by Marcia Studley

Created on: March 04, 2009   Last Updated: March 05, 2009

Talk shows have been around for decades. For a while, the daytime hours were flooded with them. It seemed like anyone who wanted to take an acting break for a while decided that a talk show was the way to do it. However, being a successful talk show host takes skill, not to mention the right personality.

There is a long list of talk show personalities. There were the pioneers - Jack Paar, Steve Allen, Merv Griffin, and Dick Cavett. They all made an impact. There are the rebel rousers - Phil Donahue, Geraldo Rivera, and Sally Jesse Raphael - and the comedians looking for more work - Joan Rivers, Chevy Chase, Joey Bishop, Jay Leno, and David Letterman. We can't forget the wannabes on the fringe - Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, and Jimmy Kimmel - or the actors in need of a new job - Tony Danza, Ricki Lake, Roseanne Barr. The list is endless. Some failed miserably, some survived for a while, but only a few truly made it as a successful talk show host.

Following is a list of the four people I believe are the best talk show hosts of all time.

4) Tom Snyder

Tom brought controversy to the stage, but he did it with honesty and style. His late night sit-downs are legendary. He caused us to think, while also entertaining us. He was up close, and he asked the hard questions with intensity. I still remember his interview with Jerry Lewis which detailed for the first time some very emotional times with Jerry's old comedy partner, Dean Martin. It was big stuff at the time.

3) Arsenio Hall

Arsenio may be a strange choice to some, but it's the guests he got and how he handled them. Sometimes, he did whole shows devoted to a celebrity. I remember welcome segments with Barry Manilow, where Barry sat at the piano and played the entire time. It was a different way of interviewing, and it stood out with me. He let the guests talk, and that's not something that everyone does. He also had Bill Clinton on, playing the Sax, and that was a hoot. Arsenio came along at a point of transition for talk shows, and he took advantage of it.

2) Mike Douglas

Mike was a listener, and that's what made him so good, not to mention that he was able to share the stage. He didn't hog his show, he shared it. Because of this unique ability, he landed celebrities that no one else could get, and he'd get them to commit to a full week of co-hosting. The most notable co-hosts? John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Mike was tolerant of those who weren't just like him, and he was interested in what they had to say. It made him a long-time success.

1) Johnny Carson.

Johnny is the supreme king of the talk show. No-one will ever surpass his ability to turn a nothing joke into a big time laugh. He had timing. Nothing threw him. He could respond to anyone or any stage happening. That's his advantage over almost anyone, including Jay Leno and David Letterman. Carson could respond, while the other guys just stare and stammer. Carson had charisma and style. He left us wanting more, and the sad thing is that there is no more for him to give now.

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