‘The Merv Griffin Show’—with all its showbiz trappings—realized by author Steve Randisi
By Steve Crum
Fans of the long running TV talk/variety program, The Merv Griffin Show, will love the aptly titled The Merv Griffin Show: The Inside Story. I am one of those fans. So is Steve Randisi, who has written a well researched, revealing, and vastly entertaining work about the evolution of the Griffin TV show over its 22 years on the air, 1962-86. Covered in some detail is the life of Griffin himself, on and off stage.
In the preface, Randisi explains the scope of his writing: “This book is not a full-scale biography of Merv Griffin. Rather, it’s the story of the television program bearing his name.” Still, there is a ton of fascinating information about Griffin’s personal and professional life before and after the TV series that bore his name.
We learn of Griffin’s early showbiz days in the 1940s as “America’s Mystery Voice” singer on local radio, and how his excessive body poundage per se “weighed in” to his fledgling career. Covered are his big band singer days with Freddy Martin, and Merv’s hit song, “I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts.”
There is more than passing mention of Griffin’s penchant for creating and producing TV game shows, a period within his resume that began with his hosting of Goodson-Todman’s Play Your Hunch in 1958. Soon he was producing his own game shows, notably Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. Griffin was even composing their theme music.
But the meat of Randisi’s book is The Merv Griffin Show, and its development and journey from network(s) to syndication. His professional and personal relationship with Johnny Carson is explored in some detail—appropriate considering Carson’s Tonight Show was Merv’s most formidable ratings opponent.
I particularly enjoyed reading of Arthur Treacher’s tenure on Merv’s show, from being personally chosen as the announcer/sidekick, to his interactions with Merv and his guests.
Included are backstage vignettes about tardy or absent guests, including a few big names reluctant to go on at the last minute. There are stories about Jack Paar, who influenced Merv’s talk show style, and Jean Arthur, Dr. Martin Luther King, Bobby Kennedy, Joey Bishop, Eva Gabor, Mike Douglas, Dick Gregory, Richard Pryor, George Carlin, and a slew more. They all were guests on Merv’s show, some repeatedly.
The book’s 420 pages end with a helpful index—in case one seeks specific references regarding dozens of names ranging from Orson Welles to Abbie Hoffman to Joan Crawford, and beyond. Fifty-nine rarely seen photos are icing on this enticing cake.
Randisi’s book is a fine tribute to Merv Griffin and his long running talk show. As well, it serves as an anecdotal history of mid to latter 20th Century show business.
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GRADE on an A-F Scale: A
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The book is available in both hardback and softback via Bear Manor Media.
Gaga, Cooper headline Oscar worthy stunner, ’A Star is Born’
By Steve Crum
Opening with Jackson Maine performing at a rock concert after ingesting pills washed down with booze, there is immediately something pleasingly different about A Star is Born. Not only is Bradley Cooper a surprisingly good singer, but his presence is emotionally effective because he is not lip synching a previously recorded song. That’s the standard for movie musicals, but Cooper and Lady Gaga sing live here. It adds both credibility and electricity. Relaxing after his concert, Maine stops at a crowded eatery/nightclub wherein Ally is performing (terrifically) Edith Piaf’s signature song, La Vie en rose. He is understandably awestruck, and seeks her out. So begins the friendship that turns into musical camaraderie, encouragement, and love—on both their parts. 
I will go out on a short limb to predict Academy Award nods to Cooper, Gaga and Elliott. Lady Gaga’s days of wearing a meat dress are history. A born movie star is she. 
Low key ‘The Little Stranger’ is atmospheric, scary little tale
By Steve Crum
Complications arise upon Faraday’s arrival, when he crosses paths with Roddy Ayres (Will Poulter), Caroline’s brother. Roddy bears grotesque facial scars inflicted during his military service in WWII. Even more troubling is his inability to deal with PTSD symptoms, resulting in violent mood swings. 
