About
"I realized during the commercials that these people in the audience were asking better questions than I was. So about the third or fourth show, I went out in the audience and it saved us. There would've been no 'Donahue' show without that studio audience."
In his four-and-a-half-hour interview, Phil Donahue (1935-2024) describes the meandering path that led to hosting his long-running talk show, The Phil Donahue Show aka Donahue. He explains how his journey took him from announcing television news at KYW in Cleveland, OH, to working in a bank in Albuquerque, NM, to directing radio news in Adrian, MI. He recalls how his success hosting the call-in radio talk show, Conversation Piece, in Dayton, OH sparked the interest of the local television station's general manager. The result: Donahue, the longest-running syndicated talk show in television history with its 29-year on-air reign. Donahue discusses the many controversial topics and guests featured on the show over the years - including white supremacist David Duke - and details his activities following the final taping of Donahue. He also shares the story of meeting wife Marlo Thomas, how he feels about being parodied on Saturday Night Live, and what he really thinks of Oprah Winfrey. James Moll conducted the interview on May 9, 2001 in New York, NY.
Highlights
Phil Donahue on his favorite guests over the years
Phil Donahue on journalism
Phil Donahue on ending Donahue
Phil Donahue on making people laugh
Phil Donahue on not believing in censorship
Phil Donahue on being the first television program to feature male strippers
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early years and influences; on beginning his career in journalism at a South Bend, Indiana television station
On his first job as a radio news director and the state of electronic journalism in the 1950s and early 1960s
On his marriage and family life; on the Women's Movement
Chapter 2
On his recollections of World War II; on pondering racism, sexism and stereotypes; on the Vietnam War
On getting his first show and national exposure on CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite
On interviewing Jimmy Hoffa
Chapter 3
On his call in talk-radio show "Conversation Piece" and transitioning to television
On his television talk show, Donahue (aka The Phil Donahue Show)
Chapter 4
On Donahue; on catering to a female audience for Donahue
On the staff of his show and the controversial topics covered; on how his talk show made him ponder religion; on his first marriage; on celebrity
Chapter 5
On some of the controversial/confrontational guests - including Jerry Rubin of the Chicago Seven - and special telecasts of Donahue; on his professional influences
On guests on Donahue and recording the show from Attica State Prison; on Donahue with Vladimir Pozner and later taking the show to The Soviet Union
Chapter 6
On the controversial topics covered on Donahue; on covering the Nazis marching on Skokie, Illinois on Donahue; on same sex couples raising children and PFLAG
On the Masters and Johnson episode of Donahue; on his first Emmy Award; on famous guests that appeared on his show: Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, Anita Bryant, and Muhammed Ali
Chapter 7
On some of the controversial guests on his talk show: white supremacist David Duke and Nazi leader Albert Speer; on interviewing future wife Marlo Thomas
On writing the book "Donahue: My Own Story" and on producing the book "The Human Animal" - the latter in conjunction with a television project for NBC; on the emergence of color television; on fellow talk show hosts Sally Jessy Raphael and Oprah Winfrey
Chapter 8
On the talk show genre and how it changed over the years
On deciding to end Donahue and doing Pozner & Donahue on CNBC
Chapter 9
On the last show of Donahue and the state of daytime talk shows
On retirement and pushing for televising executions
Shows
CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite
Phil Donahue on getting his first national exposure on CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite and a phone call from Walter Cronkite
Donahue
Phil Donahue on his television talk show, Donahue (The Phil Donahue Show), and the controversial topics covered
Phil Donahue on the origins of his television talk show and the importance of the live studio audience
Phil Donahue on the early years of Donahue
Phil Donahue on some of the guests and special telecasts of Donahue
Phil Donahue on the different topics covered on Donahue
Phil Donahue on guests on his talk show Donahue
