With Your Hosts:

Lindsay Varner

Danielle Dallaire

Sarah Stein

Allison Doerfler

History• Like soap operas, talk shows

began as daytime radio programming for housewives.

• The formula was applied to television because itwas inexpensive for a young medium.

The 1950’s: public affairs shows• Meet The Press: first and longest

running TV talk show of all time (1947)– 1st moderator Martha Rountree, only

female moderator in show’s history

• Various imitators of panel discussion formula emerged

• Leave It To The Girls: panel of female celebrities and one male opinion (1949)

The 1950’s: morning shows

• Today (1952) integrates news and entertainment– Televisions longest running

daytime series and one of the most profitable TV shows in history

– The “Today Girl” added in 1953

– “Today Girl” becomes a full-fledged cast member in 1974

The 1960’s: more entertainment & women• 1963: Barbara Walters becomes a

regular “Today Girl”• Female-hosted shows increase

– Focus on celebrity interviews and the host personality rather than issues• Girl Talk (1963-1970)• Gypsy (1965) hosted by Gypsy Rose Lee• Pamela Mason Show / The Weaker (?) Sex

(1965 / 1968)

The 1970’s: serious issues• Helen Gurley Brown attempts to address

serious women’s issues with Outrageous Opinions in 1967

• The Phil Donahue Show (1967) popularizes the shift towards serious issues– Audience questions and phone calls on air– Seeks heated debates and controversial guests

• Phyllis Schafly (anti-ERA) and Eleanor Smeal (head of NOW)

The 1980’s: sensationalist competition

• Competitors copy Donahue’s style of sensationalism with political undertones.– Sally Jesse Raphael moves from radio to TV

(1985)– The Oprah Winfrey Show (syndicated

nationally in 1986)• Oprah becomes richest woman in America in the 1990’s and turns from sensationalism to therapy

The 1980’s: more variety• “Tabloid TV” debuts with Geraldo

in 1987– Geraldo boasts an “edge”, complete

with fistfights• Leave It To the Women (1981)

updates Leave It To The Girls• Live With Regis and Kathie Lee

(1989) returns to entertainment without sensationalism

The 1990’s: “exploitalk”• “Exploitalk”: aimed at 18-34

year olds, and focuses increasingly on human sexuality topics– 1991: Maury Povich,

Montel Williams, Jenny Jones– 1992: Jerry Springer– 1993: Leeza Gibbons,

Ricki Lake

The 1990’s: backlash against Trash TV

• Senator Joseph Lieberman and his associates convince many advertisers to withdraw sponsorship

• Jenny Jones murder trial • Many hosts decide to clean up their

acts• New shows lead the way back to

entertainment programming– Rosie O’Donnell (1996)– Barbara Walter’s The View (1997)

One-Host/ Moderator ~ Daytime

• Single topic• Regular

professional guests– e.g.) Psychic Sylvia

Brown on Montel Williams

• Affected By:– Phil Donahue-

audience participation and on-air phone calls

– Game shows• Queen for a Day-

charity• This is Your Life-

surprises and emotions

Panel Discussion ~ Daytime• People discuss aspects of lives or

current social issues• More dialogue• Different opinions sparks

interesting conversations

“Couch Shows” ~ Daytime• One host behind desk who

conducts interviews• Alternative to “trashy talk shows”• Coffee break companionship• Entertainment for those who work

nights– e.g.) The Rosie O’Donnell Show

One-Host ~ Nighttime• Talk shows move to night by 1954• People did not want to hear about

controversial issues while winding down for bed = comedy-oriented

• Late-night recipe:– Sidekick– Bandleader– Opening monologue– Guests

• e.g.) Late Night with Conan O’Brien, sidekick Andy (who recently left), bandleader Max.

Panel Discussion ~ Nighttime• Similar set up as daytime

– e.g.) Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher

• Night issues– comedy-oriented

News Talk Shows• Day

– News and entertainment value

– Typically Panel Discussion

– Relaxed setting• e.g.) Good Morning

America, living room set

• Night– Straight news, 2-4

topics in 1-hour program

– Typically One Host

• How different than regular news programs:– Human-interest

stories– Celebrity

interviews

The View• Premiered August 11, 1997 on

ABC• Hosted by 5 women, led by

Barbara Walters• Cover diverse topics• Mostly female audience

The Hosts• Barbara Walters• Meredith Vieira• Star Jones• Joy Behar• Lisa Ling

The Topics• Hot Topics• Celebrity Guest Interviews• Beauty/Health/Fashion Tips• ”Out of the Closet”• Special Segments• “Question of the Day”

“Loose and flip and they say things women aren’t supposed to say out loud, let alone on TV. They swoon over cute guys, complain about ex-husbands, react emotionally to events and people in the news and say unkind things about other women” ~ Joyce Millman

The Other Half

• Dick Clark• Dorian Gregory• Danny Bonaduce• Mario Lopez

The Show• Female producer• In touch with feminine side• Tackles “women’s issues”

– Grab Bag

The Topics

• Polygamy Wives• Slim your figure instantly• The Aging Machine• Save your marriage

Guests

• Females:– Strong– Varying lives– Have messages for

female audience

• Males:– Funny– In touch with

feminine side

Contact Information

• http://abc.abcnews.go.com/theview/main.html

• www.theotherhalf.tv/main.html

Thank you for joining us, we’ll see you next time!