African-American Talk Show Pioneers
The world of daytime and late night TV wouldn't be the same without these five African-American talk show pioneers. They stand out among a group of talk show hosts that includes Wendy Williams, Magic Johnson, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Mo'Nique, Rolanda Watts, Queen Latifah, Whoopi Goldberg and more.
No one could imagine the impact Oprah Winfrey would have on the talk show world when her program, The Oprah Winfrey Show debuted in 1986. And no one could have predicted Oprah's global impact as her popularity, media philosophy and philanthropy expanded worldwide over the show's 25-year history.
She was once called "the world's most powerful" and "most influential" woman in the world by various media outlets. And Life magazine once named her the most influential African-American of the late 20th Century. Oprah was even said to have more credibility than the president by columnist Maureen Dowd. She easily sways public opinion and can make and break careers (just ask any author on Oprah's Book Club list - especially James Frey).
Oprah was the first African-American to make Business Week's Top 50 Most Generous Philanthropists list. And her former philanthropic foundation, Oprah's Angel Network, reportedly raised more than $80 million in charitable contributions before it was dissolved in 2010.More »
Comedian Arsenio Hall's foray into late night television was short. Only five seasons between 1989 and 1994. But Hall would turn late night television on its head in those five years, rewriting the way late night talk shows could act and interact with guests.
At the time, Hall's only competition came from The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Late Night with David Letterman. Those were the only real games in town - and both were set in their ways. Carson's classic talk show and Letterman's wacky Midwest meets New York style. No one was ready for Hall's laid-back style, interactivity with the audience, and intimate set. No desk? Just two couches? What?
And no one imagined a talk show could come on at 11 p.m. and attract the likes of presidential nominee Bill Clinton. Clinton's appearance on Hall - and his saxophone solo - would pave the way for political visits to popular talk shows from there on. Scuffles with his production company and shifts in late night ended Hall's run far too early. Here's hoping he returns! Woof, woof, woof!
While Arsenio Hall was paving the way in late night, Arsenio Hall was making waves in daytime TV. When The Montel Williams Show debuted in 1991, it followed the popular format of the day: tabloid journalism. Sensational stories, raucous guests and a fight or two. But while Montel played in that arena, the show's host, a former marine, was starting to turn the show away from the sensational to the inspirational. By the time the show ended in 2008, Montel was focused on shows that reunited families, shined a light on strength through suffering and discussed chronic diseases, particularly multiple sclerosis, which Montel has. It also focused on the paranormal, often featuring psychic Sylvia Browne, which was routinely criticized.More »
Though many thought of supermodel Tyra Banks as the next generation's Oprah Winfrey, Banks never truly walked the same path as the legendary daytime talk show. But she always entertained and you could tell Banks had real passion for her program during the show's five-year run, from 2005 to 2010. As Banks's got older, it's topics got stranger, with some episodes finding its host undercover dressed as a man or an overweight person. Sexuality became a regular topic in its later season, as did Banks' other program, America's Next Top Model, enough that one could argue The Tyra Banks Show was just an extension of that program.More »
One of the earliest co-hosts of The View, Jones stuck with the daytime talk show for nearly a decade before controversially leaving the program. But during her tenure on The View Jones offered a smart and sincere opinion, often challenging her co-hosts or fervently supporting their positions. Following her departure from The View, Jones would host her own talk show on truTV, titled simple Star Jones. The show lasted for one season before changes in the schedule and programming choices encouraged Jones to depart the network.More »
1. Oprah Winfrey
No one could imagine the impact Oprah Winfrey would have on the talk show world when her program, The Oprah Winfrey Show debuted in 1986. And no one could have predicted Oprah's global impact as her popularity, media philosophy and philanthropy expanded worldwide over the show's 25-year history.
She was once called "the world's most powerful" and "most influential" woman in the world by various media outlets. And Life magazine once named her the most influential African-American of the late 20th Century. Oprah was even said to have more credibility than the president by columnist Maureen Dowd. She easily sways public opinion and can make and break careers (just ask any author on Oprah's Book Club list - especially James Frey).
Oprah was the first African-American to make Business Week's Top 50 Most Generous Philanthropists list. And her former philanthropic foundation, Oprah's Angel Network, reportedly raised more than $80 million in charitable contributions before it was dissolved in 2010.More »
2. Arsenio Hall
Comedian Arsenio Hall's foray into late night television was short. Only five seasons between 1989 and 1994. But Hall would turn late night television on its head in those five years, rewriting the way late night talk shows could act and interact with guests.
At the time, Hall's only competition came from The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Late Night with David Letterman. Those were the only real games in town - and both were set in their ways. Carson's classic talk show and Letterman's wacky Midwest meets New York style. No one was ready for Hall's laid-back style, interactivity with the audience, and intimate set. No desk? Just two couches? What?
And no one imagined a talk show could come on at 11 p.m. and attract the likes of presidential nominee Bill Clinton. Clinton's appearance on Hall - and his saxophone solo - would pave the way for political visits to popular talk shows from there on. Scuffles with his production company and shifts in late night ended Hall's run far too early. Here's hoping he returns! Woof, woof, woof!
3. Montel Williams
While Arsenio Hall was paving the way in late night, Arsenio Hall was making waves in daytime TV. When The Montel Williams Show debuted in 1991, it followed the popular format of the day: tabloid journalism. Sensational stories, raucous guests and a fight or two. But while Montel played in that arena, the show's host, a former marine, was starting to turn the show away from the sensational to the inspirational. By the time the show ended in 2008, Montel was focused on shows that reunited families, shined a light on strength through suffering and discussed chronic diseases, particularly multiple sclerosis, which Montel has. It also focused on the paranormal, often featuring psychic Sylvia Browne, which was routinely criticized.More »
4. Tyra Banks
Though many thought of supermodel Tyra Banks as the next generation's Oprah Winfrey, Banks never truly walked the same path as the legendary daytime talk show. But she always entertained and you could tell Banks had real passion for her program during the show's five-year run, from 2005 to 2010. As Banks's got older, it's topics got stranger, with some episodes finding its host undercover dressed as a man or an overweight person. Sexuality became a regular topic in its later season, as did Banks' other program, America's Next Top Model, enough that one could argue The Tyra Banks Show was just an extension of that program.More »
5. Star Jones
One of the earliest co-hosts of The View, Jones stuck with the daytime talk show for nearly a decade before controversially leaving the program. But during her tenure on The View Jones offered a smart and sincere opinion, often challenging her co-hosts or fervently supporting their positions. Following her departure from The View, Jones would host her own talk show on truTV, titled simple Star Jones. The show lasted for one season before changes in the schedule and programming choices encouraged Jones to depart the network.More »
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