Lauren Bacall made this rare 1979 TV appearance with Pearl Bailey and Barbara Walters, promoting her book "By Myself". Pearl sings a quick chorus of "Hello, Dolly!" for them.
Hollywood always has a "Ruling Group", a sorta "A Group That is of the Mature or Mid-Age group of people", like every venue, high-school, college, Country Club, Corporations, Government, etc Merve and Lauren were of that group.
7:17 Gossip from Hollywood is that Merv had a hot young peruvian stud in bed distracting him while he tried to read Bacall's bio. Therefore all the misteps in this interview.
“Distracting him while he tried to read Bacall’s bio”; maybe he was turning the pages? But does it really matter whether the man was Peruvian or Mexican? It’s his private business (but hopefully legal). But it’s sad because evidently another situation where Americans lost jobs to cheap labor. Will it never end?
I've been the Concierge for Barbara Walters and Pearl Bailey and found them both to be wonderful human beings. Spent a week catering to Ms. Bacall and she was a nasty person, an absolute bitch. Treated my staff like dirt under her feet. She is too full of herself.
she had that reputation yes...never heard much good about her..knew someone who worked with her on Woman of the Year and she was a horror..he was so glad when she was replaced by Raquel Welch and then briefly Debbie Reynolds..both of tbem he loved
Interestingly enough, I noticed her energy change when Pearl came on as a guest. Pearl was a public Nixon supporter, and by 1979 everyone was well aware where Betty stood on politics. Why would they invite Pearl to perform the same night? Bettys confidence and self worth must have been quite intimidating and made others uncomfortable. Merv definitely wanted to shake her up a bit, and as usual she kept it classy....
Griffin was a terrible interviewer. She had to correct him on many questions. So many questions. It was like he had never read the book. I have. Several times. Merv blew it.
