Veteran talk show host Mike Douglas has died in West Palm Beach, Florida. No cause of death was given yet, but he was admitted to the hospital after becoming ill on a golf course. Oddly, today is also his 81st birthday.
I remember watching Douglas in the 70s. Along with Merv Griffin, he always had an entertaining daytime talk/variety show. I felt bad a few years ago when Rosie O'Donnell had him on the show, and the day before she announced to the audience that "Mike Douglas" was going to be on the show, and the crowd went absolutely bonkers with delight. Even Rosie seemed a little shocked by the reaction of the audience. I think they were thinking of actor Michael Douglas. I cringed a little bit that day.
I couldn't find a DVD release for Douglas' show. Is there one yet? I know Griffin and Dick Cavett have releases.












Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-11-2006 @ 2:48PM
Nick said...
I thought there was a DVD box set for the series of shows he did with John Lennon & Yoko Ono. There is however a VHS set used on amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/6304929927/sr=8-2/qid=1155322062/ref=sr_1_2/002-1495894-6510450?ie=UTF8
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8-11-2006 @ 3:11PM
niccomm said...
I always preferred Mike Douglas over the far more annoying Merv Griffin. It seems there are a number of VHS versions of the show (although it looks like they are out of print), but here's a Douglas DVD:
MIKE DOUGLAS SHOW: ROCK N ROLL COMPILATION VOLUME 1
http://www.thevideobeat.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=673
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8-11-2006 @ 4:03PM
Harry said...
I remember seeing such musical acts as Rick Wakeman and Flock of Seagulls as guests. What was great was Mike would sometimes go out and play with the guests, for example he donned a cape and played a synth with Wakeman.
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8-11-2006 @ 5:22PM
MrsEldubya said...
I always watched Mike Douglas in the afternoon with my mom growing up. I loved the afternoon talk/variety shows. Mike Douglas will be missed.
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8-11-2006 @ 6:09PM
jobe said...
As a child I too remember watching his variety/talk show in the afternoons. Mike had a very down-to-earth, "neighbor next door" quality that appealed to a wide range of viewers across the country. I did read
somewhere earlier this year that he has been pouring over thousands of hours of his shows in preparation for home video release. Perhaps those plans won't be side-lined and we'll be able to share those warm memories he gave us in the 60s and 70s. He will be missed among TV's great personalities.
and we can once again enjoy Mike Douglas
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