The best male talk show hosts in history
From the microphone to legend
In this photo gallery we pay tribute to those men who made the art of speaking a spectacle, a business and, sometimes, a religion. From news to prime time, from sharp wit to pure journalism, these hosts not only informed: they entertained, provoked, and defined an era.
Johnny Carson
The king of late nights. For 30 years on 'The Tonight Show', he was the role model for an entire generation. Total control, subtle irony, effortless elegance.
Larry King
Suspenders, raspy voice, and 60,000 interviews later, Larry was synonymous with CNN. His style: short questions, direct gaze, and inexplicable magnetism.
David Letterman
Sarcasm, cynicism, and a bit of nihilism, all before they were mainstream. He invented a way of being on TV without taking it too seriously.
Ed Sullivan
His face didn't say much, but he changed television forever. He opened America's doors to Elvis, The Beatles... and to pop culture.
Graham Norton
Charming chaos. He made Hollywood stars relax on British TV with a sofa, several drinks, and plenty of irony.
Conan O’Brien
A Harvard kid in the humor jungle. Brilliant writer, wild impersonator, compulsive self-critic. His oddity was his strength.
Howard Stern
Loved, hated, canceled, revered. The enfant terrible of radio. No one exploited scandal—and deep interviews—more than him.
Trevor Noah
South African, polyglot, insightful. He took on a challenging throne (that of Jon Stewart) and made it his own with global humor and millennial vision.
Jon Stewart
Spiritual father of purpose-driven fake news. He turned sarcasm into a political weapon and humor into an act of resistance.
James Lipton
With his blue notebook and deep voice, he made Inside the Actors Studio a sacred ritual. His reverence for the art was as serious as it was theatrical.
Ryan Seacrest
America's most plastic smile. But let's admit it: no one handles showbusiness on autopilot like he does. Everything is measured to the millimeter.
Regis Philbin
Charisma that withstands the decades. From game shows to talk shows, Regis was the charming neighbor everyone wanted in their living room.
Bill Moyers
A journalist with the soul of a philosopher. He brought a level of depth and ethics to American public television that today seems utopian.
