Become a member and save up to 20% on your program registration price! Join today If you are already a member, log in to access your member price. The History of the TV Talk Show: From Carson to Oprah to Stephen Colbert Evening Lecture/Seminar Thursday, July 10, 2025 - 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. ET Code: 1J0474 Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Select your Registration Login $20 Member 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 $25 Gen. Admission Adding to your cart... Add to cart Log in to add this program to your wishlist! A 10% processing fee will be applied at checkout. Resize text Stephen Colbert interviews Michelle Obama on “The Colbert Report,” April 11, 2012 (Official White House photo by Lawrence Jackson) From its start in the early 1950s, the talk show has been one of television’s most versatile and durable formats. Pioneering programs like “Today,” “Person-to-Person,” and “Tonight” established the basic features that have guided the format ever since, particularly the importance of the host as the chief focus of the proceedings. Whether it was the sophisticated wit of Dick Cavett, the magnetic empathy of Oprah Winfrey, the innovative comedy of David Letterman, or the sharp political satire of Jon Stewart, the talk show has continued to provide viewers with a lively mix of entertainment, information, and compelling conversation. Media historian Brian Rose looks at the history of the television talk show and examines its changing appeal from decade to decade. General Information View Common FAQs and Policies about our Online Programs on Zoom.
