Title: The Mount Rushmore of Live Talk Show Hosts

With John Mulaney’s Everybody’s in L.A. reviving the energy and chaos of the live-audience talk show, we dive into the history, evolution, and cultural impact of the genre—and debate who belongs on the Mount Rushmore of live talk show hosts. That’s right, no podcasts or radio icons allowed today. Our criteria: you had to host in front of a live audience. The applause, the laughter, the chaos—it all had to be real and in the room.

We walk through the legacy of late-night legends and chaotic curveballs, and unveil our four picks.

We discuss how each host earned their show, what they made of it, their impact on the culture, and where talk shows go from here in the era of streaming, podcasts, and social media. Plus, we tease a future Mount Rushmore: the one for podcast and radio legends.

Subscribe, review, and tell us your Mount Rushmore of Live Talk Show Hosts.