Longest Running TV Talk Shows
List of the longest-running TV talk shows in US history. These TV chat series have more episodes than any others in American television. Some of the shows ran and have since gone off the air or been canceled, while others remain ongoing and are still being produced. Typically, these shows were collected into "seasons" of television, each with a pre-set amount of episodes. Sometimes, these seasons were broken up, in some cases with years or even decades between production of the series, while still being considered the run of a single TV show. (Spin-offs and other shows that were reinvented and debuted as new series are not considered.) This list contains all the longest-running talk shows in US broadcasting history.
The concept of a "talk show" can mean a lot of different things. It's most commonly associated in the US with the late-night variety show, particularly "The Tonight Show" or the "Late Show with David Letterman." However, the concept - sometimes also referred to as a "chat show" - also encompasses daytime TV talk like the offerings from Oprah Winfrey or Ellen DeGeneres, or even more news-oriented panel discussion formats like "The View" and "Larry King Live." Really, any show with hosts and rotating guests conversing can be considered a talk show, even extending the definition to the "tabloid talk show" made famous by Jerry Springer, or the radio-show-on-television format popularized by Howard Stern.
Check out more lists like the longest running TV sitcoms, the most popular sitcoms in TV history and the worst TV shows that need to stop NOW. Â- Larry King, Ryan Seacrest, Bill Maher
- Premiered: June 3, 1985
25 Seasons. 6120 Episodes.
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 - Oprah Winfrey, Nate Berkus, Gayle King
- Premiered: September 8, 1986
25 Seasons. 4561 Episodes.Oprah discusses topics with guests, before a studio audience. - Johnny Carson, Ed McMahon, Skitch Henderson
- Premiered: October 1, 1962
4531 Episodes.Late-night talk show hosted by Johnny Carson, including guest interviews and musical performances. - David Letterman, Paul Shaffer, Alan Kalter
- Premiered: August 30, 1993
27 Seasons. 4261 Episodes.
The comic interviews guests and introduces musical performances. - Jerry Springer, Peter A Kelly, Steve Wilkos
- Premiered: September 30, 1991
27 Seasons. 3891+ Episodes.
The Jerry Springer Show, also known as Jerry Springer, or just Springer, is an American syndicated tabloid talk show hosted by Jerry Springer, a former politician. It is recorded at the Stamford ...more - Lisa Ling, Meredith Vieira, Debbie Matenopoulos
- Premiered: August 11, 1997
22 Seasons. 4000 Episodes. Currently in production
Celebrity and political guests join the hosts for up-to-the-minute hot topics and conversations.