1. Home
  2. Entertainment
  3. Talk Shows

Thomas' Talk Shows Blog

Palin and Shatner Soar on Tonight

Monday December 14, 2009

Did you catch Sarah Palin on The Tonight Show?

For a while now, actor William Shatner has been mocking Palin by reading, in his very Shatneresque way, from Palin's book Going Rogue.

That table got turned around on Friday when Palin showed up on Tonight and did her own reading: from Shatner's autobiography Up Till Now.

Quite a moment!

‘Good Morning’ for Stephanopoulos

Monday December 14, 2009

It was a good morning for George Stephanopoulos.

The ABC news fixture joined Good Morning America as co-host Monday morning, taking over for Diane Sawyer. Sawyer will become anchor of ABC's World News.

Co-host Robin Roberts said it was "the dawn of a new day". And he was surprised by senior presidential advisor David Axelrod who, after being interviewed by Stephanopoulos, offered him an alarm clock permanently set for 3:30 a.m.

Even before his debut, Stephanopoulos had his critics. CNN's Howard Kurtz and a panel of media experts debated whether Stephanopoulos would be able to make the transition on Sunday.

"I don't think he has to make himself all warm and fuzzy," said David Zurawik, a TV commentator and blogger for the Baltimore Sun. "It is an absolute challenge, though."

Does it make sense to take Stepahanopolous of ABC's This Week?

"Of course it does," says Steve Friedman, former executive producer of NBC's Today Show. "Morning television is the money engine that drives the networks. If you want to be a big star at the networks, you have to do the morning shows. Didn't hurt Diane Sawyer. Didn't hurt Charlie Gibson. Didn't hurt Tom Brokaw."

What do you think? Did you catch the new GMA? Comment below.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Final Season for Bonnie Hunt

Wednesday December 9, 2009

Looks like the two-season commitment for The Bonnie Hunt Show will be just that. Hunt has told her staff that the show will be cancelled after this season.

The show hasn't faired well in the ratings and attempts to boost its numbers hasn't pushed it beyond No. 12 out of 13 syndicated talk shows.

We'll miss Bonnie. It was a bright spot in the talk show universe. What do you think? Did you watch the show? Comment below.

Chris Cuomo Leaving GMA;
Last Week for Sawyer

Wednesday December 9, 2009

Change is coming quick for fans of Good Morning America. Earlier in the week, Diane Sawyer announced that this would be her final week on the program. And reports have surfaced that the show's news anchor, Chris Cuomo, will depart as well.

Nothing's been confirmed beyond a Tweet from Cuomo reading "change is coming" and "all is good". Speculation is that Cuomo will land as co-anchor of ABC's 20/20. Replacing Cuomo could be news reporter JuJu Chang.

So let's recap. Sawyer's out, taking on the role of World News anchor. Cuomo's leaving, possibly replaced by Chang. George Stephanopoulos, host of ABC's This Week and former White House press secretary for President Bill Clinton, could be in as new co-anchor. Left standing: Robin Roberts and Sam Champion.

The New Year promises a very new GMA. Makes you wonder if the format will change at all.

Photo: Getty Images/Bryan Bedder

Explore Talk Shows

About.com Special Features

Holiday Central

What to eat, where to go, fun things to do and how to save money on the perfect gifts. More >

The Best Top 40 Pop Songs

Is your favorite song on our list? More >

  1. Home
  2. Entertainment
  3. Talk Shows

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.