I'll Be Right Back: Memories of TV's Greatest Talk Show [Hardcover]

Mike Douglas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2, 1999

The man who ruled daytime TV for two decades displays the same engaging style that made him so enormously popular--in a memoir bursting with terrific stories told with nostalgia, wit, and more than a touch of class. 100 photos throughout.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Nationally syndicated within two years of its debut in 1961, singer Mike Douglas's 90-minute daily talk show became an entertainment phenomenon by booking contrasting personalities on the same show, including such offbeat musical duos as Arlo Guthrie and Florence Henderson. In 1967, The Mike Douglas Show was the first syndicated talk show to win an Emmy, and Douglas became the first TV star to earn a million dollars a year. Unwittingly pinpointing this book's central flaw, Douglas comments, "I could fill this chapter with just the names of quality musical talents who graced our stage and still not have room for half of them." Since more than 30,000 guests were booked on his show over more than 20 years, including then-unknowns Jay Leno, Billy Crystal, Barbra Streisand and Bill Cosby, it's easy to see why. Marlon Brando and Red Skelton each receive three pages, while Milton Berle, Judy Garland, Jonathan Winters, Ted Kennedy and many others garner a page or less (for those squeezed out, each chapter opens with a lengthy list of names). Writing in a glib, showbiz style, Douglas shuffles memories like unruly cue cards, often without any transitions. One of the most insightful and substantive chapters dissects and critiques more than two dozen current talk shows. Oddly, this "autobiography" devotes no more than 12 pages to Douglas's childhood, his navy life and his pre-1961 radio, TV and recording careers. 3-city author tour; 25-city radio satellite tour.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

It's no surprise that Rosie O'Donnell wrote the introduction to this memoir; her current talk show closely resembles The Mike Douglas Show, the late afternoon talk/variety TV show that ran from 1966 to 1981. In fact, it could be her on-air homages to Douglas that account for a renewed interest in him. This second memoir (he wrote Mike Douglas, My Story in 1978) is actually more of a compilation of reminiscences and anecdotes than an autobiography, but it is a fun bit of nostalgia that baby boomers will enjoy. Who could forget the odd week when John Lennon and Yoko Ono cohosted? Douglas gives readers the inside scoop on events such as how he got Judy Garland to sing "Over the Rainbow" when he had been warned not to ask her. Everyone from Malcolm X to Sonny and Cher guested or cohosted, and Douglas tells all in his breezy, enthusiastic way. He ends the book with a brief recap of his life (in case you missed the first book) and a bit about what he's doing now (enjoying his wife and grandkids and occasionally appearing on O'Donnell's or The Tonight Show). A fun, fast read that will appeal to public library patrons.
---Rosellen Brewer, Monterey Cty. Free Libs., Salinas, CA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1St Edition edition (December 2, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684854376
• ISBN-13: 978-0684854373
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,284,158 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and heartwarming look back at the Mike Douglas Show., January 9, 2000

By 

Susan Parker (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I'll Be Right Back: Memories of TV's Greatest Talk Show (Hardcover)

What a delightful book! For anyone who ever watched the Mike Douglas Show, this book is a must. It is filled with anictdotal gems from the show and behind the scenes. While reading the comedians chapter, I frequently laughed outloud. The stories about the various comedians are absolutely hilarious! Mike's easy-to-read style of writing takes you through the most memorable events from his years doing the show. What comes through loud and clear from reading this book is that Mike Douglas really loved doing his show, from singing with the most famous singers in the world to making people laugh with the most famous comics. Mike is a true gentleman. I loved his show and I loved and cherished every moment reading this book. It brought me back to simpler times, when people could be entertained by laughter and song rather than much of what is out there today.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Singer Everyone Loved to Talk to, January 17, 2000

By 

Thomas C. Clarie (New Hampshire, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: I'll Be Right Back: Memories of TV's Greatest Talk Show (Hardcover)

When Douglas starts by making it crystal clear there will be no complaints or gripes about mean stars in his book, we expect a pleasant, harmless read. Foolish thought--nothing Douglas does is second-rate! He has created an exciting, sizzling book by using hundreds of spicy anecdotes and tons of exciting, top-quality black and white photos that appear every other page (our favorite--nutty Prof. Irwin Corey sitting between a doubled-over-with-laughter Douglas and a clearly frightened Liberace). The writing style is highly energized and original: "Traumatic childhood? Heck, no. I thought we were upper-middle-class. Did we have any problems? A couple, sure;" or, "...she started into 'Respect.' Oh my. Energy? She set the place on fire." His show aired every weekday starting Dec. 11, 1961, and, by 1964, was the #1 daytime show in the U.S. He claims his two decades of success with the show were due to his stiffling his ego and instead showcasing the guests, never confronting them. Douglas takes most pride in turning out a live 90-minute TV show daily, while producers today take months to do one special. While making it clear he loves everyone, Mike's hidden resentments come out loud and clear: a very difficult Sinatra, no-show guests, Gleason angry after losing to him at golf, and his quiet fury at being dumped at the end by Westinghouse after making them millions. This is one nice, classy man, but the hurts come across powerfully, and Mike forgets none of them. Along with anecdotes and hurts are deep insights into the singing talents of all the great vocalists of our time and wise advice for today's talk show hosts. And what stories! His losing a golf match to Nicklaus by on stroke; Malcolm X telling him he wanted to change his philosophy of violence; Prof Irwin Corey's being carried out by two studio workers after refusing to stop talking; a bear knocking his trainer out cold and then Mike's quietly leading him by his chain into a cage as the audience ran out, Mike's cutting in on President Johnson after LBJ danced too long with his wife. Douglas argues throughout the book that he is really a singer, and not a talk show success, but the evidence loaded into this book shows him to have been a brilliant, clever host with a beautiful heart that warmed up every guest. With tens of thousands of stories yet untold, readers can only hope Douglas follows this beautifully written book with numerous sequels. Let's hope that Mike will indeed "be right back."

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars He may not have been the first talk show host...., September 9, 2000

By 

Kay Lewis - See all my reviews

This review is from: I'll Be Right Back: Memories of TV's Greatest Talk Show (Hardcover)

....but, he was one of the best. He set a standard in his day that I'm sure many talk show host have aspired to, but frankly I can't think of anyone that did it as well as he did. Unfortunately, his book doesn't "show" how strong his connection to his guest and audience really was. I have my memory to serve me, but many of the readers probably weren't around during Mr. Douglas' heyday and don't know how unique he was. For example...he was one of the few greats that did something rather unusal. He listened! He offered his guest the opportunity to have the spotlight on themselves instead of constantly trying to catch the beam himself...which sadly is what so many of todays host do. Perhaps someone else could have captured Mike Douglas a little better then Mike Douglas did. His modesty may have tainted the outcome somewhat. But, it's still a better than normal read for a biography.