Mike Douglas TV Talk Show Host View Full Interview The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents 02:26 Tab About About this interview In his three-hour Archive interview, Mike Douglas (1925-2006) talks about his start in television as the host of the local Chicago series Hi Ladies and discusses his career as a singer and a voiceover artist (he provided the singing voice for Prince Charming in the Disney classic, Cinderella.) He recounts his numerous appearances on television, including work as a regular of Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge and speaks in great detail about his long-running stint as the host of The Mike Douglas Show. He describes moving the show from Ohio to Pennsylvania and finally to California and how each locale affected the program. Douglas details his "casting" by producer Woody Fraser, the rigorous production schedule, and notable guests including Aretha Franklin, Judy Garland, John Lennon and a 2-year-old golf prodigy named Tiger Woods. Karen Herman conducted the interview in Beverly Hills, CA on March 31, 2005. "The main thing I was there for was to talk to the guests, make it interesting, and draw whatever you could out of them. Never top them, never belittle them, never say, 'you've been into something, you're not right today.' No put downs. It worked for me and it'll work for you." Highlights Mike Douglas on how he got his name 02:43 On doing his own research for his show 00:31 On his personal drive to do The Mike Douglas Show 00:48 On his lengthy television career 00:21 On advice to aspiring hosts 03:01 Full Interview Chapter 1 On his early years growing up in Chicago; Kay Kyser giving him his stage name; his childhood; and some of his early professional work 16:54 On his first professional singing jobs on Chicago radio; being hired to host what became The Mike Douglas Show out of Cleveland; working with Woody Fraser and Roger Ailes 12:20 Chapter 2 On the concept of The Mike Douglas Show 13:48 On co-hosts and guest stars on The Mike Douglas Show 15:04 Chapter 3 On The Mike Douglas Show 28:20 On The Mike Douglas Show moving to Philadelphia; on memorable interviews 05:26 On the audience of and typical preparation for The Mike Douglas Show 06:00 On a typical day on The Mike Douglas Show 03:43 Chapter 4 On a typical day on The Mike Douglas Show (continued) and memorable guests 13:44 On the musical segments and house band of The Mike Douglas Show 04:43 On moving The Mike Douglas Show to California and memorable guests 10:16 Chapter 5 On The Mike Douglas Show guests including: Jack Benny, Bill Cosby, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Chuck Berry, The Smothers Brothers, Phil Donahue, David Letterman, Walter Cronkite, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and seven U.S. Presidents 26:25 On the one guest he couldn't get (Frank Sinatra) 01:43 Chapter 6 On The Mike Douglas Show sets and catchphrase; on his favorite moments 04:31 On going off the air in 1982; on Tiger Woods' childhood appearance on The Mike Douglas Show 08:55 On his earlier television work including KTLA 09:35 On voicing "Prince Charming" in the Disney feature film Cinderella; on Walt Disney's legacy 03:29 On his appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1968 02:43 Chapter 7 On appearing on The Carol Burnett Show (airdate: January 1, 1968) NOTE: He did not appear on the premiere telecast in 1967; on Carol Burnett; on Tim Conway 06:53 On his current projects 01:28 On getting recognized; on advice to aspiring hosts 08:33 On his family; on how he'd like to be remembered 03:59 Shows Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)View Show Page Make Douglas appearing on The Carol Burnett Show (airdate: January 1, 1968) NOTE: He did not appear on the premiere telecast in 1967 05:28 Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the TownView Show Page Mike Douglas on his appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show (airdate: May 26, 1968) 02:43 Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical KnowledgeView Show Page Mike Douglas on how he got his name 02:43 Mike Douglas Show, TheView Show Page Mike Douglas on the origin of The Mike Douglas Show; Sammy Davis Jr.'s appearance; and