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

by Mike Douglas

A memoir of one of the great talk-show hosts of all time looks back on interviews with Barbra Streisand, Malcolm X, Fred Astaire, Mother Teresa, Milton Berle, John Wayne, Groucho Marx, Jimmy Hoffa, Yoko Ono, Jay Leno, and many others.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography

320 pages, Hardcover

First published December 2, 1999

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

"A minute is a long time. You don't think so? Ask the ad people that fork over two million dollars for sixty seconds during the Super Bowl. Better yet, ask a stand-up comic who's dying a slow death on national TV, with the flop sweat dripping and the studio audience as quiet as mourners at a state funeral. I've seen it - and lived through a few myself. A minute can be like a stiff sentence from a merciless judge. And we did over half a million of them - every one an adventure." -- on pages 30-31

Although somewhat forgotten about these days - as times marches on, and our pop culture trends and likes move at the speed of sound - Mike Douglas (born Michael Delaney Dowd in 1926) once hosted one of the most popular and durable daytime television series in U.S. history. From 1961 to 1981, the WWII veteran and former nightclub / big band vocalist presented a weekday afternoon talk show - first from Cleveland (1961-1965), then most memorably from Philadelphia (1965-1978), and finally from Hollywood (1978-1981) - showcasing an eclectic array of guests from the worlds of sports, entertainment, politics, comedy and average 'in real life' types. Although bookended with chapters that are more autobiographical (including an incredibly touching section on his wife of 63 years, Gen), Douglas' I'll Be Right Back is largely a cheerful memoir on his 20 years in the chat biz and that astounding roster of personalities who appeared on his show. Unlike the trash-talk formula that took firm hold in the 1990's, Douglas simply wanted to conduct freewheeling, non-confrontational, and occasionally probing Q&As with his guests on the 4,000+ (!) episodes. The anecdotes abound - boxer 'Smokin' Joe' Frazier rebuking the chemically-altered duo of Richard Pryor and Sly Stone when they were playin' the fool in his presence backstage; the 'surprisingly approachable' and 'humorous' side of a loquacious Malcolm X; a young Austrian bodybuilder whom Douglas privately advised to change his name and take elocution lessons (Arnold Schwarzenegger didn't listen 😆); and an edgy, up-and-coming British Invasion band that caused the adolescent ladies present to go into hysterics (welcome, The Rolling Stones!!!). It really was fun to follow the avuncular Mr. Douglas along in his recollections, and the American airwaves sure could use his interview or show style back in vogue.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty thorough and detailed account of the career of the much-beloved talk show host/singer. He states in the beginning that the book will not be catty, gossipy or malicious and pretty much lives up to that throughout. However, it isn't boring because the man met SO MANY people in his career and it's interesting to hear about them and get his take on the experiences. One only wishes that he'd have been able to include even more memories because he mentions a lot of people who were on the show, but it simply wasn't possible to recap everything that these guests said and did (even if he could recall it all, which no one in his position could!) He also offers a vivid depiction of the behind the scenes production and syndication aspects and how tenuous the life of a show can be in the face of ratings and competition. He was a rare soul and its sad that his type of show is basically over, though I do recall being appalled as a kid at some of his latter day attempts to sing current pop music in his dated way...

[BeatleKimG · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read. Mike Douglas hosted over 10,000 actors, athletes, singers, dancers. etc. He details many interviews and hosting gigs. He was a genuine guy, grateful for every experience he had.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the supposed in greatest talk show.I've never heard of this guy, then again.I'm twenty one

[Malbadeen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not even sure if this is the right book but it was definitely about Merv Griffen. I was a nanny for a lady that had this book and I picked it up and started reading it, it wasn't until about 3/4 way it to it that I realized, it wasn't about Donahue (he was big when I was 15) but I finished it anyway and I don't remember a thing about it - expect the ephinany that I was reading about somebody I didn't know from atom.

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

TV's first celebrated talk show host recalls his start in the entertainment business and as a pioneer in the talk show genre. Not too much time is spent on his personal life, but there are enough stories to keep readers entertained with those guests who appeared during the course of his 20-some years doing a 90-minute daytime show.

[Vikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mike Douglas tells of his talk show which was live for 90 minutes five days a week for many years. There are a lot of anecdotes of famous people. Very good book. Mike Douglas appears like a very nice man. He did not speak ill of any of his guests.

[Eileen]

I love this book. It's dense with wonderful stories. With each page I want more and more to find copies of every show so I can watch for myself. I can't wait to see what comes next, even as I hate getting closer to the end. I bet that's how Mile Douglas felt on every show.

[Stephan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In retrospect this memoir to me is comical, and vital to my understanding a generation before my own. It also does not encourage "bad mouthing" or "image bashing". A must read for those who are fascinated with the entertainment business.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gave mom a signed copy for Christmas.

[Cat. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun to read, and obviously fun to write. I actually wish he hadn't limited himself so strictly--this could have been a much longer book. Maybe he could write "Volume 2."

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoy reading this. Remembering all the times watching with my Mom.