Merv Griffin's Company Sues Ed McMahon For Unpaid Loan

LOS ANGELES — Court documents show a company founded by Merv Griffin is suing Ed McMahon for a $100,000 loan it claims has gone unpaid.

The Griffin Group Inc. claims it loaned the money to McMahon, Johnny Carson's sidekick on the "Tonight" show, in 2005. The company filed the suit on Thursday and states that none of the loan has been repaid.

McMahon's publicist didn't directly address the lawsuit, instead asking, "Anybody wanna buy a nice house in The Summit?"

The quote is an allusion to McMahon's hilltop home, which is facing foreclosure. The former pitchman also faces numerous other lawsuits filed on behalf of creditors.

Griffin, the longtime talk-show host who created "Jeopardy" and "Wheel of Fortune," died in 2007.

The lawsuit is seeking repayment of the money, with interest and attorney fees.

Comments

[Roanoke3]

09:56 AM on 10/01/2008

Ed made millions from Carson show and all his Bud commercials.

But he is looking like a big time deadbeat.

[ignorantwillyharper]

12:22 PM on 09/30/2008

I felted sorry for him at the time it came out that he was about to lose his home, but then come to find out he'd been stiffing everybody he ran into.
It's a wonder he didn't drop by his own home when delivering the check from "Publishing House Clearing", but then maybe he did.
Boils down too, he may be smarter than all of us and just didn't trust banks!

[Maanu]

11:03 AM on 09/30/2008

I'm sure Ed has issues like everyone else, but he also had mold removed from (t)his house at great expense a few years back, which couldn't have helped matters.

[Steamboater]

02:24 PM on 09/30/2008

Please, the guy made a fortune on Carson and doing commercials and either blew it or just didn't pay his bills. Now he's signed doing a commercial where he does it in rap. He gets more ridiclulous the older he gets. Maybe Donald Trump will jump in again to rescue Ed with this lawsuit. The man has no shame--both of them!

[Roanoke3]

09:56 AM on 10/01/2008

Agreed.

See comment above.

[gorgol]

10:28 AM on 09/30/2008

So the Merv Griffen empire is suing Ed ...for $100K while they are worth a $GAZILLION?? There must be some very bad blood there. Maybe that "laugh" Ed had on the Carson show..was more out of fear and frustration. Be careful what you wish for...(great wealth??)...it has it repercussions.

[carolinacal]

09:57 AM on 09/30/2008

You'd think Ed McMahon would have saved a coupla bucks?

Noooo.

He's borrowed money everywhere, Trum[p's bailed him out. He is still working, what gives?

Does the guy have health problems or something? That's what usually gets Americans. Health costs.

Oh well, his jerk of a partner Johnny Carson was as right wing as you get, so let the chickens come home to roost.

Maybe old McMahon ends up under the San Diego freeway, living in a cardboard box. At least it's warm down there.

[truthyguy]

09:00 AM on 09/30/2008

With a story like this you are faced with the difficult choice of which party you think less of.

[CKieffer]

07:56 AM on 09/30/2008

Because I am sure Merv Griffin's company (not even the man himself) really needs that money... perhaps I should just put my disgust where my remote is: no more Wheel of Fortune for me!

[ignorantwillyharper]

12:26 PM on 09/30/2008

It's not a matter of obtaining the money, it's just good business to show a tax write off and it get's the unpaid loan off their books.

[Leper]

01:57 AM on 09/30/2008

When you sue a man who has no money, you usually get less than you expected.

[klandish]

12:05 AM on 09/30/2008

Oh, no Mr. Bill!