The 20 best talk show hosts

Chelsea Handler has no problem poking fun at herself, and this is a key reason that her show, Chelsea Lately, was so hilarious and appealing. Unquestionably, Handler doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to her comedy or her questioning. Indeed, a major part of what makes Handler so appealing is just how fed up she seems with the mediocrity and silliness around her, and while she may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s easy to see why her fans adore her.

The avuncular Regis Philbin was a household name for much of his career, largely thanks to his job co-hosting various iterations of The Morning Show (which has changed names throughout the years). He was particularly known for his dynamic and witty banter with his various co-hosts, including most notably Kathie Lee. Of course, Philbin wasn’t just noted for his talk show hosting duties but was also a fixture in various game shows, including, as everyone knows, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

When it comes to late-night talk show hosts, few have been as widely beloved as Conan O’Brien. It’s easy to see why this would be the case since he is one of those hosts who manages to poke fun at himself as much as he does his guests. Moreover, there’s also a fierce and perceptive intelligence to O’Brien that sets him apart from many of his peers, and this, combined with the general good vibes that he manages to cultivate in all of his appearances, makes him eminently watchable. 

Few talk show hosts have been quite as controversial as Howard Stern, whose long-running The Howard Stern Show has featured interviews with various prominent figures. There’s something remarkably refreshing about Stern’s unpretentious way of conducting his interviews. It has to be said that his vulgarity might be a bit much for even his devoted fans, though for many, this remains one of the most enduringly appealing things about both the man himself and the show. At the same time, Stern has been quite willing to apologize for missteps and problematic behavior on his show.

Along with David Letterman, Jay Leno is often regarded as one of the titans of late-night talk show hosting. His reputation largely stems from his time hosting The Tonight Show, which he hosted from 1992 to 2009. Even though he has an avuncular on-screen persona, it also has to be said that much of his humor has an edge to it, but this is fairly typical of late-night hosts in general. Even though his reputation has been somewhat tarnished due to the controversies over hosting that took place in the mid-2010s, his influence on the world of late night is undisputed.

The 1980s and 1990s were something of a golden age for the daytime talk show. One of the true fixtures of the genre was Sally Jessy Raphael, whose show Sally enjoyed widespread popularity during those two decades. Most people growing up in the period were familiar with Raphael’s on-screen appearance, particularly with her red-rimmed glasses, and there was something refreshing about her common-sense approach to the talk show format. She was also notable for addressing many important social questions and issues on her show.

Kelly Ripa just exudes joy. Indeed, her likability makes her such a natural fit for daytime TV, which relies on viewers wanting to bring hosts into their living rooms. There’s also no denying that she’s made a great co-host, and she proved to be a natural fit for Regis Philbin during their time on the show together. When Ryan Seacrest stepped into the co-host chair, however, the result was nothing short of magical. 

Barbara Walters is one of those figures who was a true titan of television. She was notable for several hosting duties, including The Today Show and The View. Walters is one of those who can truly be said to be a pioneer in women in television, and she blazed a trail that many others would follow. She is also notable for her interviews with various political and cultural figures, and she also interviewed every president and first lady from the Nixons to the Obamas (though not always when they were in office).

Andy Cohen might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but he has a charm that he brings to his various hosting duties. More importantly, he also has an intimate approach to conversations that makes him a natural fit for the genre, and he excels at putting his various interview subjects at ease. It’s also worth noting that he is the first openly gay host of an American late-night show, and this, in combination with his undeniable charisma in all of his ventures, earns him a place among the great talk show hosts.

After becoming a true powerhouse in various acting roles, Whoopi Goldberg switched to hosting duties, and she has been one of the main panelists of The View since 2007. Goldberg is known for her no-nonsense approach to hosting, and she isn’t afraid to speak her mind, even when doing so results in a fair amount of backlash and controversy. There’s no question, however, that her on-screen charisma — so much in evidence in her various film roles — continues to serve her in her hosting duties for one of the nation’s most prominent daytime talk shows. 

