Intelligent Talk Shows
What are some intelligent talk shows that host a myriad of people- from politicians to entertainers to lawyers to scientists to business titans, etc.?
I'm not looking for silly, but people who get down to real life.
So far I have:
Charlie Rose
Dick Cavett
Oxford Q&A on Youtube
The David Rubinstein Show
by Anonymous | reply 90 | December 1, 2023 11:28 PM
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OP, they all used to be intelligent.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 2 | April 30, 2022 5:25 PM
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They no longer exist on American television. The Newshour has some good interviews. For politics, I liked to watch Friday night's lineup: the Newshour's Capehart and Brooks, Washington Week, and Margaret Hoover. She's a good interviewer. She lets the person she's interviewing talk. Charlie Rose never did that.
The BBC has some good chats with intelligent people.
by Anonymous | reply 4 | April 30, 2022 5:35 PM
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Michael Parkinson. He let people talk.
by Anonymous | reply 5 | April 30, 2022 5:57 PM
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The ones where celebs aren't allowed to talk.
by Anonymous | reply 6 | April 30, 2022 6:36 PM
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I wouldn't include Charlie Rose on that list. As noted above his show was mainly just a platform to display his smugness.
David Susskind pretty much originated the genre with a broad cross section of people who would actually discuss issues. His show was called Open End because they would allow them to continue past it's regular time slot if the discussion warranted.
Bill Buckley on Firing Line as well.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 7 | April 30, 2022 6:40 PM
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Graham Norton is entertaining, although he does pucker up a lot. Still a fun show if you want celebrity buzz.
by Anonymous | reply 8 | April 30, 2022 6:47 PM
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Are there any real interviewers left?
It seems like today’s interviews are just couched efforts to further an agenda. They are all like Fox News interviewing Trump.
Anyway so in 1981 I was camping around but got a motel in Sacramento specifically to see Tom Snyder interview Charlie Manson. It was a huge deal.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 9 | April 30, 2022 9:56 PM
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Dick Cavett and David Letterman are probably at the top of the interviewer list.
by Anonymous | reply 10 | May 1, 2022 1:17 AM
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Fresh Air on public radio.
As It Happens on CBC radio.
by Anonymous | reply 11 | May 1, 2022 1:23 AM
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When I need a real intellectual workout, I watch Andy Cohen on WWHL.
by Anonymous | reply 12 | May 1, 2022 1:33 AM
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I found him on youtube, he's pretty enjoyable.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 13 | May 1, 2022 2:00 PM
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What you want is on podcasts, OP. Not TV.
by Anonymous | reply 14 | May 1, 2022 2:22 PM
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I watched a couple of episodes of the David Rubinstein Show last night. John Kerry and Chris Nassetta were being interviewed.
by Anonymous | reply 15 | May 1, 2022 3:22 PM
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R16 Donahue any link to a good episode?
by Anonymous | reply 17 | May 1, 2022 3:27 PM
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Phil interviewing Bette Davis in 1987. I remember I taped this and watched it over and over and over.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 18 | May 1, 2022 3:29 PM
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William F Buckley reminded me of ‘that wily Count from Budapest’ in that his demeanor was so unctuous that I’m sure ‘he oiled himself across the floor’. I found him unwatchable…
by Anonymous | reply 19 | May 1, 2022 3:34 PM
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Margaret Hoover is really good. She acts like an adult, no showboating. Treats her guests respectfully.
by Anonymous | reply 20 | May 1, 2022 3:46 PM
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All the women on the View hate each other.
by Anonymous | reply 22 | May 1, 2022 4:20 PM
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I've found some decent stuff with Christiane Amanpour recently - but I find her on youtube and I'm not sure where her show airs. (lately about Ukraine - I think she is/was actually there for a while - or maybe in Poland)
by Anonymous | reply 23 | May 1, 2022 4:31 PM
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R23 She has a daily show on CNN International and weekly show on PBS.
by Anonymous | reply 24 | May 1, 2022 4:36 PM
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Even Anderson Cooper has done some on-site good reporting from Ukraine - last week, he went to an underground basement or something, I think in Kviv or maybe Lviv? Anyway, a woman was there with her 6 month old baby and two other young children, and he did a fairly lengthy interview with her about how she's coping and her worries that her husband would be killed fighting the Russians. Also the effect on her children - they went outside during the day but hunkered down every night in their new basement quarters.
He's been really touched by the people he's interviewing. Good stuff really. I always thought he was a great on-site type reporter - and ok on a panel or whatever but they made him have Santorum or some other shithead there with him, ruining everything. (back when I watched tv before the election - I'm on hiatus till the 2024 nightmare on Pennsylvania Avenue starts up...
by Anonymous | reply 25 | May 1, 2022 4:45 PM
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I have a VPN and especially like Dateline London lately. Also the BBC World News, just to get the latest blurbs.
by Anonymous | reply 27 | May 1, 2022 4:47 PM
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The early Donahue years were usually very good.
by Anonymous | reply 28 | May 1, 2022 7:26 PM
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I agree R28. I remember reading that Phil was supposed to be in the original primetime lineup for MSNBC but Chris Matthews threw a fit and somehow managed to block him being on the network.
by Anonymous | reply 29 | May 1, 2022 8:03 PM
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James Lipton, Inside the Actor's Studio
by Anonymous | reply 30 | May 1, 2022 8:09 PM
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Even the Merv Griffin show back in the 1960s when he broadcast from Times Square.
