5. Talk Show Pioneer Merv Griffin Dies
Known for breaking boundaries in daytime television with his eponymous The Merv Griffin Show, and for creating two of the most enduring game shows in broadcast history, Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, entertainer and entrepreneur Merv Griffin died August 12, succumbing to prostate cancer. He was 82.
4. Rosie: Fights with Donald, Quits ‘The View’, and Considers ‘Price is Right’
What began at the end of 2006 heated up and boiled over in 2007: the feud between Rosie O’Donnell, co-host of The View, and billionaire Donald Trump grew to the absurd. It’d take its toll on the freshman host, who left her post as moderator in June – a week or two earlier than planned. Once she left, it was long before she was looking for new work, and for a time that seemed like it might be The Price is Right. (That job would go to Drew Carey, who announced the news on the Late Show.)
3. Whoopi Goldberg Joins ‘The View’
Whoopi Goldberg announced in August she would join The View as co-host and moderator, replacing Rosie O’Donnell. Barbara Walters, along with co-hosts Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck, made the announcement. They were joined by the actress and comedian, who promised to be “straight up on this show.” The ratings since? Spectacular.
2. The Writers Strike: Talk Shows First Casualty
When the Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike on Nov. 5, talk shows were the first ‘casualty’. Without writers crafting new jokes, gags and skits for monologues and comedy bits, shows like the ‘Late Show with David Letterman’ and ‘The Tonight Show’ went dark immediately. Instead of doing what they love, writers took to the picket lines in New York and Los Angeles.
1. Ellen DeGeneres Gets in Doggie Trouble
One of our favorite talk show hosts, Ellen DeGeneres, got a surprise this fall when the pet adoption agency she used to acquire a pooch repossessed the pooch from DeGeneres’ hairdresser after the host gave the dog to the ‘dresser when things didn’t work out for Ellen. It was the most talked about event in the talk show blog comments section this year.
