Celebrity Talk Shows That Most People Completely Forgot About
It takes someone with an appealing personality and a large fan base to host a successful talk show. This is why so many talk shows have celebrities at the reins. Big stars will usually bring in their famous friends and tell personal stories to help audiences connect with them. There have been hundreds of celebrity talk shows over the years, with some becoming legendary while others should've ended before even going on the air. Now, take a look back at the A-listers who had their own talk shows that you've most likely forgotten about.
Magic Johnson's The Magic Hour Wasn't So Magical
Magic Johnson was one of the top NBA players of the 20th century, with millions of fans and tons of sponsorships. His popularity made him a great candidate to host a talk show. From June 8 to September 4, 1998, he had his own talk show called The Magic Hour.
His most iconic interview was with radio host Howard Stern, who would mock Johnson for his lack of interviewing skills. Johnson confronted Stern about this and Stern fired back, asking Johnson a bunch of very heated questions. The ratings weren't great, so the show was pulled after less than three months.
The Chevy Chase Show Was A Disaster
Actor and comedian Chevy Chase, best known for Saturday Night Live and the Vacation films, got to host his own late-night talk show. The Chevy Chase Show aired from only September 7 to October 1, 1993. He was only given the chance to do the show because Dolly Parton turned the network down.
This was right after Johnny Carson retired, so many TV networks were trying to get some talk shows up and running. The show received reviews with F-ratings, claiming the audience was "the worst-behaved crowd in late-night television" and that Chase would "recycle old material."
Rosie O'Donnell Shined Bright As A Host
The Rosie O'Donnell Show premiered on June 10, 1996, and proved to be quite successful. Her talk show lasted for a total of six seasons, ending on May 22, 2002. It was clear that she could easily talk with any of her celebrity guests, some of whom included Madonna, Barbra Streisand, and Tom Selleck.
The show ended because O'Donnell wanted to spend more time with her children, but she didn't want to give up hosting forever. She went on to co-host The View and had a short stint on the Oprah Winfrey Network for The Rosie Show.
Kris Jenner Wasn't Meant For Hosting
There wouldn't be a Kardashian/Jenner family without their "momager" Kris Jenner. The business-savvy reality show personality got the chance to host her own talk show called Kris in 2013. Unfortunately, it only lasted for a six-week trial period after being taken off the air.
One Fox executive stated, "She looked not just like a deer in the headlights, but like a deer that already got hit." Even though Jenner couldn't make her show work, she sure hasn't left the spotlight. She's kept busy running an empire alongside her famous family.
The Most Memorable Moments Of The Tony Danza Show
Tony Danza had two shows called The Tony Danza Show, with one being a 1997 sitcom and the other being a talk show that aired from September 13, 2004 to May 26, 2006. His most-viewed episode featured a heavy metal band called The Tony Danza Tapdance Experience.
They got the name from Danza's previous work as a tap dancer. There was also an episode where Danza and NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace did a go-kart race. Danza's go-kart flipped over and he suffered a concussion. Neither man was wearing a helmet.
Fans Were Upset That Megan Mullally Wasn't Like Karen Walker
Will & Grace was one of the most popular sitcoms of the late '90s and early 2000s and even got a successful spin-off that ended this year. Megan Mullally was a breakout star of the show, known for playing Karen Walker. When Will & Grace initially ended in 2006 she got to host her own talk show called The Megan Mullally Show.
Since more talk shows fail than succeed, it wasn't surprising that her show ended after less than four months. Audiences didn't like the show because they were upset that Mullally wasn't anything like her eccentric Will & Grace character.
The Wayne Brady Show Earned A Lot Of Awards
Even though the ratings on The Wayne Brady Show weren't strong, it still managed to earn several awards. The show won five Daytime Emmy awards, including Outstanding Achievement in Live & Direct to Tape Sound Mixing, Directing, Outstanding Talk Show, and Outstanding Talk Show Host. They also won an American Choreography Award for Outstanding Achievement in Television.
Comedian Wayne Brady was given the opportunity to host the talk show after his stellar improv performances on Whose Line Is It Anyway? Although it only lasted a few years, Brady still got to talk to many interesting celebrities including The Brady Bunch cast (pictured).
Busy Phillips May Get To Continue Busy Tonight
There's frequently been a shortage of women hosting late-night talk shows and Busy Phillips wanted to change that. She got to host her own late-night show, called Busy Tonight, on E! but it was canceled after only one season. Phillips would talk about the latest events in pop culture and do candid interviews with popular celebrities.
Tina Fey served as one of the executive producers and some fan-favorite guests included Mindy Kaling, Cole Sprouse, and Andy Samberg. While the show ended with mainly positive reviews from critics, Phillips isn't giving up hope. The last she shared about the program was that she was hoping to get it on another network.
Zach Galifianakis Had Multiple Talk Shows
Those familiar with the work of actor and comedian Zach Galifianakis would probably know him from The Hangover movies, Due Date, or his other talk show called Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis. Before his rise to fame, he had a 2002 VH1 talk show called Late World with Zach.
The show would begin with a unique comedic monologue often accompanied by a piano. Later, Galifianakis would do a couple of skits and end by interviewing a celebrity or having a musical guest. Late World with Zach was canceled after nine weeks due to poor ratings.
Queen Latifah Got A Couple Chances At Her Talk Show
Some of Queen Latifah's job titles have included actress and rapper, and in 1999 she got to add talk show host to her résumé. The Queen Latifah Show ran for a couple of years before it got canceled. A revamped version ran from 2013 to 2015.
