The Best 1980s Talk Shows
No matter what time slot they occupied, the best '80s talk shows delivered information that the public was hungry for. From top 1980s talk shows that revolutionized late-night television, to shows that found daytime audiences, and even primetime audiences. This list of the best talk shows of the '80s has been voted on a ranked by your votes.
What are some shows one can expect to find on this 1980s talk shows list? In 1982, Late Night with David Letterman debuted on NBC, with his first guest being Bill Murray. The Caddyshack star sat down with Letterman many times over the years and even appeared on his final episode of The Late Show, which aired on CBS, in 2015. The Oprah Winfrey Show is another popular talk show that premiered in the decade. Metalheads got a chance to see interviews with their favorite musicians on MTV's '80s talk show, Headbangers Ball. Other great series that are featured on this top 1980s talk shows list include Nightline, The 700 Club, and Good Morning America.
What are the best '80s talk shows? Did the shows you think were the best make this list? Vote up the 1980s talk shows you think are the best of the decade and see where the talk shows of the '80s you loved to watch rank.
- 1Johnny Carson, Ed McMahon, Skitch Henderson
- 2David Letterman, Paul Shaffer, Jerry Seinfeld
- Premiered: February 2, 1982
The host interviews a variety of guests. - 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
- 4Bill Murray, Arsenio Hall, Burton Richardson
- Premiered: January 3, 1989
The Arsenio Hall Show is an American late-night talk show created and hosted by Arsenio Hall. There are two separate programs that have been titled The Arsenio Hall Show, both airing in syndication. ...more - 5Phil 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 - 6Larry King, Ryan Seacrest, Bill Maher
- Premiered: June 3, 1985
Larry King Live is an American talk show that was hosted by Larry King on CNN from 1985 to 2010. It was CNN's most watched and longest-running program, with over one million viewers nightly. Mainly ...more