The late Phil Donahue was one of those talk show hosts who actually aimed to contribute something to the discourse in the US. Unlike many of his peers, who aimed for simple shock value, Donahue’s talk show often explored issues of substance. Moreover, Donahue was one of those people who just had a profound charisma about him. It thus makes sense that he would become one of those figures that TV watchers would regularly welcome into their homes during the afternoon hours.

Like many other talk show hosts, Rosie O’Donnell started as an actress before moving into her hosting gig. Even though many of her on-screen characters were a bit rough around the edges, O’Donnell brought warmth and generosity to her hosting duties. However, this isn’t to say that she wasn’t willing to take a hard line on hot-button topics. Most notably, she wasn’t afraid to ask tough questions about gun control, and her testy interview with actor Tom Selleck has certainly earned its place in the halls of talk show history.

Few talk show hosts have been as popular or influential as David Letterman. Having learned at the knee of the great Johnny Carson (himself a titanic figure in the history of the talk show), Letterman went on to have a very long career on late night as the host of Late Show with David Letterman. Letterman has always been one of those with a keen understanding of what’s going on in the American psyche, and the sheer longevity of his show (which lasted from 1982 to 2015), as well as his influence on other hosts, earns him a place among the greats.

The late Johnny Carson is an American icon. His time behind the desk of The Tonight Show would define his legacy, and there was always a warmth to his approach to interviews that made him endearing to his guests and audience. And, of course, he was also known for portraying various humorous characters during his time as host. At the same time, he wasn’t without his darker side, and he had feuds with a number of people whom he considered disloyal (most notably Joan Rivers).

There’s no denying Graham Norton’s appeal as a talk show host. He manages to be both wildly funny and infectiously charismatic, and he clearly takes a lot of joy in what he does. Just as importantly, he is also one of those talk show hosts who can ask a question and manage to be intelligent without being confrontational. It’s thus not surprising that he’s managed to interview some of the biggest celebrities, yielding moments that are as hilarious as they are revealing.

Few talk show hosts have been as universally beloved and influential as Oprah. Throughout her long career in the business, Oprah has been responsible for some remarkable moments and pop culture moments (Tom Cruise jumping on the couch being one of the most notable). In some ways, she is the very model of Black excellence. It’s also worth pointing out that she is more than capable of asking probing and intense questions of her guests, sometimes to their chagrin. In addition to being a great talk show host, she has also shown herself to be a strong actress in her own right.

Ellen is another talk show host who has worn many hats in her career, having achieved success as both a comedian and an actress. Her long-running talk show was a staple of daytime TV, and much of its success can be ascribed to her affable screen presence. However much her legacy might be tarnished by reports of behind-the-scenes drama, there’s no question that Ellen has still more than earned a place in the history of great and important talk show hosts.

Drew Barrymore first rose to fame as an actress, but, having accomplished that, she moved into daytime TV. Since its debut in 2020, her talk show has proven remarkably popular, and much of its appeal stems from Barrymore herself. She’s one of those empathetic personalities who is ideally suited for talk show hosting, and there’s something especially refreshing about the extent to which she is willing to lay bare her innermost emotions on the screen for everyone to see. She is, in some ways, the epitome of joy itself.

Kelly Clarkson has repeatedly shown remarkable versatility. After establishing her fame as a musician, she moved into daytime TV, and the results have been remarkably positive. Part of the appeal of the show is Clarkson herself, who definitely has charisma to spare. She injects a sense of realness and authenticity into the talk show model, and this helps to explain why she remains such a popular host and why her show was like a breath of fresh air.

No one growing up in the 1990s could avoid The Jerry Springer Show, which was, in many ways, as if a tabloid became a live-action show. While some might fault Springer for leaning so firmly into the trash TV aesthetic, there’s also something refreshing about the fact that he was willing to own up to the fact that the industry's tastemakers widely derided his show. Furthermore, despite the contempt with which the show was (and is) held by those with more serious tastes, the fact remains that the late Springer was a truly influential talk show host and remains so to this day.