October 1, 1962-March 29, 1963 (NBC); 1965-1969 (Syndicated); August 18, 1969-February 11, 1972 (CBS); 1972-1986 (Syndicated).
The 1967 Photoplay Awards are featured representing TV broadcasting excellence as voted by the public (1966/1967).
Guests include David Janssen, Marty Allen, Ginger Rogers, Phyllis Diller and Barbara Stanwyck.
Winners: David Janssen Favorite Male Star for "The Fugitive."
Ginger Rogers: Editor's award for "Hello Dolly" on Broadway.
Barbara Stanwyck: Most popular female star starring in "The Big Valley."
Phyllis Diller: Best Comedy Star.
Host: Merv Griffin.
Arthur Treacher opens the The Merv Griffin Show. Merv talks to audience promising tonight's show to be special. Editor of Photo
Play Awards, Fred Klein, discusses the history of the magazine which votes on best TV programming by the public.
Awards are announced and introduced by Fred Klein.
Favorite Male Star David Janssen shares thoughts with Merv and confirms that the final episode of The Fugitive is already conceived. Ginger Rogers receives the 4th Special Editors Award. She thanks her fans. Phyllis Diller receives Best Comedy Star award and does a stand-up comedy routine.
Fred Klein introduces Miss Barbara Stanwick who receives a Most Popular Female Star Award. She thanks her public and mentions how much such an award means to her. Stanwick' sit-down interview with Merv Griffin is brief but salient and one that is rare. This is only one of two formal sit-down interviews that Barbara Stanwick has been known to accept. The other was with Joey Bishop.
Merv Griffin states to Barbara Stanwick what a great thrill it is to have her grace his stage. She states that this is the first time in many years that she has been on stage. She does remember and talks about starring in Burlesque Queen, and her first job as a chorus dancer, filling in one day with a dramatic part replacing another actor and remaining in the part. She states that when the show moved to Broadway, New York, director Willard Mack, who died at the age of 61 in 1934, suggested she change her name to Barbara Stanwick. She expands on the circumstances.