boy Blubber).

I think I remember that! Burt Ward was the guest...Mike came out in the Batsuit, asking "Where's the key to the bat-room?"

If you've never read Steve Allen's The Talk-Show Murders, Mike is one of the hosts involved in the Grand Finale. (It's kind of sad to think about how many of the people mentioned in the book are gone, now - starting with Allen himself....)

[cogitationitis.livejournal.com]

I always watched Mike Douglas when I was sick as a kid (or we had a day off). He was funny and had great guests. I particularly remember Tiny Tim, Cher, and the furniture, which was very 60's/70's.