Kamy Bruder Blog

If you had asked me last week who Mike Douglas was, I would probably have looked at you with an air of uncertainty. He was a television character and had his show, The Mike Douglas Entertainment Hour , running from the early 1960s to the early 1980s. Aired each week day, it rapidly became one of the most appealing show available at the time, and great performers, actors, singers, comics, sport figures, and more, appeared on the show, performing and chatting with Mike, in front of millions of viewers. Unfortunatelly, Mike passed away last August on his very 81st birthday, and everybody who's ever worked with him, known him, or even just watched his show, will remember him dearly. This event was, for me, a wonderful time of learning about who Mike was, but also, a wonderful time of sharing with wondrous and amazing people who have known him, and who were, at the time, celebrating what a man he has been, and how keenly he has touched America.

The tribute was held on Ocotober the 21st, at the Academy of Television, Arts and Science, also home of the very renown Emmy Award. It was an honor for me to have been invited to such an event, and I could not have been any more moved by it. It was wonderfully well produced, and Sincerity, as testimonials were given, flew in the air in a fashion I had never seen before. To me, at that time, it simply denoted what a kindred spirit he was; a gentle, honest, and generous man, who has set an example in television for so many years.

Honored as I am to have been part of it, I would very much like to thank, television producer, and former producer of the Mike Douglas Show, Rick Rosner (seen just here surrounded by famous producer Kenneth Johnson and myself) for involving me. It was, for everybody there, a heartwarming and inspirational tribute, and I was breathtaken by the genuine love everyone was candidly sending. All in all, Mike's example is really showing what an enormous potential we all, human beings, have to touch people and bring a little something to the world.

A lot of Mike Douglas' friends were present; they all gave amazing and wholeheartedly moving speeches. One of them was famous American actress and singer Della Reese (seen just here), whom you might remember from American television series Touched by an Angel She is a lovely sweet spirit and she attended the tribute with her most devoted and fond husband; in fact, a lovely man.

Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara , actor and commedian Ben Stiller 's parents, were present as well and gave a little 'demonstration' on stage of what a couple they are, recalling us all that they were, indeed, on top of the comedy game in the 1960s.


Also there was Celebrity International's Randy Olsen as well as the official Mike Douglas Tribute photographer, Ryu Kodama .

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