And of course the David Susskind Show.
by Anonymous | reply 31 | May 1, 2022 8:15 PM
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R25 - that started well but for me he's overdone it with her.
by Anonymous | reply 32 | May 1, 2022 8:20 PM
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He's a joke here now but Larry King, for a long time. He just let people talk. Larry King, for a period, was where you went to make or break news or to deal with a problem.
by Anonymous | reply 33 | May 1, 2022 8:21 PM
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The theme seems to be hosts that aren't about themselves and know that when it comes to talking, less from the host is more.
by Anonymous | reply 34 | May 1, 2022 8:22 PM
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R28 yes, he also had AIDS focused episodes early on when virtually no one else was talking about that. He did that with a lot of issues, actually. And he addressed issues intelligently and with nuance.
The 25th anniversary special was on YouTube for a while - not sure if still is, but it gives you a an idea of how very good the show could be.
by Anonymous | reply 35 | May 1, 2022 8:23 PM
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I still say CNN could fill that nine o-clock hour like it used to be filled.
Michael Smerconish is a good and informed interviewer. Probably comes too close to talking too much but I listen to him in the car Saturday mornings whenever I'm driving and I am always absorbed by him and his guests.
by Anonymous | reply 36 | May 1, 2022 8:23 PM
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60 Minutes - they still do the tough stories.
by Anonymous | reply 37 | May 1, 2022 8:24 PM
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R36 CNN has such a losing line up in primetime. Michael Smerconish should have a primetime Larry King style show. He has a nice tough old school energy about him.
And dump Don Lemon and replace with Victor Blackwell.
by Anonymous | reply 38 | May 1, 2022 8:29 PM
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For three years Donahue co-hosted a program with a Russian KGB agent pushing their propaganda. MSNBC would have fit Phil like a glove.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 39 | May 1, 2022 8:30 PM
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R29 He did have a show on MSNBC in 2002, but it was cancelled in 2003 because being Anti-War at that time was surprisingly not wanted on MSNBC. Which is crazy because by 2004 MSNBC was anti-war wall to wall.
by Anonymous | reply 40 | May 1, 2022 9:15 PM
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Unfortunately, by today's standards, the current talk shows ARE intelligent.
by Anonymous | reply 42 | May 2, 2022 3:13 PM
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OP here, I have found some good podcasts and shows:
The Oath with Chuck Rosenberg
WSJ Freedom of Expression with Gerard Baker
BFI has some good interviews
Any interview with a Supreme Court justice.
I do not understand the Charlie Rose hate? I like him and usually learn something from the interview.
by Anonymous | reply 43 | September 14, 2022 2:19 AM
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Charlie Rose, OP?
He was an insufferable boor, who dominated his interviews, rather than letting his guests speak.
Good Riddance to the old leach.
My vote goes to Margaret Hoover on Firing Line or Jeffrey Brown of PBS' NewsHour
by Anonymous | reply 44 | September 14, 2022 2:25 AM
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Jeez Louise!! I commented twice on this thread, not realizing it was an older one!!
by Anonymous | reply 45 | September 14, 2022 2:26 AM
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R7 As a South Carolinian one thing that I am unquestionably proud of is the fact that Firing Line was presented to the rest of the country by South Carolina Educational Television, through PBS. We also gave PBS The Magic School Bus.
But, I will say. There are few intelligent talkshows, left. So find some podcasts.
by Anonymous | reply 46 | September 14, 2022 2:27 AM
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Here is a Charlie Rose interview with soprano Catherine Malfitnao.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 47 | September 14, 2022 1:02 PM
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OP here.
I have been enjoying Firing Line! Thank you for the recommendation.
I also like American Masters. Attached is an interview with Fran Drescher. She comes off as intelligent and down to Earth.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 48 | July 19, 2023 11:43 PM
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I also like Margaret Brennan
by Anonymous | reply 49 | July 19, 2023 11:44 PM
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I used to enjoy a Colortini with Tom Snyder
by Anonymous | reply 50 | July 19, 2023 11:46 PM
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I feel like Larry King was a good mix of intelligence and middle brow or mass culture.
by Anonymous | reply 51 | July 19, 2023 11:49 PM
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I always liked that Larry King interviewed older celebrities. I worked days during the OJ trial so I didn't watch it but most nights I would watch Larry King discussing it.
by Anonymous | reply 52 | July 19, 2023 11:52 PM
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Fareed Zakaria is a great show with international guests.
by Anonymous | reply 53 | July 20, 2023 12:28 AM
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During the 70s when Geraldo Rivera was completely different then he is now, Goodnight America was a very good show.
