The UK had Parkinson & America had Donahue…. I used to watch him religiously before I want to work on the night shift. Always intelligent, always insightful & always with a total gentleman at true heart. In 2024 he passed away & I’m sad to say we lost yet another courageous journalist who gave us much to think about in all those 6,000 shows. ❤God Bless you Phil Donahue & the family you left behind. & yes let’s mention Patricia McMillian - what a tour D force she was.
Here in Binghamton, Donahue was on for 18 years. It was on WBNG Ch 12 from April 1977 to early 1991 at 9am right before CBS game shows. Afterwards, it aired on WICZ Ch 40 for 4 1/2 years until the end of summer 1995. In Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Donahue was on WBRE Ch 28 for 25 years beginning in 1971. It aired at 9am right before NBC game shows, then moved to 5pm by the spring of 1988 right before Eyewitness News at 6:00, and the final season in 1995-96 aired at 10am.
On September 13, 1996, "The Phil Donahue Show" ended its daytime run after 29 seasons and 6,715 episodes. Phil Donahue retired from daytime television to spend more time with his wife and Danny Thomas's daughter, Marlo Thomas. The show celebrated its finale with a party that included confetti cannons and pouring champagne on Donahue's head. Ricochet's 1995 debut single "What Do I Know" played in the background.👍
They must have redubbed the "New Year's Eve" theme because I never heard the song you are speaking of. 6,715 (predominantly) LIVE broadcasts. Many on location! SIX THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN HOURS! Epic!
Phil Donahue has been sadly forgotten as a major political and social force as the first talk show host icon to take an mid day audience of mostly housewives, some unemployed men and women and a spattering of young people and treat them all as having intelligence and a perceptive radar for bullshit. He actually was interested in what 45 year old housewives thought! He has to be one of the top five most influential straight men or women to alter the course of LBGTQ history. He was one of the first to do shows on gay rights, HIV, transgenderism, and yes SSM. He repeatedly gave a microphone to atheist Madeleine O'Hare, Rev Jesse Jackson, Ralph Nader, Gloria Steinem etc and he was the very first to do an entire show on the scandal involving the catholic church and child abuse. Incredibly couragious, self deprecating and consistenly decent and honest for 29 years.
Oh, the memories of watching Donahue on KMBC, my local ABC affiliate. I remember they carried it at 9 AM during the 80s, moved it to 3 PM in either 1989 or 1990 and then and it’s final season, they buried it at 1:00 AM.
After "Donahue" lost WNBC-TV, the production was evicted from Studio 8G at 30 Rock and relocated to the "News/Talk Channel" (which Phil had a financial interest in). Soon after, the show lost key affiliates in San Francisco and Los Angeles. In January of 1996, Phil decided to retire rather than be canceled. It was a long and great run.
Sadly, in March, 2024, Ron Weiner, Phil's Director for all of Chicago's run passed away. Ron was invited to go to New York, but "Phyllis," his late great wife said, "No" because she did not want to move to New York. LOL. During his time directing the show, Ron won three Emmy Awards, and Chicago's Prestigious Silver Circle Award. Ron was a teacher, advisor, mentor, and a dear friend. May he and Mr. Donahue rest in peace.
By 1995-1996, Daytime Television had many issues oriented talk shows. Too many to name. "Ricky Lake" was doing well. The first version of "Mauri Povich," "Sally Jesse Raphael," "Geraldo," "Oprah," and many others that did not last.
Many went to work on other shows. Bryan Russo, who replaced the great Ron Weiner after the show moved to New York, went on to great success directing "The People's Court."
The final season had only a 4-camera shoot at a new NY studio. Many of the episodes at the regular NBC in NY studios from 1985-1995 shifted between 5 cameras to as many as 12.
Wow. I am of the thinking that they Iso'd (isolated) camera shots that were later edited in because of the fast pace "takes." If not, the technical direction of Bryan Russo was near flawless.
Bryan was tech director at first when David McGrail directed the program. Then, Russo became the new director while they shuffled through some tech directors throughout its run like Pamela Schneider Butler, Jim Johnson, and Jim Marshall.