Let me emphasize that the violence is jarring, but not as graphic as most horror movies over the last few decades. That includes a little girl being bitten in the face by a dog. It is only heard off camera, but that suffices. It is in no way as relentlessly terrifying as an Amityville Horror or a Poltergeist. The Little Stranger is more in the league of 1963’s The Haunting. There is suggested horror with bits of slap in your face violence.
The Little Stranger is low on the creepazoid meter, but it tingled a couple of nerves along my spine. Forgiving its rather ambiguous conclusion, the film merits a viewing. 
Old showbiz is new again via movie biographies of Laurel & Hardy, Buster Keaton, Gilda Radner
As a guy who wallows in the nostalgia of vintage show business, I am having anticipatory palpitations. The condition is purely fan-based, gushy, and driven by a slate of soon-to-be-released motion pictures. In other words, FINALLY…the lives of Buster Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, and Gilda Radner will be headlining the world’s multiplexes. 
LOVE, GILDA is all about the gifted, beloved comedienne, Gilda Radner, who died of cancer at 42 young years in 1989. Directed by Lisa D’Apolito, the documentary features Maya Rudolph, Amy Poehler, Chevy Chase, Lorne Michaels, Laraine Newman, Martin Short, Paul Shaffer and Melissa McCarthy. They will speak to Gilda’s private persona as well as comedic influences on their careers. 
THE GREAT BUSTER: A CELEBRATION, a documentary written and directed by Peter Bogdonovich, opens Oct. 5., the day after Buster Keaton’s birthday. For my money, Buster remains the most brilliant film comedian of the silent era. No doubt the movie will mention his 1895 birth in Piqua, Kansas. Besides clips and behind-the-scenes interviews and remembrances about Keaton’s masterworks The General, Steamboat Bill, and the like, I hope there is at least mention of the yearly celebration of Keaton’s life and works held near his birthplace, in Iola. (I made the annual journey there over the last two decades.) 
STAN & OLLIE, opening Jan. 11, 2019, is a biographical dramedy based on one year (1947) in the personal and professional lives of arguably the greatest movie comedy team of all time, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. (No argument by me. The Boys ARE the greatest.) The focus is on Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy’s tour of postwar Great Britain, accompanied by their wives. Jon S. Baird directs a screenplay written by Jeff Pope (Philomena). Pope has long considered Laurel and Hardy his “heroes.” 
John C. Reilly (Chicago) is Ollie; Steve Coogan (Philomena) is Stan. There are no other box office names filling out the cast. That includes the actresses portraying the duo’s wives, Ida (Mrs. Laurel) and Lucille (Mrs. Hardy). Others depicted include names early movie fans will recognize: Hal Roach, James Finlayson, James Horne, and Joe Schenck. Music is by the prolific composer, Rolfe Kent, probably most famous for his Sideways score. 
‘Mamma Mia’ sequel offers escape to Greek exotica with love, lust, laughs, ABBA music…plus Cher
By Steve Crum
Donna’s 25 year-old daughter, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is the main focus here, and is in the midst of restoring her mother’s villa into the Hotel Bella Donna. She sends out formal grand opening invitations to friends and relatives, including her three “fathers,” once again portrayed by Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgård and Colin Firth. (Since she doesn’t know which one is her real dad, she considers all three as papas. You really need to see the first movie before seeing this one.) 
Of course, she invites her mother’s best friends, Tanya (Christine Baranski) and Rosie (Julie Walters). As for her husband, Sky (Dominic Cooper), there is a problem concerning his business back home in the USA. Conflicts regarding the weather and Sophie’s health also arise. Thank goodness Sophie is relying upon the hotel’s manager, Hernando Cienfuegos (a nearly unrecognizable Andy Garcia), who is stabilizing Sophie’s efforts. 
In telling Donna’s history, three young actors portray Sophie’s future “dads”: Jeremy Irvine, Hugh Skinner and Josh Dylan. And Jessica Keenan Wynn and Alexa Davies are perfectly cast as the young Tanya and Rosie.