by Anonymous | reply 54 | July 20, 2023 12:48 AM
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I lived for Dick Cavett. Best talk show ever.
by Anonymous | reply 56 | July 20, 2023 12:56 AM
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David Letterman was pretty intelligent.
by Anonymous | reply 57 | July 20, 2023 12:58 AM
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R58 I like Montel’s style very much. Back when I wanted to have my own I looked up to him. But his stuff was very low brow.
by Anonymous | reply 59 | July 20, 2023 2:22 AM
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Kamala the Vice Pres. liked Montel's style too
by Anonymous | reply 61 | July 20, 2023 10:50 PM
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Charlie Rose was not a talk show. It was an interview program.
by Anonymous | reply 63 | July 21, 2023 12:14 AM
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The short lived Carnie Wilson show
by Anonymous | reply 64 | July 21, 2023 12:16 AM
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Why in the hell won’t you give Sally Jessy some fanfare???
by Anonymous | reply 65 | July 21, 2023 12:29 AM
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Alan Partridge - first series.
by Anonymous | reply 66 | July 21, 2023 12:49 AM
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OP, David Rubenstein is always good.
I loved Tom Snyder.
by Anonymous | reply 67 | July 21, 2023 1:37 AM
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I never liked Charlie Rose, I thought he interrupted his guests too often.
I liked Tavis Smiley. He had uncommon guests. His Johnny Mathis interview was the best.
by Anonymous | reply 68 | July 21, 2023 1:49 AM
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Tomorrow with Tom Snyder was fun and he occasionally got some good interviews from guests because it was so laid back.
Bob Costas is a good interviewer. He is a bit overprepared sometimes, but still he can get guests talking fairly openly.
Charlie Rose was tedious, but did book good guests when he was still on the air.
by Anonymous | reply 69 | July 21, 2023 1:50 AM
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Craig Ferguson did some good interviews.
Granted, like most network level late night hosts, he spent a lot of time on comic bits.
But he was one of the few hosts to really invite book authors/writers and people otherwise unexpected for network TV.
Colbert did the same in his former CC show.
by Anonymous | reply 70 | July 21, 2023 1:53 AM
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I have a hunch that Kelly Clarkson isn't up to your intellectual standards, because she can barely speak English.
by Anonymous | reply 71 | July 21, 2023 1:53 AM
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R70 In his first season, Craig Ferguson regularly had authors on his show and had interesting conversations with them. My guess is that didn't pull in the ratings the network was looking for so he had to stop booking them. He really seemed to enjoy talking with interesting guests.
by Anonymous | reply 72 | July 21, 2023 2:28 AM
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R72 He had them at other times too.....it was never super frequently but every once in a while he had on writers and intellectuals, and they were great conversations, in the vein of what Tom Snyder did.
For all his manic comic energy, Ferguson makes a damn good listener, as well.
by Anonymous | reply 73 | July 21, 2023 2:30 AM
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r65 my red glasses gave her fanfare
by Anonymous | reply 74 | July 21, 2023 2:39 AM
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OP here. My favorite shows:
Firing Line with Margaret Hoover
Any interview conducted by Judy Woodruff
60 Minutes
Freedom of Expression with Gerard Baker (a WSJ podcast)
Charlie Rose
Dick Cavett
PBS Frontline
by Anonymous | reply 75 | September 22, 2023 5:38 AM
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You guys might like Graham Bensinger. His interviews are on YouTube. My favorite interview was Bob Costas. I liked Bob Costas ever since I saw him interview / cross-examine Jerry Sandusky.
Until I saw Bensinger's IV w/Costas, I didn't realize how openly critical BC was of Donald Trump. Bob Costas can't stand D. Trump and doesn't hide it.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 77 | September 22, 2023 5:47 AM
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This is pretty high brow and intelligent, no?
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 78 | September 22, 2023 6:17 AM
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Regardless of your opinion of his interview style, Charlie Rose should have been banned from TV hosting long ago just because he says "liberry" and "amblance."
by Anonymous | reply 80 | September 22, 2023 8:26 AM
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R80 He's from North Carolina lol
by Anonymous | reply 81 | October 31, 2023 11:58 PM
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Back in the olden days, I enjoyed the Tom Snyder and David Susskind talk shows.
by Anonymous | reply 82 | November 1, 2023 12:02 AM
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Phil Donahue sometimes had some very good , intelligent shows.
by Anonymous | reply 83 | November 1, 2023 12:06 AM
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Red Table Tale starring Jada Pinkett-Smith, the wisest and most important person on the planet.
by Anonymous | reply 84 | November 1, 2023 12:09 AM
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Mike Douglas and Dinah Shore both had a great gift for low-key but very thoughtful discussions with their guests. They always let their guests take front and center and shine. I miss the dignity and modesty they brought to the talk show format.
by Anonymous | reply 85 | November 1, 2023 12:58 AM
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I’d hate to be the poor bastard assigned to wipe her ass
by Anonymous | reply 89 | December 1, 2023 11:01 PM
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