The first run was described as "Dear Abby for the hip-hop generation" where she would cover topics dealing with pop culture and the stories of everyday people. Her second installment included celebrity interviews, human interest stories, musical performances, and news. Although the revamped version drew in a bunch of viewers, ratings started to slip during the second season.
George Lopez May Blame Conan O'Brien For His Talk Show's Demise
George Lopez made history when he became the first Hispanic American to host a late-night talk show. Lopez Tonight ran from November 9, 2009 to August 12, 2011, and most of its following came from his hit sitcom that had ended a few years prior.
After Conan O'Brien left NBC's The Tonight Show, he signed with TBS to create his own late-night talk show. This bumped Lopez Tonight to a later time slot. The success of Conan and the later time slot caused Lopez's ratings to dip, which led to his cancellation.
Carnie Wilson's Talk Show Was Canceled Midseason
Fans of Carnie Wilson most likely remember her for being the daughter of The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson and a member of the band Wilson Phillips, but she also dabbled in the talk show industry. Carnie! brought in a ton of viewers when it first aired on September 6, 1995.
Unfortunately, Wilson couldn't get the success to last and her talk show was canceled midseason on February 23, 1996, after ratings significantly dipped. In order to quickly replace her absence, the network settled on The Rosie O'Donnell Show.
How Tyra Banks Reinvented Her Own Talk Show
After the massive success of Tyra Banks' America's Next Top Model, she decided to host her own talk show called The Tyra Banks Show; later shorted to Tyra. Toward the beginning, it primarily focused on current issues facing women or specific episodes of America's Next Top Model.
During the later seasons, it was more of a tabloid-style show that would cover people with psychological disorders or issues with families and relationships. After a five-year run, the talk show ended on May 28, 2010, with special guests including Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, and LL Cool J.
Russell Brand Tried To Make His Talk Show Interesting
English comedian Russell Brand got his chance at a talk show on Brand X with Russell Brand. The show ran on FX from June 28, 2012 to May 2, 2013, and started out as an extended monologue where Brand would do stand-up.
As the series progressed he brought on various celebrities to interview. He and his celeb guests would also give audience members advice in a segment called "Totally Unacceptable Opinion." During the final season, it drifted back to a more standard talk show format. The series received mostly negative reviews, with many stating that Brand had a hard time commenting on current events.
Khloé Kardashian Received A Positive Reception For Her Talk Show
Khloé Kardashian is no stranger to the television world after gaining fame from Keeping Up with the Kardashians and its numerous spin-offs. In 2016 she was given the chance to host her own talk show, called Kocktails with Khloé. She would film inside her home and be joined by celebrity guests, family, and friends.
The show lasted for only 14 episodes with guests that included Cardi B, John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, and Kim Kardashian West. Although it mainly received positive reviews, it couldn't get a decent number of viewers.
Kathy Griffin Combined Stand-Up Comedy And Celebs On Her Talk Show
Stand-up comedian and reality TV personality Kathy Griffin got to share her jokes and personal anecdotes with a wider audience during her talk show's run. Simply called Kathy, the late-night talk show was half stand-up comedy and half pop culture news. Her mother Maggie Griffin and assistant Tiffany were always seated in the front row.
She would also have a panel of "civilians," which was later switched to celebrities, who would give their take on hot topics of the week. After about 11 months on the air, Kathy was canceled.
Anderson Cooper's Talk Show Got Lackluster Ratings
When viewers think of Anderson Cooper, they probably know him for hosting CNN's Anderson Cooper 360°. From September 12, 2011 to May 20, 2013, he had his own talk show called Anderson, which later changed to Anderson Live. Even though it wasn't a news program, it was categorized as such by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission).
The format of the show was constantly switched up, with some segments including heartwarming interviews, celebrity co-hosts, interactive social media, live audience participation, and more. The short run was mainly due to low ratings, but Cooper still continues with Anderson Cooper 360° as well as co-hosting CNN's New Year's Eve Live with Andy Cohen.
Kelly Clarkson Didn't Want To Do Her Talk Show
Singer Kelly Clarkson got her start on American Idol and has become one of the most successful female solo artists of the 21st century. She currently has a daytime talk show called The Kelly Clarkson Show where she has celebrity guests, meets with everyday people, brings in talented musical performers, and more.
Clarkson was reluctant to host her own talk show, but her heart and humor brought a lot of personality to it. Some of her celebrity guests have included Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara, and Dakota Fanning. Similar to many talk shows of today, most of her viewers come from the video clips posted to the show's YouTube channel.
Martin Short's Most Famous Character Originated From His Talk Show
The late-night talk show, The Martin Short Show, aired for one season from 1999 to 2000, with Short hosting alongside his announcer and sidekick Michael McGrath. It was part talk show and part sketch comedy, where Short would do celebrity interviews and shift to funny skits.
One of the characters Short came up with during this time was entertainment host, Jiminy Glick, who became a comedy sensation with multiple TV spin-offs. Short went on to have a similar show called Maya & Marty with actress and comedienne Maya Rudolph, but it was canceled after only six episodes.
Harry Connick Jr. Wanted A Different Kind Of Talk Show
Musician Harry Connick, Jr. tried to put a different spin on talk shows with his own called Harry. It aired from September 12, 2016 to May 23, 2018, and was supposed to be geared toward a family audience. Most episodes would have him talking about current events, playing games, doing celebrity interviews, and having quick chats with the studio audience.
In order to appeal to family audiences, he would include segments that showed people doing good in the world and helping others. After a series of mixed reviews from both critics and the public, the show was canceled after two seasons.