I lived during this time in San Diego and Monterey. SD KNSD carried donahue at 3 pm before the 4 pm news until 1995 when it moved to 3am for the final season and sometimes in LA via over the air I get to watch Donahue on KNBC at 3 pm before it was pushed to 3am in its final season. Monterey KSBW carried donahue at 9 AM weekdays throughout most of its run. the final year, it moved to 2:35 am.
Same thing happened in Fresno. Our ABC affiliate KFSN had shown it at 4pm until around 1989 before switching with Oprah. Then, he got bumped to 1am that last season. IIRC ABC put Rosie O’Donnell on in the summer of 1996 at the 3pm slot after trying the awful Gabrielle Carteris Show. BTW, I actually worked by KSBW’s sister station KSBY in San Luis Obispo in 2008-2009. Funny you mentioned the Monterey channel...we were in frequent contact with them over content for our newscasts.
Or the program left certain TV markets entirely. Certain markets, aired this show programs from that late night time until the tv station sign off for the night
I know that WWMT-TV moved "Jerry Springer" from one a.m. to 9 a.m. during "Donahue's" final season. "Oprah" aired at 4 p.m. where "Donahue" used to air for many years.
The UK had Parkinson & America had Donahue…. I used to watch him religiously before I want to work on the night shift. Always intelligent, always insightful & always with a total gentleman at true heart. In 2024 he passed away & I’m sad to say we lost yet another courageous journalist who gave us much to think about in all those 6,000 shows. ❤God Bless you Phil Donahue & the family you left behind. & yes let’s mention Patricia McMillian - what a tour D force she was.
RIP Phil Donahue - the king of talk shows
Here in Binghamton, Donahue was on for 18 years. It was on WBNG Ch 12 from April 1977 to early 1991 at 9am right before CBS game shows. Afterwards, it aired on WICZ Ch 40 for 4 1/2 years until the end of summer 1995. In Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Donahue was on WBRE Ch 28 for 25 years beginning in 1971. It aired at 9am right before NBC game shows, then moved to 5pm by the spring of 1988 right before Eyewitness News at 6:00, and the final season in 1995-96 aired at 10am.
he was also fired in 2003 from NBC people are horrific..
When I look back on what MSNBC has become, it makes no sense. Once again, Mr. Donahue was a pioneer who came before his time.
On September 13, 1996, "The Phil Donahue Show" ended its daytime run after 29 seasons and 6,715 episodes. Phil Donahue retired from daytime television to spend more time with his wife and Danny Thomas's daughter, Marlo Thomas. The show celebrated its finale with a party that included confetti cannons and pouring champagne on Donahue's head. Ricochet's 1995 debut single "What Do I Know" played in the background.👍
They must have redubbed the "New Year's Eve" theme because I never heard the song you are speaking of. 6,715 (predominantly) LIVE broadcasts. Many on location! SIX THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN HOURS! Epic!
God, what a run Phil had! The love & respect he received from his employees speaks volume of his fine character, too.
Love that guy. True blue and big-hearted.
Phil Donahue has been sadly forgotten as a major political and social force as the first talk show host icon to take an mid day audience of mostly housewives, some unemployed men and women and a spattering of young people and treat them all as having intelligence and a perceptive radar for bullshit. He actually was interested in what 45 year old housewives thought! He has to be one of the top five most influential straight men or women to alter the course of LBGTQ history. He was one of the first to do shows on gay rights, HIV, transgenderism, and yes SSM. He repeatedly gave a microphone to atheist Madeleine O'Hare, Rev Jesse Jackson, Ralph Nader, Gloria Steinem etc and he was the very first to do an entire show on the scandal involving the catholic church and child abuse. Incredibly couragious, self deprecating and consistenly decent and honest for 29 years.
And sadly, there will never be another talk show of this caliber with every day people and conversations around issues concerning the general public.
AGREED.
