If there is one word to describe the talk show industry in 2013, it must be “transition.” More than anything else, the year saw the comings and goings of a number of big league hosts and shows. Chief among them is Tonight Show host Jay Leno, who leaves his No. 1 talk show in February. The other show going through big change? The View, with three main hosts leaving the show for new opportunities. To put it all in perspective, here’s our Top 10 list of Memorable Talk Show Moments in 2013:
It’s hard to believe this happened only a year ago, but in early January, we learned that Lance Armstrong told talk show legend Oprah Winfrey that he used performance-enhancing drugs to win the Tour de France. The revelation shocked the world, since Armstrong vehemently denied taking performance-enhancing drugs - or doping - for many years.More »
Jimmy Kimmel made the switch to 11:35 p.m. in January, joining the big boys of late night TV, David Letterman and Jay Leno. Kimmel marked the occasion with a 10-year retrospective of his late night talk show, titled "Goodbye to Midnight." Kimmel’s ratings have been on the rise since the move, as well. More »
We first got wind of change coming to the Tonight Show in February, when a story was leaked that Tonight Show host Jay Leno could be replaced with Late Night host Jimmy Fallon. In February, Leno was denying the rumors, battling back by skewering the network in his nightly monologues. We didn’t get official word until April, when NBC announced the changes. Speculation began immediately about who might replace Fallon.More »
In March, we learned that ABC's The View would lose two of it's most senior co-hosts - Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Both ended their tenure in the late summer. Speculation began almost immediately as to who would replace the two. We learned in mid-summer that Hasselbeck’s replacement was Jenny McCarthy, who has taking a fair amount of criticism by viewers since her arrival in September.
More change at The Viewwas announced in May, when Barbara Walters, pioneering broadcast journalist, the first female anchorwoman, and creator of The View, announced her retirement on the morning talk show. "It's time," the 83-year-old Walters was quoted in The New York Times. Walters won't leave ABC until 2014, spending moments in primetime and on The Viewto reminisce about her career and give time for her co-workers and fans to wave goodbye.More »
We also learned in May that Saturday Night Live head writer and Weekend Update anchor Seth Meyers will replace Jimmy Fallon as host of Late Night. Most believed Meyers was always the odds on favorite to get the post. SNL creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels is also the executive producer of Late Night. Michaels will soon produce The Tonight Show, as well. Meyers gets Late Night soon after NBC's Winter Olympics coverage.More »
In August, Dr. Mehmet Oz, host of The Dr. Oz Show, leapt into action after a man and woman were struck by a taxi cab in New York City. The taxi jumped a curb and the driver accidentally hit the gas. According to reports, Dr. Oz heard the crash from his office and rushed down to the street to help. First responders were already on the scene treating the woman, according to Dr. Oz's reps. Dr. Oz gave credit to the Samaritans, saying their fast action saved the woman's life.More »
Last Call host Carson Daly is joining The Today Show. He'll be the morning news and talk show's "digital doorman," taking up residence in something called the Orange Room. As he joins Today, Daly leave Last Call as host. In an interview on Today announcing his new orange gig, Daly said he'd remain on staff as an executive producer and oversee the transition to a new host. He'll keep his other NBC gig, as host of The Voice. No word yet on who that replacement is.More »
Recent events record a growing feud between the hosts of CBS’s The Talk and ABC’s The View. Most of the feud is one-sided, with The Talk hosts talking trash against The View, a show definitely in transition. But it all started in November, when Sharon Osbourne, co-host of The Talk, appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show and took The View to task. When Hall asked the hosts to explain the difference between their "round table" and that of The View's. Osbourne off-handedly said, "I love Barbara Walters. The rest can go [expletive] themselves." Osbourne quickly recanted a day later, before anyone from The View had time to comment.