Phil Donahue on his talk show
Phil Donahue on ending Donahue
Jenny Jones Show, The
Phil Donahue on The Jenny Jones Show and how the marketplace had changed since he began his show
Jerry Springer
Phil Donahue on Jerry Springer and how the marketplace had changed since he began his show
Oprah Winfrey Show, The
Phil Donahue on The Oprah Winfrey Show
Phil Donahue on his thoughts on The Oprah Winfrey Show
Pozner & Donahue
Phil Donahue on the CNBC program Pozner & Donahue with Vladimir Pozner
Ricki Lake
Phil Donahue on Ricki Lake
Saturday Night Live
Phil Donahue on being parodied on Saturday Night Live
Topics
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Phil Donahue on how syndication allowed him to cover more controversial topics than if he aired as a network owned show
Phil Donahue on the controversial topics covered on Donahue and complaints by individual stations
Phil Donahue on not believing in censorship
Criticism of TV
Phil Donahue on the deterioration of daytime television
Emmy Awards
Phil Donahue on winning his first Emmy
Fame and Celebrity
Phil Donahue on celebrity
Historic Events and Social Change
Phil Donahue on his television talk show, Donahue, and the controversial topics covered
Phil Donahue on interviewing boxer Joe Frazier and doing the show from Attica Street prison
Industry Crossroads
Phil Donahue on how the television industry was affected by the Quiz Show Scandals
Pop Culture
Phil Donahue on celebrity
Quiz Show Scandals
Phil Donahue on how the television industry was affected by the Quiz Show Scandals
Representation on Television
Phil Donahue on his television talk show, Donahue, and the controversial topics covered
Phil Donahue on interviewing boxer Joe Frazier and doing the show from Attica Street prison
Technological Innovation
Phil Donahue on his recollections of Ampex video
Phil Donahue on not believing in censorship
Television Industry
Phil Donahue on how the television industry was affected by the Quiz Show Scandals
Phil Donahue on how syndication allowed him to cover more controversial topics than if he aired as a network owned show
Phil Donahue on the controversial topics covered on Donahue and complaints by individual stations
Phil Donahue on the deterioration of daytime television
Trash TV
Phil Donahue on the deterioration of daytime television
Underrepresented Voices
Phil Donahue on interviewing boxer Joe Frazier and doing the show from Attica Street prison
Genres
News and Documentary
Phil Donahue on working in radio and television news
Talk Shows
Phil Donahue on his television talk show, Donahue
Phil Donahue on the early years of Donahue
Phil Donahue on Donahue
Phil Donahue on Donahue
Phil Donahue on Donahue
Phil Donahue on Donahue and Pozner & Donahue
Phil Donahue on ending Donahue
People
Muhammad Ali
Phil Donahue on interviewing Muhammad Ali
Anita Bryant
Phil Donahue on interviewing Anita Bryant
Johnny Carson
Phil Donahue on interviewing Johnny Carson
Walter Cronkite
Phil Donahue on getting his first national exposure on CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite and a phone call from Walter Cronkite
Phil Donahue on his admiration for Walter Cronkite
David Duke
Phil Donahue on white supremacist David Duke on Donahue
Joe Frazier
Phil Donahue on interviewing boxer Joe Frazier and doing the show from Attica State prison
Dick Gregory with Emerson College
Phil Donahue on guest Dick Gregory and the controversy his appearance stirred
Phil Hartman
Phil Donahue on being parodied on Saturday Night Live by Phil Hartman
Jimmy Hoffa
Phil Donahue on interviewing Jimmy Hoffa
Bob Hope
Phil Donahue on Bob Hope wondering why Donahue wasn't on in L.A.
Phil Donahue on interviewing Bob Hope
Jenny Jones
Phil Donahue on The Jenny Jones Show
Robert F. Kennedy
Phil Donahue on interviewing Jimmy Hoffa
Ricki Lake
Phil Donahue on Ricki Lake
Sally Jessy Raphael
Phil Donahue on getting fellow talk show host Sally Jesse Raphael from radio to television
Jerry Springer
Phil Donahue on Jerry Springer and how the marketplace had changed since he began his show
Gloria Steinem
Phil Donahue on interviewing Gloria Steinem
Danny Thomas
Phil Donahue on his father-in-law, Danny Thomas
Marlo Thomas
Phil Donahue on marrying Marlo Thomas
Phil Donahue on interviewing Marlo Thomas
Phil Donahue on being parodied on Saturday Night Live
Mike Wallace
Phil Donahue on his admiration for Mike Wallace
Oprah Winfrey
Phil Donahue on fellow talk show host Oprah Winfrey and how she changed the genre
Phil Donahue on his thoughts on The Oprah Winfrey Show