Oh, the memories of watching Donahue on KMBC, my local ABC affiliate. I remember they carried it at 9 AM during the 80s, moved it to 3 PM in either 1989 or 1990 and then and it’s final season, they buried it at 1:00 AM.
After "Donahue" lost WNBC-TV, the production was evicted from Studio 8G at 30 Rock and relocated to the "News/Talk Channel" (which Phil had a financial interest in). Soon after, the show lost key affiliates in San Francisco and Los Angeles. In January of 1996, Phil decided to retire rather than be canceled. It was a long and great run.
Sadly, in March, 2024, Ron Weiner, Phil's Director for all of Chicago's run passed away. Ron was invited to go to New York, but "Phyllis," his late great wife said, "No" because she did not want to move to New York. LOL. During his time directing the show, Ron won three Emmy Awards, and Chicago's Prestigious Silver Circle Award. Ron was a teacher, advisor, mentor, and a dear friend. May he and Mr. Donahue rest in peace.
AGAIN!! RIP!! PHILLIP JOHN DONAHUE (1935-2024) & "DONAHUE"1967-1996
PHIL DONAHUE WAS WELL EDUCATED WELL INFORMED PHIL DONAHUE EDUCATED INFORMED THE WORLD.
All I can say is WONDERFUL!!!
RIP Phil. Thanks for the memories.
Whatever you might have thought about his show, he at least was always sincere in his beliefs. RIP Phil!
By 1995-1996, Daytime Television had many issues oriented talk shows. Too many to name. "Ricky Lake" was doing well. The first version of "Mauri Povich," "Sally Jesse Raphael," "Geraldo," "Oprah," and many others that did not last.
RIP: Phil Donahue 😢
This is a Happy New Year video!!!!!!!!
phil donahue was great
He stay on a long time
I miss him. I’m from Cleveland
great job posting this! I was a huge fan of this show growing up and never saw this. I wonder, I guess the staff looses their jobs
Yep...so is the staff of the other talk shows!!!!
Many went to work on other shows. Bryan Russo, who replaced the great Ron Weiner after the show moved to New York, went on to great success directing "The People's Court."
The final season had only a 4-camera shoot at a new NY studio. Many of the episodes at the regular NBC in NY studios from 1985-1995 shifted between 5 cameras to as many as 12.
Wow. I am of the thinking that they Iso'd (isolated) camera shots that were later edited in because of the fast pace "takes." If not, the technical direction of Bryan Russo was near flawless.
Bryan was tech director at first when David McGrail directed the program. Then, Russo became the new director while they shuffled through some tech directors throughout its run like Pamela Schneider Butler, Jim Johnson, and Jim Marshall.
They'll won't be another talk show for another 25 years from now.
Wow!! Nearly 30 years!!!!!!
I lived during this time in San Diego and Monterey. SD KNSD carried donahue at 3 pm before the 4 pm news until 1995 when it moved to 3am for the final season and sometimes in LA via over the air I get to watch Donahue on KNBC at 3 pm before it was pushed to 3am in its final season. Monterey KSBW carried donahue at 9 AM weekdays throughout most of its run. the final year, it moved to 2:35 am.
I think Donahue may have moved to KUSI in it's final season or two in San Diego.
Same thing happened in Fresno. Our ABC affiliate KFSN had shown it at 4pm until around 1989 before switching with Oprah. Then, he got bumped to 1am that last season. IIRC ABC put Rosie O’Donnell on in the summer of 1996 at the 3pm slot after trying the awful Gabrielle Carteris Show. BTW, I actually worked by KSBW’s sister station KSBY in San Luis Obispo in 2008-2009. Funny you mentioned the Monterey channel...we were in frequent contact with them over content for our newscasts.
Or the program left certain TV markets entirely. Certain markets, aired this show programs from that late night time until the tv station sign off for the night
I know that WWMT-TV moved "Jerry Springer" from one a.m. to 9 a.m. during "Donahue's" final season. "Oprah" aired at 4 p.m. where "Donahue" used to air for many years.
Certainly knew how to go out with a bang.