working with Woody Fraser and Roger Ailes 12:20 Mike Doulgas on how The Mike Douglas Show got its start 25:29 Mike Douglas on The Mike Douglas Show 28:20 Mike Douglas on The Mike Douglas Show 28:43 Mike Douglas on various guests on The Mike Douglas Show 28:08 Mike Douglas on his catchphrase "I'll be right back" and The Mike Douglas Show sets 01:52 Mike Douglas on his favorite moments from The Mike Douglas Show 01:46 Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, TheView Show Page Mike Douglas on guests doing his show and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 01:16 Topics Censorship / Standards & PracticesView Topic Mike Doulgas on the CBS censor on the early days of The Mike Douglas Show 01:31 Characters & CatchphrasesView Topic Mike Douglas on "the mix" 01:20 Mike Douglas on his catchphrase "I'll be right back" and The Mike Douglas Show "asterisk" sets 01:44 Civil Rights MovementView Topic Mike Douglas on interviewing Martin Luther King, Jr. and the day he was assassinated 01:28 JFK Assassination and FuneralView Topic Mike Douglas on the assassination of President Kennedy while he was on-air with The Mike Douglas Show 04:57 MinoritiesView Topic Mike Douglas on booking African-American acts for The Mike Douglas Show 03:03 Richard M. NixonView Topic Mike Doulgas on how television hurt the Presidential candidacy of Richard Nixon 00:58 Professions Talk Show HostView Profession Mike Douglas on advice to aspiring hosts 03:01 Mike Douglas on advice to aspiring hosts 00:45 Genres Talk ShowsView Genre Mike Douglas on The Mike Douglas Show 12:20 Mike Doulgas on the concept of, co-hosts, and guests on The Mike Douglas Show 28:52 Mike Douglas on memorable guests, the audience, and a typical day on The Mike Douglas Show 28:20 Mike Douglas on The Mike Douglas Show music and guests 28:43 Mike Douglas on memorable guests on The Mike Douglas Show 28:08 Mike Douglas on his catchphrase "I'll be right back" and The Mike Douglas Show sets 01:44 People Roger AilesView Person Page Mike Douglas on working with producers Woody Fraser and Roger Ailes on The Mike Douglas Show 01:23 Mike Douglas on Roger Ailes' political aspirations while working on The Mike Douglas Show 01:17 Mike Doulgas on how Roger Ailes helped Richard Nixon with his television image 03:24 Don AmecheView Person Page Mike Douglas on co-hosting The Mike Douglas Show with Don Ameche 01:18 Morey AmsterdamView Person Page Mike Doulgas on the story Zsa Zsa Gabor told on The Mike Douglas Show that turned it from a live to taped program 01:31 Paul AnkaView Person Page Mike Douglas on booking Paul Anka as co-host for The Mike Douglas Show 00:59 Ann-MargretView Person Page Mike Douglas on how Ann-Margret would want to do his shows before others because she knew Douglas would be nice to her 00:54 Fred AstaireView Person Page Mike Douglas on having Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly on The Mike Douglas Show 03:30 Lucille BallView Person Page Mike Douglas on interviewing Lucille Ball 04:07 Mike Douglas on Lucille Ball and Mary Tyler Moore 02:03 Jack BennyView Person Page Mike Douglas on comedian Jack Benny 03:07 Milton BerleView Interview Page Mike Doulgas on Milton Berle and Richard Pryor appearing together on The Mike Douglas Show 01:01 Chuck BerryView Person Page Mike Douglas on John Lennon and Yoko Ono and Chuck Berry 01:21 Joe E. BrownView Person Page Mike Doulgas on co-hosts for The Mike Douglas Show 00:43 Carol BurnettView Interview Page Make Douglas on appearing on The Carol Burnett Show 05:28 Joan CollinsView Person Page Mike Douglas on demands Joan Collins made in order to be interviewed 01:46 Tim ConwayView Interview Page Make Douglas on Tim Conway 01:25 Fred de CordovaView Interview Page Mike Douglas on The Tonight Show producer Fred De Cordova 00:43 Bill CosbyView Person Page Mike Douglas on comedian Bill Cosby 02:00 Walter CronkiteView Interview Page Mike Douglas on news anchor Walter Cronkite 01:51 Billy CrystalView Person Page Mike Douglas on discovering young comics Billy Crystal and Michael Keaton 01:41 Sammy Davis, Jr.View Person Page Mike Douglas on Sammy Davis, Jr.'s appearance on The Mike Douglas Show 02:13 Mike Douglas on final say for booking guests 01:24 Walt DisneyView