RIP Merv Griffin

Merv Griffin. When I was a kid he competed with Johnny Carson (and, at various times, Joey Bishop and Dick Cavett) to be the king of late night. Arthur Treacher was his Ed McMahon. He'd pronounce with flawless diction, "And now here he is.. Maaaauuuhhhhvin... the old boy" when Griffin came out on stage. Though he never remotely became of late night, his show felt more intimate, I thought, more comfortable.

And of course he invented two of the most successful game shows of all time: Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. And hung out with the Reagans.

Now he, like Carson and Mike Douglas, is gone. Merv Griffin died today of cancer at the age of 82.