The ’90s were a magical time. It had some seriously good talk shows. The period in fact defined the genre and set precedence for the next batch. We owe it to this era for providing some true gems of hosts such as Oprah, Ellen and more. Let’s a look at a few talk show hosts from the ’90s who in their way contributed to the culture of this iconic decade, while also catching up on what they are doing now.
Montel Williams
Montel Williams hosted The Montel Williams Show which was a path-breaking show in many ways. He was the first African-American man to host a daytime talk show. The Montel Williams Show was lauded for its inspirational content.
Currently, Montel hosts Military Makeover: Operation Career on Lifetime. He is also actively involved with his non-profit organization MS Foundation. Post his recent health challenges, he is heavily involved in advocating CBD products for medical purposes. Besides that, Williams has authored eight books on his life.
Sally Jessy Raphael
Sally Jessy Raphael hosted the talk show Sally. Her show was one of the first few talk shows in the history of television to have a female host. Sally didn’t shy away from discussing difficult topics. In fact, the red glasses that she wore for the show became quite the rage and part of her identity.
After her show wrapped up, Sally continued hosting a slew of other shows. She hosted a show named Sally Jessy Rides on NewNowNext.
Geraldo Rivera
Geraldo Rivera hosted the daytime talk show Geraldo for eleven seasons. Geraldo was known to pit some of the most controversial names against each other. In one of the episodes, a few of the guests broke his nose during a live fight in the show.
As of now, Rivera is a war correspondent with FOX News. He has also participated in reality shows such as The Celebrity Apprentice and Dancing with the Stars. In 2020, he completed fifty years in the television industry.
Ricki Lake
Ricki Lake hosted the talk show Ricki Lake. Ricki’s show was primarily targeted at Generation X and focused on personal issues. Lake’s show is often referenced in many other popular shows such as Gilmore Girls.
Post her show, Ricki has appeared in many television shows and films. She has also appeared as a panelist and participant in shows such as The Masked Singer and The X Factor: Celebrity Edition.
Maury Povich
Maury Povich hosts the talk show Maury, originally titled The Maury Povich Show. The show, which is now in its 13th season, deals with socially relevant themes and topics.
The show was renewed till 2022 in 2020. Povich also runs the weekly newspaper Flathead Beacon. He has also had a cameo in the popular sitcom How I Met Your Mother where he played a New Yorker. Povich is also a co-owner of Chatter, a Washington DC bar cum restaurant.
Oprah Winfrey
In the ’90s, Oprah Winfrey began hosting The Oprah Winfrey Show, which made her a household name across the globe. Known for the empathetic tone, The Oprah Winfrey Show became one of the cornerstones of popular culture, winning multiple awards and nominations.
In 2011, Oprah launched her network OWN. Oprah was currently in the news for conducting the tell-all interview of Megan Markle & Prince Harry. Oprah has also partnered with Prince Harry for a mental health docu-series, The Me You Can’t See, on Apple TV+.
Chris Matthews
Chris Matthews hosted the talk show Hardball with Chris Matthews. Matthews was known for his signature screaming at his guests. The show was named after one of its books Hardball: How Politics Is Played, Told by One Who Knows the Game.
In 2020, Matthews announced his retirement from the show. On the occasion, he said that the younger generation out there is ready to take the reins. He had added, “We see them in politics, in media, in fighting for the causes. They are improving the workplace.”
Leeza Gibbons
Leeza Gibbons originally co-hosted daytime talk show John & Leeza from Hollywood. After John left the show, it was changed to Leeza. The show initially featured the happenings in showbiz but underwent a format change after it was branded as Leeza.
Post that, Leeza went on to co-host Entertainment Tonight. She also authored The New York Times bestseller Take Your Oxygen First: Protecting Your Health and Happiness While Caring for a Loved One with Memory Loss.