Katie Couric's daytime talk show, Katie, was cancelled in December, after two seasons on the air.The final show will air in June 2014. In some ways, the news comes as no shock. In late November, Yahoo! News announced that Couric would become the digital channel's Global News Anchor. Couric will lead a team of journalists covering events from around the world. It also follows our prediction that the daytime talk show field would grow more competitive and more crowded, with daytime talk shows that can’t stand the competition, falling by the wayside.More »
1. Lance Armstrong Tells Oprah He Doped
It’s hard to believe this happened only a year ago, but in early January, we learned that Lance Armstrong told talk show legend Oprah Winfrey that he used performance-enhancing drugs to win the Tour de France. The revelation shocked the world, since Armstrong vehemently denied taking performance-enhancing drugs - or doping - for many years.More »
2. Jimmy Kimmel Moves to 11:35 p.m. Start Time
Jimmy Kimmel made the switch to 11:35 p.m. in January, joining the big boys of late night TV, David Letterman and Jay Leno. Kimmel marked the occasion with a 10-year retrospective of his late night talk show, titled "Goodbye to Midnight." Kimmel’s ratings have been on the rise since the move, as well. More »
3. Leno Retiring from 'Tonight Show'
We first got wind of change coming to the Tonight Show in February, when a story was leaked that Tonight Show host Jay Leno could be replaced with Late Night host Jimmy Fallon. In February, Leno was denying the rumors, battling back by skewering the network in his nightly monologues. We didn’t get official word until April, when NBC announced the changes. Speculation began immediately about who might replace Fallon.More »
4. Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck Depart 'The View'
In March, we learned that ABC's The View would lose two of it's most senior co-hosts - Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Both ended their tenure in the late summer. Speculation began almost immediately as to who would replace the two. We learned in mid-summer that Hasselbeck’s replacement was Jenny McCarthy, who has taking a fair amount of criticism by viewers since her arrival in September.
5. Barbara Walters Announces Her Retirement
More change at The Viewwas announced in May, when Barbara Walters, pioneering broadcast journalist, the first female anchorwoman, and creator of The View, announced her retirement on the morning talk show. "It's time," the 83-year-old Walters was quoted in The New York Times. Walters won't leave ABC until 2014, spending moments in primetime and on The Viewto reminisce about her career and give time for her co-workers and fans to wave goodbye.More »
6. 'Late Night with Seth Meyers' On Its Way
We also learned in May that Saturday Night Live head writer and Weekend Update anchor Seth Meyers will replace Jimmy Fallon as host of Late Night. Most believed Meyers was always the odds on favorite to get the post. SNL creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels is also the executive producer of Late Night. Michaels will soon produce The Tonight Show, as well. Meyers gets Late Night soon after NBC's Winter Olympics coverage.More »
7. Dr. Oz Leaps to Aid of Woman Struck by Taxi
In August, Dr. Mehmet Oz, host of The Dr. Oz Show, leapt into action after a man and woman were struck by a taxi cab in New York City. The taxi jumped a curb and the driver accidentally hit the gas. According to reports, Dr. Oz heard the crash from his office and rushed down to the street to help. First responders were already on the scene treating the woman, according to Dr. Oz's reps. Dr. Oz gave credit to the Samaritans, saying their fast action saved the woman's life.More »
8. Carson Daly Joins 'Today'; Leaving 'Last Call'
Last Call host Carson Daly is joining The Today Show. He'll be the morning news and talk show's "digital doorman," taking up residence in something called the Orange Room. As he joins Today, Daly leave Last Call as host. In an interview on Today announcing his new orange gig, Daly said he'd remain on staff as an executive producer and oversee the transition to a new host. He'll keep his other NBC gig, as host of The Voice. No word yet on who that replacement is.More »
9. Feud Between 'The Talk' and 'The View' Becomes Real
Recent events record a growing feud between the hosts of CBS’s The Talk and ABC’s The View. Most of the feud is one-sided, with The Talk hosts talking trash against The View, a show definitely in transition. But it all started in November, when Sharon Osbourne, co-host of The Talk, appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show and took The View to task. When Hall asked the hosts to explain the difference between their "round table" and that of The View's. Osbourne off-handedly said, "I love Barbara Walters. The rest can go [expletive] themselves." Osbourne quickly recanted a day later, before anyone from The View had time to comment.
10. 'Katie' Cancelled After Two Seasons
Katie Couric's daytime talk show, Katie, was cancelled in December, after two seasons on the air.The final show will air in June 2014. In some ways, the news comes as no shock. In late November, Yahoo! News announced that Couric would become the digital channel's Global News Anchor. Couric will lead a team of journalists covering events from around the world. It also follows our prediction that the daytime talk show field would grow more competitive and more crowded, with daytime talk shows that can’t stand the competition, falling by the wayside.More »