TV notes: GSN plans marathons of Griffin shows

The man who built a game-show empire will receive a tribute this weekend on, appropriately enough, a network devoted to games.

GSN will celebrate the TV legacy of Merv Griffin with marathons of two Griffin-produced shows, “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy,” on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (cable channel 161 in Spokane, 108 in Coeur d’Alene).

Griffin died Sunday of prostate cancer at age 82.

Saturday’s “Wheel” retrospective will include an early episode hosted by Chuck Woolery and Vanna White’s debut from 1982. The “Jeopardy” marathon on Sunday features episodes from the million-dollar “Masters Tournament of Champions.”

‘Knights,’ ‘Nine,’ nada

The returns of “The Nine” and “The Knights of Prosperity” to ABC this summer turned out to be even shorter than planned.

ABC has pulled the two shows, which fell into the critically hailed but low-rated bin last season, from its schedule. “The Nine” lasted all of two episodes upon its return, while “Knights” got the hook after just one airing.

Additional repeats of “Jim” will fill the 8:30 p.m. Wednesday spot “Knights” formerly occupied, while “NASCAR in Primetime” moves to 10 p.m. Wednesdays to take over for “The Nine.”

‘John’ flushed

“John From Cincinnati” has caught its last wave.

The mysterious, metaphysical surfer drama that aired its season finale Sunday will not return for a second run, HBO announced.

The move represents a rare cancellation of an hourlong HBO drama after its freshman season, and a misfire as the premium cable channel tries to build its post-“Sopranos” schedule.

‘Weeds’ grows

Showtime’s Emmy-nominated “Weeds” drew a record number of viewers for its third-season premiere Monday, giving a boost to David Duchovny’s following new comedy “Californication.”

“Weeds” drew an estimated 824,000 viewers, its largest first-play audience ever. Of those, 550,000 stuck around for the debut of “Californication.”