10 Talk Show Things to Be Thankful For

In early November 2010, talk show host Conan O’Brien returned to television after several months away from the lights and studio cameras. As you’ll recall, Conan self-booted from The Tonight Show and later landed at TBS with a new show, Conan. The best part? Andy Richter’s with him, serving as sidekick, just like in the old days when the two reinvented talk show comedy as host and sidekick of Late Night at NBC.

You really can't get much cooler than The Roots when it comes to late night talk show house bands. I mean, in some small way, you almost think this award-winning hip hop group shouldn't be on the show - that maybe they're doing it as a lark or as something to do between albums. But there they are, night after night. It's a wonder Fallon doesn't give them an hour to perform on their own. Maybe he will someday.

I’m thankful that the former Saturday Night Live star is able to carry on the great Late Night tradition of smart, sharp, funny talk show hosts. It must’ve been nerve wracking to follow in the footsteps of both David Letterman and Conan O’Brien, but there’s Jimmy. He’s turning out great stuff night after night. And slowly – but surely – he’ll find his footing. The next Tonight Show host? Maybe …

I know, it’s not good karma, it’s not in good spirit, but I was happy to see The Jay Leno Show flail and fail in the ratings. Not because of anything against Leno. He’s a fine talk show host. But just the general concept of slotting a talk show into primetime. From the get-go it didn’t feel like it would work. And, sure enough, it didn’t. I just don’t think viewers want their drama hour fooled with.

Without question the most underrated talk show host on the planet. The guy has a gift for gab. Why wouldn’t he be a talk show host? Why shouldn’t he be a talk show host. His monologues are legendary and comedy bits are outrageous. After years on the air, people are still discovering the Late Late Show.

I’m not much of Jimmy Kimmel fan, but that’s only a matter of taste. And my lack of appreciation for his comedy is made up for in my appreciation for his earnestness. Kimmel, once the slacker on Comedy Central’s Win Ben Stein’s Money and co-host of The Man Show, proves time and again that he digs this talk show gig and wants to be really freakin’ good at it. And you know what? He is. He’s not my cup of tea, but I don’t drink. Millions of other people, however, do.

Love her or hate her, you cannot deny that Rosie O’Donnell is a talk show pioneer. She single handedly brought regular talk back to the afternoon. You may not remember, but in those days, when she was hosting The Rosie O’Donnell Show, she was surrounded by mean spirited tabloid filth (and Oprah was just getting out of that phase). As a counter, Rosie brought warmth, comedy and celebrity guests to the afternoon. Everyone tuned in to see her and those other shows just withered and died.

Not everyone would agree, but in the last several years, the true king of late night, David Letterman, has warmed up a bit. He’s not so cranky, not so cold, not so – stressed out. He used to look pained when he interviewed guests. Now he seems interested and involved and ready to have a laugh or two.

I watch almost every talk show – a few times a year. There aren’t many that I watch on a daily basis. Except for The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. The two shows are required viewing in the Tennant household. At no other time in my recent history has their been a pair of shows that delivered straight up news with a critical eye and biting tongue. And I love that the media could learn more from Stewart and Colbert than any politician out there.

As you can probably tell, I’m more of a late night viewer than a daytime watcher. Still, I have a soft spot for Rachael Ray. The Rachael Ray Show seems to perpetually get lost among all the shows coming in and shows going out and powerhouses like Dr. Oz and Ellen DeGeneres. Yet she keeps plugging along, keeping her rating up and using that phrase, “Yummo.”