Entertainment
The Best Talk Shows of the 1960s
List Rules
Vote up the best talk shows that aired in the '60s
The sixties were a much simpler time in television. Especially when compared to today's multi-platform, basic cable, premium cable, cord-cutting complexities. Back then, the talk show reigned supreme. These are the best1960s talk shows, ranked from best to worst. Some of these talk shows aired in late-night, while others had A.M. time slots. A few of the very best 60s talk shows went on to become cultural phenomenons and changed the way TV is thought about and made forever..
What series will you find on this best 1960s talk shows list? The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson premiered in 1962 and continued to be a favorite with viewers for the next 30 years. It set the bar for generations of late-night shows to follow. The Merv Griffin Show was another good talk show that aired in the 1960s. Meet the Press has been a go-to source for political pundits from 1947 to this day.Â
Do you have a favorite talk show from the 1960s? What, in your opinion, is the best 60s talk show?Vote up your choices!Ranked by
- 1Johnny Carson, Ed McMahon, Skitch Henderson
- Premiered: October 1, 1962
Late-night talk show hosted by Johnny Carson, including guest interviews and musical performances. - 2Merv Griffin
- Premiered: 1962
The Merv Griffin Show was an American television talk show, starring Merv Griffin. The series ran from October 1, 1962 to March 29, 1963 on NBC, May 1965 to August 15, 1969 in first-run syndication, ...more - 3Leigh French
- Premiered: March 4, 1968
The Dick Cavett Show was the title of several talk shows hosted by Dick Cavett on various television networks, including: ABC daytime originally titled This Morning ABC prime time, Tuesdays, ...more - 4Dick Clark
- Premiered: October 7, 1952
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer. ...more - 5Shirley Temple, Mike Douglas
- Premiered: December 11, 1961
Aided by a different celebrity co-host each week, Mike Douglas interviews entertainment figures. - 6Ruth Buzzi, Foster Brooks
- Premiered: September 16, 1965
Guest stars perform in comedy skits and songs. - 7Jack Paar
- Premiered: July 29, 1957
The Jack Paar Show is a television program. - Tonight Starring Steve Allen is a talk show hosted by Steve Allen. It was the first version of what eventually became known as The Tonight Show. Tonight was the first late-night talk show, as well as ...more
- 9Peggy Lee, Steve Allen, Al Flosso
- Premiered: March 5, 1968
Steve Allen shares his wit and humor with guests. - 10Tina Louise, Bettie Page, Jackie Gleason
- Premiered: September 20, 1952
The Jackie Gleason Show is the name of a series of popular American network television shows that starred Jackie Gleason, which ran from 1952 to 1970, in various forms. - 11Phil Donahue, Sammy Davis Jr., Dolly Parton
- Premiered: November 6, 1967
The Phil Donahue Show, also known as Donahue, is an American television talk show hosted by Phil Donahue that ran for 26 years on national television. Its run was preceded by three years of local ...more - 12William F. Buckley, Jr.
- Premiered: 1966
Firing Line was an American public affairs show founded and hosted by conservative William F. Buckley, Jr., founder and publisher of National Review magazine. Its 1,504 episodes over 33 years made ...more - 13Joan Rivers
- Premiered: September 16, 1968
Joan Rivers serves as host for one of TV's first syndicated talk shows. - 14Ann Curry, Anita Colby
- Premiered: January 14, 1952
The latest national and international news. - 15Howard K. Smith, Lesley Stahl, Martin Agronsky
- Premiered: November 7, 1954
News interviews with distinguished national and foreign figures. - 16Joey Bishop, Abby Dalton, Joe Besser
- Premiered: September 20, 1961
TV talk show host Joey Barnes balances his job, his family and his celebrity. - 17David Gregory
- Premiered: November 6, 1947
Interviews with public figures and those making news and setting the political agenda. - Washington Week—previously Washington Week in Review—is an American public affairs television program airing on PBS since 1967. Unlike other panel discussion shows which encourage informal debates as ...more
- 19Pat Kenny, Ryan Tubridy, Gay Byrne
- Premiered: January 5, 2015
Guest hosts interview guests and introduce musical performances. - 20Bill Dana
- Premiered: 1967
The Las Vegas Show is an American late night television program broadcast on the short-lived United Network. The two-hour-long talk show, hosted by comedian Bill Dana, was supposed to be the flagship ...more
