The Phil Donahue Show, later renamed Donahue, was one of the longest running talk shows to ever air on television. Hosted by Phillip John “Phil” Donahue, this nationally syndicated show completed a successful 26 year run, beginning in 1970 and ending in 1996. Before the show went into syndication, it aired on WLW-D in Dayton, Ohio, from 1967-1970. Donahue was originally based in Chicago, but later relocated to New York City.

Phil Donahue featured a wide variety of topics on his show, from everyday subject matters to extremely controversial. Because his early audience was predominately female, he often chose topics that played on the female’s emotions. Such topics included feminism, reproduction, family themes and childbirth.

As his audience broadened, so did his subject matters. Controversial guests, such as transsexuals, older strippers, and those involved in various scandals, frequented his show, as well as political figures and celebrities.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, the talk show genre experienced a rapid rise in popularity. New shows, such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Sally Jessy Raphael Show, Geraldo, The Montel Williams Show and Maury, began attracting large audiences, eventually leading to a drop in Donahue’s ratings. As a result, the show was canceled on May 2, 1996. During Donahue’s 26 year run, it received 20 Emmy Awards as well as several nominations. On November 20, 1993, Phil Donahue was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame.