Top 10 Best TV Talk Show Hosts

Conan O'Brien

Conan Christopher O'Brien is an American television host, comedian, writer, and producer. He is best known for hosting several late-night talk shows, including Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Conan on the cable channel TBS from 2010 to 2021. O'Brien is also known for his work as a writer for Saturday... read more

Conan and Letterman have always been, for me, the best among all the hosts I've seen in my lifetime. Sure, some are funny too, but these two do not need any gimmicks to be funny.
Conan is particularly entertaining when he is off doing things outside the studio, interacting with locals and celebrities. What makes Conan number one for me, with Dave being a close second, is his kindness and genuineness.

He is my all-time favorite! Hilarious, makes his good friends do funny things, and great with animals.

Jimmy Kimmel

James Christian "Jimmy" Kimmel is an American television host, comedian, writer, and producer. He is the host and executive producer of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a late-night talk show that premiered on ABC in 2003. Kimmel has also hosted major award ceremonies, including the Primetime Emmy Awards in 2012... read more

He's the best! How is he not on the list? Come on, he's a genius! He's very classy and entertaining as well. He's better than Fallon.

The most intelligent, relevant, empathetic, compassionate, wise, and quick-witted of them all! Absolutely love him!

My dad watched him quite a bit, and when I started watching him, I liked it a lot!

David Letterman

David Michael Letterman is an American former television and radio host, comedian, writer, producer, and actor. He is best known for hosting late-night talk shows including Late Night with David Letterman and The Late Show with David Letterman.

The first time I ever saw David Letterman was when Mariah Carey (the queen) appeared on the show in 1994. She brought in her new puppy and wanted David to come up with names for it. It was so adorable!

No questions asked for me. I think in my era, Dave had to be the best talk show host I had ever watched.

Who doesn't like this guy? He is absolutely fantastic and super funny.

Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen Lee DeGeneres is an American comedian, television host, actress, writer, producer, and LGBT activist. She starred in the sitcom Ellen from 1994 to 1998 and hosted The Ellen DeGeneres Show from 2003 until 2022. DeGeneres has received multiple Emmy Awards and was awarded the Presidential Medal of... read more

I have loved everything about Ellen Lee. She is the best in the world. Trust me when I say world best. I am a host as well, and she is good.

She's awesome, and I watch her basically every single day!

Hilarious! She deserves to be number one.

Jon Stewart

Jon Stewart (born Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz. November 28, 1962) is an American comedian, writer, producer, director, political commentator, actor, and television host.

He was the long-running host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central from 1999 to 2015. Stewart returned to the satirical news program... read more

Jimmy Fallon

James Thomas "Jimmy" Fallon is an American comedian, television host, actor, singer, writer, and producer. He is best known for hosting "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon."

His wit, humor, and laugh are contagious, not to mention that he always manages to maintain political correctness.

The most humble, authentic, inspirational, soulful, and best human being ever. He deserves to be the best!

He's creative, clever, and funny!

Stephen Colbert

Stephen Tyrone Colbert is an American comedian, writer, producer, actor, media critic, and television host. He gained fame as a correspondent on The Daily Show and later hosted The Colbert Report. Since 2015, he has been the host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS.

He is by far my favorite, of course, besides Fallon, Kimmel, Myers, and Corden.

John Oliver

John William Oliver is an English comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and television host. He began his career as a stand-up comedian in the United Kingdom before gaining recognition in the United States. He is best known for hosting the HBO series Last Week Tonight with John Oliver... read more

I always learn from him. Strikingly intelligent.

James Corden

James Kimberley Corden OBE, born August 22, 1978, is an English actor, comedian, and television host. He was the host of The Late Late Show with James Corden, a late-night talk show on CBS, from 2015 until 2023. Corden is also known for co-creating and starring in the British comedy series Gavin & Stacey... read more

Jimmy Fallon has better games, but James Corden just has a better personality.

Johnny Carson

John William "Johnny" Carson was an American television host, comedian, writer, producer, actor, and musician. He is best known for hosting "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" for three decades.

Who is voting? Stephen Colbert over Johnny Carson? The man is nothing but a liberal hack, as are Jimmy Kimmel, David Letterman, and Jon Stewart. Stewart is the only somewhat funny one out of the bunch. Ellen is pretty good. She doesn't let her politics destroy her sense of humor. I agree that Conan is very good. I'd probably put him at number two, but Johnny Carson is without question the King of Late Night. You know how I know that? Because everyone on the list, including the ones I named, would agree with me.

This man is a legend. Legends should be in the top ten without question.

?

Dame Edna Everage (AKA Barry Humphries)

?

Sherri Shepherd

Seth Meyers

Seth Adam Meyers is an American comedian, writer, producer, actor, and television host. He currently hosts Late Night with Seth Meyers on NBC. Before that, he was a long-time Saturday Night Live cast member and head writer, best known for anchoring the Weekend Update segment.

Kind, compassionate, and funny.

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Gail Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist. She is best known for her talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show, which ran from 1986 to 2011. She is also the founder of the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) and has been a powerful influence in both media... read more

No one can do an interview quite like Oprah!

Howard Stern

Howard Allan Stern is an American radio and television personality, producer, author, actor, and photographer. He is best known for his radio show, The Howard Stern Show, which gained popularity after being nationally syndicated in 1986. Stern has also published two best-selling books and served as... read more

Brilliant, cutting edge, and compassionate.

Pioneer. Brilliant and very humane.

Dick Cavett

Larry King

Larry King (1933 to 2021) was an American television and radio host. Over his long career, he earned recognition with awards including two Peabody Awards and 10 Cable ACE Awards. King was known for his engaging interview style and broad influence on broadcasting.

Craig Ferguson

Craig Ferguson is a Scottish-American television host, comedian, author, and actor. He hosted the syndicated game show Celebrity Name Game, for which he won two Daytime Emmy Awards. He also hosted Join or Die with Craig Ferguson on the History channel and was the host of The Late Late Show with Craig... read more

He was my favorite, and I miss him!

Steve Harvey

Broderick Stephen Harvey, known professionally as Steve Harvey, is an American comedian, television host, producer, radio personality, actor, and author. He is best known for hosting The Steve Harvey Morning Show, Family Feud, and The Steve Harvey Show. Harvey has also authored several self-help books... read more

Trevor Noah

Trevor Noah (born 20 February 1984) is a South African comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and television host. He hosted The Daily Show, an American late-night talk show and satirical news program on Comedy Central, from 2015 to 2022.... read more

Samantha Bee

Samantha Bee is a Canadian American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actress, media critic, and television host. She rose to prominence as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. In 2016, she launched her own late-night talk show, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, which received... read more

Caustic, intelligent, and quick-witted. Very underrated.

Anderson Cooper

Anderson Hays Cooper is an American journalist, television personality, and author. He is best known as the primary anchor of CNN's news program Anderson Cooper 360°. Cooper has won numerous journalism awards and is known for his coverage of major global events and humanitarian issues.

Jay Leno

James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno (born April 28, 1950) is an American comedian, actor, writer, producer, and television host. He became widely known as the host of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, which he hosted from 1992 to 2009 and again from 2010 to 2014. Leno also hosted The Jay Leno Show and... read more

Dr. Phil McGraw

Phillip Calvin "Phil" McGraw, known as Dr. Phil, is an American television personality and author who hosted the television show Dr. Phil. McGraw first gained fame with appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show in the late 1990s. His long-running daytime talk show offered advice on a wide range of personal... read more

Graham Norton

Graham William Walker, better known by his stage name Graham Norton, is an Irish television and radio presenter, comedian, and actor based in the United Kingdom. He rose to prominence with his BBC radio show and went on to host the long‑running BBC One chat show The Graham Norton Show. Norton is recognized... read more

Superb wit and repartee - and his guests really seem to enjoy themselves. At times, it's a little near the knuckle, but it's always funny.

You may think he's a Brit, but he's just a damn funny Irish potater!

Eric Andre

Even though Conan would be my vote for the best serious talk show host, The Eric Andre Show is one of the most brilliantly written pieces of satire of our generation.