Person Page Mike Douglas on voicing "Prince Charming" in the Disney feature film Cinderella; on Walt Disney's legacy 03:09 Phil DonahueView Interview Page Mike Douglas on talk show host Phil Donahue 01:19 Mia FarrowView Person Page Mike Douglas on interviewing Mia Farrow 01:01 Ella FitzgeraldView Person Page Mike Douglas on "the mix" 01:20 Aretha FranklinView Person Page Mike Douglas on interviewing Aretha Franklin 03:24 Woody FraserView Person Page Mike Douglas on working with producers Woody Fraser and Roger Ailes on The Mike Douglas Show 04:39 Mike Douglas on producer Woody Fraser 01:08 Mike Douglas on final say for booking guests 01:24 Mike Douglas on producer Woody Fraser's impact on The Mike Douglas Show 02:07 Zsa Zsa GaborView Person Page Mike Doulgas on the story Zsa Zsa Gabor told on The Mike Douglas Show that turned it from a live to taped program 01:31 Judy GarlandView Person Page Mike Douglas on interviewing Judy Garland 05:07 Mike Douglas on his favorite moments from The Mike Douglas Show 01:46 Jackie GleasonView Person Page Mike Douglas on how Jackie Gleason didn't like to rehearse 02:50 Berry GordyView Person Page Mike Douglas on booking African-American acts for The Mike Douglas Show and working with Motown founder Berry Gordy 01:42 Bob HopeView Person Page Mike Douglas on how Ohio native Bob Hope helped promote The Mike Douglas Show 01:19 Lyndon B. JohnsonView Person Page Mike Douglas on President Lyndon B. Johnson 04:23 Michael KeatonView Person Page Mike Douglas on discovering young comics Billy Crystal and Michael Keaton 01:41 Gene KellyView Person Page Mike Douglas on having Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly on The Mike Douglas Show 03:30 Rose KennedyView Person Page Mike Douglas on having tea with Rose Kennedy before she appeared on The Mike Douglas Show 01:36 Robert F. KennedyView Person Page Mike Douglas on interviewing Robert F. Kennedy 00:32 Martin Luther King, Jr.View Person Page Mike Douglas on interviewing Martin Luther King, Jr. 01:28 Kay KyserView Person Page Mike Douglas on how he got his name 02:43 Peter LawfordView Person Page Mike Douglas on co-hosting the show MGM star Peter Lawford on the episode in which Judy Garland appeared 03:15 John LennonView Person Page Mike Douglas on five shows with John Lennon and Yoko Ono 04:19 Jerry LesterView Person Page Mike Doulgas on co-hosts for The Mike Douglas Show 00:43 David LettermanView Person Page Mike Douglas on late night talk show host David Letterman 01:03 Liza MinnelliView Person Page Mike Douglas on his favorite moments from The Mike Douglas Show 00:40 Mary Tyler MooreView Interview Page Mike Douglas on actress Mary Tyler Moore and Lucille Ball 02:03 Richard M. NixonView Person Page Mike Douglas on Roger Ailes' political aspirations while working on The Mike Douglas Show 01:17 Mike Doulgas on how television hurt the Presidential candidacy of Richard Nixon 00:24 Mike Douglas on interviewing Richard M. Nixon 00:39 Yoko OnoView Person Page Mike Douglas on five shows with John Lennon and Yoko Ono 04:19 Richard PryorView Person Page Mike Doulgas on bleeping words on the episode of The Mike Douglas Show on which Richard Pryor appeared 03:01 Frank SinatraView Person Page Mike Douglas on never having Frank Sinatra on The Mike Douglas Show 01:43 Mike Douglas on Frank Sinatra 05:41 Tom SmothersView Interview Page Mike Douglas on The Smothers Brothers 01:33 Dick SmothersView Interview Page Mike Douglas on The Smothers Brothers 01:33 Barbra StreisandView Person Page Mike Doulgas on a young Barbra Streisand performing on The Mike Douglas Show 05:34 Ed SullivanView Person Page Mike Douglas on his appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show (airdate: May 26, 1968) 02:26 Barbara WaltersView Interview Page Mike Douglas on watching Barbara Walters interview 01:03 John WayneView Person Page Mike Douglas on interviewing John Wayne 00:28 Oprah WinfreyView Person Page Mike Douglas on his opinion of Oprah Winfrey 01:44 Tiger WoodsView Person Page Mike Douglas on introducing the world to Tiger Woods 01:21 Mike Douglas on Tiger Woods' appearance on The Mike Douglas Show 03:18 Malcolm XView Person Page Mike Douglas on interviewing Malcom X two days before his assassination 01:04
