Vote + to improve this toplist's ranking
Report Abuse

Best U.S. Talk Show Hosts 1980-2010

22 items ranked

Late night talk show, morning talk show, primetime news commentary … these are the true masters of the art of the talk show, regardless of time slot or audience.

Rated 7 points - posted 13 years ago by phdlist in category Television.
Click on up and down arrows to affect item's ranking
Visit our TV forum



1.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Jay Leno Report Abuse
271 points - added 13 years ago by phdlist -

2.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Johnny Carson Report Abuse
The indisputable king of late 20th-century late night.
223 points - added 13 years ago by phdlist - 1 comment
Comments:
The host with the most...
Added 13 years ago by guest, 14 points Vote + to improve this comment's ranking Vote - to decrease this comment's ranking

3.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Regis Philbin Report Abuse
168 points - added 13 years ago by phdlist -

4.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Conan O’Brien Report Abuse
Conan O’Brien Once we put aside our resentment over the serious over-hyping of his recent revival, we can see that he actually is a decently artful host.
160 points - added 13 years ago by phdlist -

5.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Craig Ferguson Report Abuse
117 points - added 13 years ago by phdlist -

6.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Jimmy Kimmel Report Abuse
115 points - added 13 years ago by phdlist -

7.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Maury Povich Report Abuse
17 points - added 13 years ago by phdlist -

8.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Jerry Springer Report Abuse
16 points - added 13 years ago by phdlist -

9.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Ricki Lake Report Abuse
14 points - added 13 years ago by phdlist -

10.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Keith Olbermann Report Abuse
Here’s a guy I would never want to have to face in a debate.
8 points - added 13 years ago by phdlist -

11.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Arsenio Hall Report Abuse
7 points - added 13 years ago by phdlist -

12.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Stephen Colbert Report Abuse
4 points - added 11 years ago by guest -

13.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Jon Stewart Report Abuse
3 points - added 11 years ago by guest -

14.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Ellen DeGeneres Report Abuse
-3 points - added 13 years ago by phdlist -

15.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Zach Galifianakis Report Abuse
-5 points - added 13 years ago by phdlist -

16.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Phil Donahue Report Abuse
A true master of morning talk … the best around until Oprah came on the scene.
-9 points - added 13 years ago by phdlist -

17.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
David Letterman Report Abuse
The one who SHOULD have inherited The Tonight Show from Carson.
-10 points - added 13 years ago by phdlist -

18.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Chris Rock Report Abuse
-19 points - added 13 years ago by phdlist -

19.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Rosie O'Donnell Report Abuse
-41 points - added 13 years ago by phdlist -

20.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Oprah Winfrey Report Abuse
If Johnny is the king of late night, then Oprah has to be the queen of afternoon talk (though she was really much better in the morning time slots of her earlier years).
-55 points - added 13 years ago by phdlist -

21.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Rachel Maddow Report Abuse
-67 points - added 13 years ago by phdlist -

22.

Vote + to improve this item's ranking
Vote - to decrease this item's ranking
Bill Maher Report Abuse
-85 points - added 13 years ago by phdlist -
Similar Top lists
CategoryRankedAdded by
Best Sci-Fi TV ShowsTelevision35 itemspxc0
Best High School Shows Of All TimeTelevision21 itemsBrendaKaye
20 Best TV Shows 2000-2010.Television23 itemsStevieb
Best Talk SHows HostsTelevision26 itemslyn113003
Coolest Disney Shows 80's-90'sTelevision42 itemskris
ShareRanks is about ranking things that are top, most, greatest, or even worst in all categories.
Use arrows to rank one item in versus another.
Top 10 Best U.S. Talk Show Hosts 1980-2010 are especially marked