7 Old Talk Shows You Used to Watch Every Day
There was always something so relaxing about starting your morning off with a cup of coffee and a talk show like Live with Regis and Kathie Lee or ending your long day with The Oprah Winfrey Show. Everyone invited these hosts into their home for an after-work chat and there was nothing quite like it.
Talk shows have been widely popular for decades, but some in particular have stuck out over the years. From The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson to The Joan Rivers Show, these are a few of the best nostalgic talk shows.
7. The Tyra Banks Show (2005-2010)
Former model Tyra Banks began her talk show in 2005, targeting it largely towards women in their 20s and 30s. Nevertheless, the daily show offered advice to young women and featured many celebrity guest interviews.
Prior to the end of her show in 2010, Banks said, “I've been having fun, coming into your living rooms, bedrooms, hair salons for the past five years.”
6. The Joan Rivers Show (1989-1993)
Although she had hosted The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers from 1986 to 1987, Joan Rivers was far more successful with this daytime syndicated talk show that aired between 1989 and 1993. Highlighted by her comic flair, the show would find itself nominated for numerous Daytime Emmy Awards, with Joan Rivers herself winning in 1990 for Outstanding Talk Show Host.
5. Late Night with David Letterman (1982-1993)
As one of the classic late-night shows, NBC’s Late Night with David Letterman featured the talk show host mainly interviewing celebrities. The series came to an end in 1993, but Letterman was soon featured on another talk show, Late Show with David Letterman (1993-2015), which aired on CBS.
4. The Dick Cavett Show (1968-1975)
The Dick Cavett Show originated in 1968 and revolved around Cavett interviewing celebrities and people in the news. The series ran until 1975 and featured such iconic personalities as Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis and Fred Astaire.
3. Live with Regis and Kathie Lee (1988-2000)
This morning show featured Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford as its hosts, beginning in 1988. The pair had great chemistry and banter, entertaining audiences for years. But in 2000, Gifford left to pursue other career opportunities, though the co-hosts remained great friends until Philbin’s passing in 2020.
“We were each other's best audience,” Gifford shared in an interview. “We became closer friends after we stopped working together. We worked together for 15 years and for the next 20 years, we just hung out as friends.”
2. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962-1992)
As one of the earlier late night talk shows, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson debuted in 1962. The series featured celebrity guest interviews, as well as musical performances and comic skits starring Carson, co-host Ed McMahon and bandleader Doc Severinsen. Carson retired from show business in 1992 and his spot on The Tonight Show was subsequently filled by Jay Leno. In 2014, Leno was replaced with Jimmy Fallon, who is the current host.
1. The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986-2011)
The Oprah Winfrey Show was one of the most popular daytime talk shows on television. Running for 25 years, the series won 47 Emmy Awards and was widely successful, featuring uplifting stories from everyday people, as well as celebrity interviews. Oprah inspired millions of women everywhere to pursue their dreams.
While saying goodbye to her show, Oprah shared with fans, “Gratitude is the single greatest treasure I will take with me from this experience. The opportunity to have done this work. To be embraced by all of you who watched is one of the greatest honors any human being could have.”
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