Talk shows, or chat shows, depending on the show's country of origin, can either be great fun or a total car crash. There are many different variables that determine which side of the coin a show falls on, with one of the biggest factors being the host.
Updated on June 7th, 2022 by George Chrysostomou: News that James Corden will be retiring from his incredibly successful role as the host of The Late Late Show has many people thinking about the great talk show talents that have emerged from both the US and the UK. As the chat show format continues to evolve it's important to revisit those talented hosts of the past who helped define the genre and the up-and-coming comedians and performers who have managed to leave their own mark on the format! These British and American talents will surely be looked at in years to come when crafting new talk shows.
John Bishop
Very few talk show hosts manage to dabble in the job alongside a successful standup and acting career. Although fans may recognize John Bishop from his fantastic comedy sets or his companion role on Doctor Who, the Liverpudlian now has his own chat show as well.
Mixing sketches with a more relaxed approach to the genre, The John Bishop shows feels a lot more like an informal chat than anything resembling its American parallels. It's driven by Bishop's charm and humor, allowing the guests to ease into the show and consequently take a few more risks during the unrehearsed aspects.
Mo Gilligan
Another British talk show host who is probably best known on the standup circuit, Mo Gilligan really has every attribute that an audience would be looking for. Calm under pressure and totally relatable, he breaks through the stardom of his guests and helps them to just be themselves.
While he might have made an impact as a co-host of The Big Narstie Show it was The Lateish Show Aith Mo Gilligan where his true vision for what the format could be, came to life. He's pioneering a new era of talented Black talk show hosts in primetime slots when there had been so very few before. Gilligan's perfect comedic timing and genius gags like nursery rhyme raps have catapulted The Lateish Show in its popularity.
David Letterman
Late Night With David Letterman and The Late Show are just two of the staples of this extraordinary career. When thinking about the all-time greats, the dry wit of Letterman can't be ignored. Completely professional but with a cheeky gleam in his eye, Letterman really can't be beaten at what he does.
Letterman boasts a style that few others could achieve, never letting up jokes that others may have backed away from. His impressive career on TV and the many stars he met along the way is testament to the talent of the talk show host and he continues to dip into that world with sporadic TV appearances, the highly-rated My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, and a few podcasts.
Larry King
On one side of the coin is David Letterman and thus on the other is the late Larry King, who never stopped in the world of showbusiness, even releasing his beloved podcasts and interview shows years after his time on TV. King is an inspiration to all other talk show hosts.
His time on the radio might have firmly established him but both Larry King Live and The Larry King Show came to define his storied career. King got the best out of his guests and the audience always trusted him with their time. That's perhaps why he landed some of the biggest interviews in modern history.
Craig Ferguson
Craig Ferguson is a bit of a throwback but his presence is sorely missed. His Scottish charm worked oh so well in the States, even though he would have enjoyed the same successes in the UK. As the host of The Late Late Show, he elevated the platform to surprising heights.
He was one of the quickest talk show hosts on TV, always ready with another joke when a story began to fall flat. While he has largely turned away from showbusiness, for now, he's clearly left quite the influence for those Brits looking to make it big time across the pond.
Jonathan Ross
No, this is nothing to do with him being thrown off the radio a few years ago or him having a slightly different voice. Jonathan Ross tends to get some really good guests onto his show and that’s been the case ever since he got into the game.
However, having really good guests sometimes feels like it covers up for Ross being a half-hearted type of host. He’s witty from time to time and he lets the guests talk, but the layout is lacking to a certain degree. He’s got quite nice hair, though.
Russell Howard
Another great UK talk show host is Russell Howard. He's a well-known comedian who has quite recently taken the leap into the world of talk shows, with The Russell Howard Hour which has become very popular in a short space of time.
Because Russell is already a popular comedian, he brings his own style to the show, which is light-hearted and allows for a lot of fun. However, he did surprise people with his guests as they often tackle big issues and difficult topics, which makes his show really interesting to watch.
Michael McIntyre
It could be said that his actual chat show days are over, but it feels like Michael McIntyre is the kind of fella who likes to keep people guessing.
The standup comedian isn’t everyone’s cup of tea and when hosting his own show, it’s not hard to see why. He always wants to be at the forefront of everyone’s attention span and, in many ways, there’s nothing wrong with that. Alas, that’s why his ‘Big Show’ probably suits him a little bit more than sitting down and having a natter with someone else.
