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MERV IS BACK!
Creator of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! Unveils New Game Show for Syndication in Preview at NATPE
NATPE, LAS VEGAS, NV — January 16, 2007 — With a track record that includes 17 Emmys and 32 Emmy nominations for Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy! and his eponymous talk show, Merv Griffin previewed his new game show, Let’s Play Crosswords, at a private pre-NATPE invitational presentation for potential syndicators in Las Vegas on Sunday, January 14th. The series is being offered by Merv Griffin Entertainment, Program Partners and the William Morris Agency (WMA).
“I’ve been working on this concept for a while,” Griffin said, “and I hope that audiences have as much fun watching it as I have had in creating it. I’m addicted to solving crosswords myself and do four of them each morning before starting my day. By combining the basics of the puzzles with a game show format, I think we’ve got something that will be just as addictive.”
“William Morris has enjoyed a long and successful relationship with Merv,” said Mark Itkin, Worldwide Co-Head of Television at the William Morris Agency. “We are honored to be working with him on this exciting new venture.”
“We are especially proud and excited to work with Merv Griffin, the legendary master of the game,” said Ritch Colbert of Program Partners. “What Wheel of Fortune is to the childhood game Hangman, Let’s Play Crosswords is to the classic crossword puzzle. This game will be accessible to everyone.”
Let’s Play Crosswords plays out in classic style – Beginning Game, Mid-Game, End-Game and Bonus Round. Players must answer questions with words that solve a crossword to win. A bonus round heightens audience anticipation, and a returning champion builds the excitement from one episode to the next. The series will be produced for syndication in high-definition (HD).
Among his many and varied accomplishments, Merv Griffin created Jeopardy! in 1964 and Wheel of Fortune in 1975 and wrote their distinctive theme songs. They remain the two most successful game shows in television syndication history. He also created and hosted The Merv Griffin Show which had 23 years of high ratings, particularly in syndication, with more than 5,500 shows and 25,000 extraordinary guests.
Over the years, Merv Griffin has been honored many times for his professional achievements and his philanthropic commitment. In the single month of May 2005, he received an Honorary Doctorate from the National University of Ireland, a Lifetime Achievement at the Daytime Emmy ceremony, and a Gala Tribute from the Museum of Television and Radio at New York's Waldorf-Astoria, with accolades from Walter Cronkite, Billy Crystal, Jay Leno, Tony Danza, Cynthia McFadden, Henry Kissinger, Bernadette Peters, and Barbara Walters. In 1994, he was inducted into The Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame and into the American Gaming Association's Gaming Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2000, he received the Creative Achievement Award from NAPTE.
About Program Partners, Inc.
Program Partners, Inc. is an innovative television company that collaborates with networks, sponsors and audiences on original programming. Led by a core group of entertainment executives, including founders Ritch Colbert and Josh Raphaelson, Program Partners provides distinctive programs with high production values, while fostering new creative alliances with advertisers, broadcasters and global co-production entities. For more info about Program Partners, Inc., visit www.programpartners.com.
About Merv Griffin Entertainment
Merv Griffin Entertainment, Inc. is the television and film production arm of Merv Griffin’s umbrella organization, The Griffin Group. Over the years it has provided original programming and long-format films for television, as well as theatrical features. Its latest original project, “Lisa Williams: Life Among the Dead”, can be seen on Lifetime, and MGE is in pre-production on numerous other projects. Along with Merv Griffin, Andrew Yani and Ray Brune serve as producers of MGE programming. See www.merv.com for more information on MGE and The Griffin Group of Companies.
About the William Morris Agency
Founded in 1898, the William Morris Agency is the leading talent and literary agency in the world, with principal offices in New York, Beverly Hills, Nashville, London, Miami Beach and Shanghai, China. The Agency represents clients in all segments of the entertainment industry, including Motion Pictures, Television, Music and Personal Appearances, Broadway Theatre and Theatrical Touring, Book Publishing, Commercial Endorsements, Sports Marketing and Corporate Consulting. The William Morris Agency can be found at http://www.wma.com.
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Media Contact:
Program Partners:
Melissa Ford/Priority Public Relations
(818) 400-5133; melissa@prioritypr.net
Merv Griffin Entertainment:
Marcia Newberger
(310) 385-2745; Marcia_Newberger@griffgroup.com
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