10 Of The Longest Running Talk Shows Of All Time

Since the inception of television, talk shows have been a staple for networks. They may not be the most binge-worthy shows, but that doesn’t mean they don’t attract huge audiences and loyal fan bases. Part of their appeal stems from the revolving door of guests who appear on the shows to promote their latest projects.

As talk shows evolved, it can be argued that the hosts themselves have become more and more important to the talk shows themselves. While late-night talk show hosts change from time to time, daytime talk shows hosts stay the same, unless their show gets canceled, allowing them to mold the show into their own creation.

10 The Ellen DeGeneres Show – 18 Seasons

Prior to hosting her own daytime talk show, Ellen DeGeneres was a stand-up comic and also appeared on television and in movies. The Ellen DeGeneres Show debuted in September 2003 and is currently in its 18th season as of 2020, with two more seasons guaranteed.

Though the talk show has been the recent subject of controversy, the show is beloved by many and has won 61 Daytime Emmy Awards during its run. Not only does Ellen bring on some amazing guests, but her show stands out against the rest due to the wacky games she plays with guests and audience members, plus she always makes sure her guest interviews are memorable.

9 Jimmy Kimmel Live – 19 Seasons

Though Jimmy Kimmel Live is one of the newer late-night talk shows on air, it holds the record for being ABC’s longest-running late-night talk show of all time. The series is hosted by comedian Jimmy Kimmel, who took the job in April 2007.

Like most late-night shows, Kimmel begins his show with a monologue before interviewing the various guests of the night. Some of Kimmel’s notable segments include having celebrities read mean tweets about themselves and his annual Halloween candy segment in which parents pretend to eat their children’s Halloween candy.

8 The Late Late Show – 23 Seasons

The Late Late Show first premiered on CBS in January 1995 with Tom Synder as host. In 1999, Synder was replaced by Craig Kilborn, who was then replaced in 2005 by Craig Ferguson. In 2015, the series got its fourth and current host when they hired James Cordon to take over.

Cordon has brought something new to the late-night genre by having shorter monologues that allow him more time to air pre-filmed skits, like his hit Carpool Karaoke. In addition, Cordon conducts his interviews with everyone at once, instead of having guests appear one at a time.

7 The View – 24 Seasons

Created by Barbara Walters in 1997, The View has been on ABC for 23 seasons and counting. The daytime talk show features a group of co-hosts who vary from season to season. Notable co-hosts have included Meredith Vieria, Joy Behar, Whoopie Goldberg, and Rosie O’Donnell.

Like many talk shows, The View welcomes guests who are interviewed by a few or all of the women cohosts. In addition, the show has become known for its “Hot Topics” segment, in which the women weigh in on everything from entertainment to political news.

6 The Oprah Winfrey Show – 25 Seasons

One cannot talk about talk shows without mentioning the legacy of Oprah Winfrey. Winfrey created and produced her own talk-show The Oprah Winfrey Show starting in 1986. The Oprah Winfrey Show was on the air for 25 seasons before Oprah decided to end her reign in May 2011. Though the series hasn’t been on the air for over a decade, it is still one of the highest-rated daytime talk shows of all time.

Not only did the show feature interviews with talented guests, it also regularly featured educational segments, book clubs, and of course, her famous giveaway segments. Seeing that Oprah was one of the hottest shows on the air, getting to be in the audience meant following some pretty strict rules.

5 Larry King Live – 25 Seasons

Larry King Live found its home on CNN, where it aired from 1985 until 2010, spanning 20 seasons and over 6,000 episodes. Unlike other talk shows, which also include sketches and other gimmicks to earn viewers, Larry King stuck to his radio roots and centered his show on the actual interviews.

His methods paid off because Larry King Live became the most-watched and longest-running show on CNN. Over his historic 20 season run, King interviewed several iconic people, including an interview with Paul McCartney and Ringo Star in 2007, Marlon Brando in 1994, and even Lady Gaga in 2010.

4 The Late Show – 27 Seasons

The Late Show got its start in August 1993 on CBS with David Letterman serving as the host. Letterman had previously hosted Late Night with on NBC before moving networks to host CBS’s flagship late-night show. Letterman retired in 2015 and was succeeded by Stephen Colbert, who had become a household name thanks to The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.

The show has managed to garner praise from fans and critics alike. During Letterman’s tenure, The Late Show won six Primetime Emmy Wards. When Colbert took over for Letterman, the show became more focused on politics, thanks to Colbert’s background. However, the change in topics seems to be working since the series has been the top late-night series for the last four years.

3 Live – 33 Seasons

Live has an interesting history in the world of daytime talk shows. The series started in 1983 under the name The Morning Show, with Regis Philbin and Cyndy Garvey serving as hosts of the series. The series didn’t become Live until 1988 when Garvey was replaced by Kathie Lee and the name was changed. Since then, the series name has changed to reflect the various hosts of the show, with the most current iteration being: Live with Kelly and Ryan. 

Live has become a staple of daytime television and has gone on to win a Daytime Emmy for both Outstanding Talk Show and Outstanding Talk Show Hosts. In addition to discussing the latest news and interviewing guests, the show regularly features themed weeks, such as Guinness World Record Breaker Week and Broadway Week.

2 Late Night – 38 Seasons

Late Night began its historic late-night talk show run in 1982 with David Letterman serving as the creator and original host of the series. When Letterman moved to CBS, Conan O’Brien took over and served as the host until 2009. From 2009 to 2014, Jimmy Fallon called Late Night home until he was promoted. Currently, SNL alumni Seth Meyers hosts Late Night.

What makes Late Night special is that each host has been able to mold the show around their interests, allowing fans to not only be fans of the show, but also the hosts themselves. While Meyers’ version of the show is more traditional, his show can be differentiated from the rest due to his more “cluttered” desk, which includes a mug and a handmade “Stefon” doll reminiscent of his SNL “husband.”

1 The Tonight Show – 66 Seasons

Debuting in 1954, The Tonight Show is currently the longest-running late-night talk show of all time, with 66 seasons and counting. Over the years, the series has had six hosts, with Steve Allen kicking things off followed by Jack Paar (1957-62), Johnny Carson (1962-92), Jay Leno (1992-2009, 2010-2014), Conan O’Brien (2009-2010), and since 2014, the host has been Jimmy Fallon.

Not only is The Tonight Show the longest-running talk show of all time, but it’s also NBC’s longest-running show of all time. Though the show had a rough go during O’Brien’s tenure, it has managed to be one of the highest-rated late-night talk shows season to season. Each host has brought something new to The Tonight Show, with Fallon’s latest contributions being his Hashtag and Thank You Notes segments.

About The Author

Danielle Bruncati
(298 Articles Published)

Danielle Bruncati was born and raised in Southern California and has been a story-teller for as long as she can remember. She is currently a freelance writer for ScreenRant and is also pursuing a Master’s Degree in Television Writing and Producing from a top 10 film school. When she’s not writing, Danielle can be found binging the latest sitcom or teen tv series with her dog by her side or walking around Disneyland with a Mickey-shaped snack in hand.

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