Talk Shows

Comedian, television host and musician Steve Allen performs his original songs and compositions for Fresh Air. He also talks about his career as the host of his own late-night television program and his new book, Funny People, which pays homage to some of his favorite comedians.

Paul Zimmerman is the screenwriter of the film "The King of Comedy," directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert DeNiro and Jerry Lewis. Zimmerman was previously the movies editor for Newsweek and has written several books. ZImmerman is based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and is active in the Bucks Alliance for Nuclear Disarmament (B.A.N.D.). Now, that "The King of Comedy," has been released, Zimmerman returns to Fresh Air to discuss the film.

A new collection of Roger Ebert's writing, titled A Kiss is Just A Kiss, has just been published. His television program, co-hosted by fellow critic and professional rival Gene Siskel, is now syndicated on commercial stations.

A collection of Roger Ebert's essays is called A Kiss is Just A Kiss. He co-hosts the television show At the Movies with fellow critic and professional rival Gene Siskel.

Dick Cavett is a television talk show host, comedian, and writer. He's had shows on ABC, public television, and cable television. He began his career writing jokes for Jack Parr and Johnny Carson. He is known for his esoteric guest and "intellectual" style.

Phil Donahue started his eponymous television talk show in 1967 in Dayton, Ohio. Today, it is the most popular talk show on daytime t.v. The show includes celebrity interviews, but also tackles controversial social issues, and heavily involves its audience. Donahue's latest book is "The Human Animal," which surveys what experts have to say about human nature, and is a companion to a t.v. series of the same name. Donahue joins the show to discuss his career, his conversion from a chauvinist to a feminist, and being a single parent.

The robotic talk show host has been featured in films, commercials, and several television shows. TV critic David Bianculli says the ABC version is great; the Cinemax one is guano.

Television Critic David Bianculli previews "The Morton Downey Jr. Show," a new talk show that's the equivalent of shock radio. Downey's guests range from representatives of Planned Parenthood to the Ku Klux Klan. But it's the frenzy of audience, and Downey's abuse of both guests and audience, that makes the show unique.

Television Critic David Bianculli reviews "Jack Paar is Alive and Well," NBC's look back at the first host of "The Tonight Show."

Fred de Cordova, executive producer of "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson." His autobiography, "Johnny Came Lately," is a behind-the-scenes tell-all about the workings of one of television's longest-running and highest rated shows. de Cordova credits include directing Ronald Reagan in "Bedtime for Bonzo," directing "The Jack Benny Show," "The Burns and Allen Show," and "My Three Sons."

Journalist Bill Moyers is joining the ranks of television talk show hosts with his new PBS show. Eschewing the spectacle of programs helmed by Geraldo, Morton and Sally, Moyers conducts thoughtful interviews with public intellectuals. Television critic David Bianculli says Moyers really listens to his guests, giving their conversations more depth than what you'd find on network TV.

Joe Franklin has been an enduring institution in the world of radio and television talk shows. Over the past 36 years, he's interviewed countless actors, comedians, and musicians. His show is a unique, low-budget operation; Franklin books all the guests himself.

TV critic David Bianculli review The Arsenio Hall Show and The Pat Sajak show, both of which attempt to recreate the success of Johnny Carson and David Letterman's late night programs. Bianculli says Hall leans a little too heavily on name-dropping, while Sajak borrows too much from Letterman.

Steve O'Donnell, the head writer for Late Night with David Letterman, writes many of the program's top ten lists. A new book compiles the best of these, called, simply, The Late Night with David Letterman Book of Top Ten Lists.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz tries his hand at television reviewing. He turns to one of his favorite Norman Lear shows from the late 70s, "Fernwood 2-Night," a satirical talk show whose edgy humor still resonates today. It airs nightly on cable TVs Nick-at-Nite.

Television critic David Bianculli reviews three of the network's specials that feature some of the best moments from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "All in the Family," and "The Ed Sullivan Show."

Tonight show band saxophonist Tommy Newsom talks with Terry about the end of his longest running gig (30 years with The Tonight Show).

Terry talks with TV critic David Bianculli about the end of a TV era -- the end of Johnny Carson's Tonight Show.

TV critic David Bianculli reviews Jay Leno's "Tonight Show," now in its second week.