Talk Shows. We love them for the witty opinions, sometimes shrewd interviewing skills, and good old fun. For years, they have been the soundtracks of our lives. Whether we were leaving work to tune to The Oprah Winfrey Show in the evening, binging on The Ellen Show over the weekend because we missed an episode, or staying up late on a school night because David Letterman is on air, talk shows are a huge part of the day-to-day lives of Americans and the world at large.
Many talk shows have been on our screens over the years. Some, like Khloe Kardashian's, stay for a season, while others never even make it past the pilot stage. These talk show hosts, however, managed to weather the wind and last a little longer than their counterparts. For years, they graced our screens and became ‘family’ to an extent. They provided entertainment, insight, and some life-changing advice. We grew accustomed to them and watched them grow as we, too, evolved.
10 Jimmy Kimmel (18 Years)
Jimmy Kimmel’s career began on the radio while he was in high school His was a path inspired by David Letterman. Prior to Jimmy Kimmel Live, he held many roles within the industry, including one as a writer for FOX. Jimmy Kimmel Live! first aired on ABC in 2003. His way of ending the show, a mockery of his faux feud with Matt Damon, is a fan favorite. The show has had a number of popular segments, including Mean Tweets, Lie Witness News, and Halloween Candy, and continues to air.
9 Ellen DeGeneres (18 Years)
When Ellen DeGeneres came out on an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, nobody wanted to touch her. “For three years, the phone did not ring,” Ellen said. The Ellen DeGeneres Show came to life in September 2003, after an involuntary career break, and continues to air in syndication. It has won 25 Emmy Awards and is a fan favorite due to Ellen’s bubbly personality. In 2020, the show came under fire after being termed as ‘ a toxic work environment’. In what is perceived as the beginning of the end, Ellen DeGeneres addressed the claims.
8 Kelly Ripa (20 Years)
Kelly Ripa first stepped into the limelight when she appeared as a regular dancer on the 1986 show Dancin’ On Air. In 1990, she was cast on All My Children. Her stint ended in 2001, right after she began co-hosting Live with Regis and Kelly. In 2011, Regis retired after 29 years on the show, leaving Kelly on a solo ride. It wasn’t long before Michael Strahan came around and left. Since 2017, she’s hosted the show alongside Ryan Seacrest. This year marks her 20th Anniversary, making her one of the longest-running talk show hosts.
7 David Letterman (22 Years)
Upon Johnny Carson’s departure, it was perceived that David Letterman would take over The Tonight Show. When Jay Leno succeeded him instead, Letterman made a move to CBS where The Late Show with David Letterman was born. It was the first installment of what grew up to become the Late Show franchise. From 1993 to 2015 when David Letterman called it a day, the show boasted of good ratings, and several Emmy nominations. Stephen Colbert took over in 2015 and continues to run the show.
6 Oprah Winfrey (25 Years)
The rags to riches story of television mogul Oprah Winfrey begins in Rural Mississippi. While she wore clothes made out of sacks as a child, her poverty-stricken years started to take a back seat when she landed a radio job at the age of 16. She would later host The Oprah Winfrey Show, one of the most high-rated talk shows that aired in syndication from 1986 to 2011. On what kept the show going that long, Oprah said, "I understood that all pain is the same.”
5 Larry King (25 Years)
When television legend Larry King passed away, a clip of his made round on the interwebs. The viral video described Larry’s first day on the job. After working menial jobs at a radio station, the opportunity to be on air arose. Larry jumped right at it, though he flopped during his first few minutes; he couldn’t get a word in. He eventually picked himself up and was honest with his listeners, a lesson that saw him host Larry King Live from 1985 to 2010.
4 Jerry Springer (27 Years)
Jerry Springer had a budding political career that blended with his time at WEBN-FM. His commentaries became popular and eventually led to the rise of his broadcast career. As his star rose higher, he became a news anchor, and subsequently moved to the top position in Cincinnati. The Jerry Springer Show, created to mimic Phil Donahue’s show, commenced in 1991. He hosted the show until it ended its 27-year run in 2018.
3 Phil Donahue (29 Years)
Not so many shows can boast of 7000 one-hour-long daily episodes. To keep a show, any show, running for anything over 10 years is just a miracle in itself, as the television industry is too feeble. The Phil Donahue Show premiered in 1967. It wasn’t until it had been on the air for three years that it was syndicated nationally. It made history as one of the longest-running syndicated shows in the country (hosted by a single individual) when it came to an end in 1991.
2 Regis Philbin (29 Years)
Once termed as ‘the hardest working man in show business’, Regis Philbin held the Guinness record for the most hours spent on US television. His early years in television saw him work as a page on The Tonight Show, and later, an announcer. In 1983, he began hosting The Morning Show, which was later named Live with Regis and Kathie Lee. When Kathie Lee left, Regis hosted the show on his own. It wasn’t until 2001 that he was paired with Kelly Ripa. In 2011, after 10 years with Kelly Ripa, Regis called it quits.
1 Johnny Carson (30 Years)
Johnny Carson’s career in media began right after he served in the Navy during World War II. He eventually transitioned to television. After finding success with a show on ABC, the opportunity to host The Tonight Show came knocking. His first year (1962) wasn’t a walk in the park, but he went on to host the talk show for 29 more years. Johnny eventually won himself six Emmys and was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.
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