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Talk shows are television programs where a host interviews guests, ranging from entertainers to ordinary people. The format has evolved from incorporating sketches and musical numbers to more focused interviews. Some shows have become controversial, while others maintain a cordial relationship between host and guest. The modern format includes late-night comedy shows and syndicated talk shows hosted by celebrities. Local television stations also produce their own versions of talk shows.
Talk shows are television shows where a host — and sometimes a companion — sits down with entertainers, reporters, and other people to talk. Some incorporate additional segments, such as cooking demonstrations or sketches, but others focus on a host-guest discussion. There are a wide variety of talk shows on television, covering everything from ordinary people to actors with a new movie to advertise.
This type of program, also known as a chat program, was one of the first formats created for television. Early guests, such as Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, Steve Allen and Garry Moore combined interview segments with sketch comedy, musical numbers and impromptu audience participation. The basic premise was to bring in popular entertainers or journalists for live interviews with a witty host. The audience would be entertained by anecdotes from the guests or improvised jokes from the host or companion.
In the late 1960s, the format became more focused on the interviews themselves, leaving the sketches and improvisations for the variety shows. Hosts like Dick Cavett, David Frost, Mike Douglas and Tom Snyder have all become household names thanks to their unique interviewing styles. Guests of these programs were encouraged to do more than just promote an upcoming film or music album. Cavett and Snyder were particularly adept at the “talking head” format, drawing their guests into long scholarly discussions and using close-up close-ups.
By the 1980s, the talk show format had once again shifted from academic interviews to a more confrontational style, with hosts such as Jerry Springer, Phil Donahue, Maury Povich, and Oprah Winfrey often booking controversial guests. Some critics of this style believed that the producers were simply pandering to the public’s taste for controversy, not presenting a legitimate exploration of the subject at hand. Many of the more controversial shows didn’t last long, while others changed their format back to the traditional cordial host/host relationship.
The modern format ranges from controversial tabloids to late night comedy shows hosted by names like David Letterman, Jimmie Kimmel, Conan O’Brien and Craig Ferguson. The syndicated talk show format is often a combination of musical performances, audience interaction, and brief celebrity interviews. Celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres or Rachel Ray are often recruited to host syndicated talk shows, as they can be produced quickly and do not detract from other talent’s professional obligations.
Even local television stations produce their own versions, as they don’t require elaborate sets or difficult camera movements. It’s not unusual for a local cable access program to duplicate the basic format as well. These local efforts may lack the technical sophistication of a professional version, but they do provide a way to broadcast events of interest to local viewers.
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