Alan Carr
Alan Carr is another comedian who can split audiences' opinions, mainly because he is so full of energy. However, his dry wit makes him an ideal talk show host and Chatty Man has consistently proven to be popular with UK audiences.
Carr has no problem in asking hard questions, using his cheeky side to get away with it. He likes to have fun with guests and doesn't mind poking fun at them, which makes for some really funny moments.
Jimmy Fallon
The man who leads the way with The Tonight Show is the same man that divides the nation – so, some would argue he’s the talk show equivalent of the man in that big oval office. Jimmy Fallon’s upward trajectory has been fairly remarkable to watch over the course of the last few years.
He seems to make his guests feel relatively comfortable and has a few funny moments here and there, even if he still can’t quite compete with the very best.
Sean Evans
This might be a controversial choice because Sean Evans only hosts a talk show on YouTube, but Hot Ones has proven to be an unbelievably popular project. It has gained Evans his own game show on television, and he has gone from strength to strength in building his brand.
Hot Ones gets the biggest celebrity guests and immediately takes them out of their comfort zone with scorching hot chicken wings. Though that alone can rob some focus from the interview itself, the conversation really flows well with Sean asking the best questions out of any host on this list.
Trevor Noah
Trevor Noah is much funnier than anyone gives him any credit for, and that’s a shame. Still, even with that being the case, many enjoy the fact that most news outlets choose to focus on the serious topics that he likes to discuss.
He finds the balance between comedy and drama perfectly within his monologues, all of which force us to stop, look and listen.
Ellen DeGeneres
The Ellen Show might not take place in a late-night format, but that doesn't mean Ellen's not a seasoned talk show host.
Ellen's style leads to some really fun interviews where the celebrities are happy to talk about anything. She plays games and loves to pull pranks, which kept her show engaging and unpredictable. While she is a huge star herself, Ellen never overshadows whoever is on the sofa.
James Corden
The guy formerly known as Smithy came on over to the United States of America half a decade or so ago now, and ever since then, he’s been attempting to make late-night television his own. Carpool Karaoke has taken on a life of its own, to the point where it’s easily the most popular segment on his show.
Whether or not he’s going to be here for the long run remains to be seen, but he’s not afraid of stirring up some controversy and throwing in a few funny monologues in the process.
John Oliver
Speaking of Brits who have crossed the pond and made a success of becoming a talk show host, John Oliver is another fantastic host who is doing great things in America right now. He takes a slightly more serious approach than James Cordon, but his show, Last Week Tonight, really is entertaining.
He takes a deep dive into the big issue at the time, and out of all the hosts on this list, he is the best at giving a firm opinion when it comes to political and global issues. Of course, he is still great at talking with guests as well, often bringing the best out of people by engaging in interesting conversation.
Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel can come off as quite dry and hard to read at first, but his presence feels more relaxing as time goes on.
He always gets great guests and provides us with fun interactions, and while his hosting duties haven’t always gone down like a house on fire at the big awards shows, Jimmy has a heart of gold and he gets to showcase that night in and night out. His talk show continues to be amongst the most beloved.
Seth Meyers
Don’t judge a book by its cover. Seth Meyers is funny, witty, and incredibly intelligent – and best of all he makes us feel like part of the family. He may not be the larger-than-life personality that a lot of people want to see in this position, but he doesn’t need to be.
He should be viewed as the heir to the throne for most major talk shows. The sky is the limit for him.
Stephen Colbert
From his long talks with guests to his rants about politics and beyond, there’s something so powerful about the manner in which Stephen Colbert is able to deliver his work. He’s a fascinating figure who has a great voice, and while that isn’t the only thing needed to be a success at this level, it's still important.
He commands the audience's attention solely through his delivery, and while he’s not viewed as one of the biggest ever yet, there’s a lot of room left for him to grow.
Conan O’Brien
The forgotten hero of The Tonight Show who simply wasn’t given enough time to make a substantial impact, one of the very best things that can be said for Conan O’Brien is that he’s alternative. He doesn’t do things by the book and he doesn’t follow the agenda of others – because he forges his own path.
His comedic timing is unlike most in his field and there are few North American talk show hosts that are quite as engaging.
Graham Norton
The popular Irishman has interviewed pretty much everyone there is to interview, and he continues to shine as brightly as he did when he first started. Graham Norton is personable, he’s off the cuff, and he makes us really miss Craig Ferguson.
Norton has also expanded his horizons into becoming a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, in addition to commentating on the Eurovision Song Contest which should prove once and for all that he’s the most fabulous man on the planet.