Top Ten Talk Show Moments of 2006:
From Rosie O'Donnell joining 'The View' to Michael Richards' emotional apology on the 'Late Show with David Letterman,' 2006 had its fair share of top talk show moments. Here are the Top Ten.
But with a caveat. Since I started collecting news items for the site in June, this Top Ten list really covers only the final seven months of 2006. But let me tell you - those were some of the most newsworthy!
10. Four New Talk Shows Debut
When the new season opened, four new hosts entered the wild and wacky world of television talk shows: Rachael Ray ( The Rachael Ray Show, Megan Mullally (The Megan Mullally Show), Greg Behrendt (The Greg Behrendt Show, and Spike Feresten (TalkShow with Spike Feresten). So far, Ray has made the most impact, debuting the highest of any new talk show in history.
UPDATE: As of May 2008, only Rachael Ray and Spike Feresten's shows remain on the air.
9. Jon Stewart asks Pakistani President: 'Where's Osama?'
The season so far has been filled with tough question for politicians, and The Daily Show dealt its fair share. In September, just after the fifth anniversary of September 11, Jon Stewart welcomed Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and asked him right up front: "Where's Osama bin Laden?"
8. Madonna and Oprah Talk Adoption
Music diva Madonna came under heavy fire for her recent adoption of an African boy. Just as the news broke, the pop icon went on The Oprah Winfrey Show to discuss the matter.
7. Rosie and The Donald Duke it Out
So far, producers of The View have basked in the glory of all-time high ratings for the morning talk show. But they've had to weather new moderator/co-host Rosie O'Donnell's regular editorials. Comments that often make the news.
The latest in a short string of feuds is with Donald Trump over his pardoning of Miss USA 2006 for partying too much. Rosie called into question the Donald's ability to make moral decision. Trump called Rosie "disgusting."
6. Rosie Rips Ripa; Kelly Kicks Back
The other feud was the friendly one between Rosie and Kelly Ripa, co-host of Live with Regis and Kelly . Ripa publicly aired her displeasure for guest co-host Clay Aiken (Aiken had placed his hand on Ripa’s mouth to "quiet her". Rosie called the matter "homophobic."
Ripa took offense and dialed up The View to call Rosie out on her comment. Score two for Ripa.
5. Leno Asks, "What About the Tests, Floyd?"
In August, then-Champion of the Tour de France, Floyd Landis, joined Jay Leno on The Tonight Show and openly discussed the trouble he was in over positive drug tests from the race. At the time, Landis was telling the world that we shouldn't believe the results of the test. Leno, in rare fashion, challenged Landis by asking, "Why should we not go by the tests?" A second drug test - the back-up test - also resulted in a positive.
4. The Talk Show Host Shuffle
It started when Katie Couric announced she was leaving The Today Show.
Katie's departure left a vacancy, eventually filled by The View's Meredith Vieira. Vieira's departure left an opening as well, and that was soon occupied by Rosie O'Donnell. Not to be left out of the game, ABC's Charlie Gibson left Good Morning America to anchor the nightly news. And everything at CBS stayed pretty much the same.
3. Oh, and Star Leaves, Too
It seemed sudden. One day, on The View, in late June, Star Jones Reynolds announced that she was leaving the show. It seemed to catch everyone off guard.
A flurry of statements, news releases and interviews later explained the situation this way: Star's contract was not renewed, effectively ending her career on The View. Allegedly, some friction between Star and Rosie added fuel to the fire, as well.
What we know for certain: Barbara did not like how it all went down.
2. Michael Richards Apologizes on The Late Show
It was scandalous. Michael Richards, the comedian best known for playing Kramer on Seinfeld lost not only his cool and his temper on stage at the L.A. Comedy Store - he lost his mind as well. He offended and verbally attacked a group of African-American audience members - and hecklers - with a barrage of racial epithets.
In a quick attempt to salvage his career, Richards was persuaded to go on the Late Show with David Letterman live, via satellite, to apologize for his transgressions.
