Voting Station

Donahue (TV)

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TV Series

The Resume

    (1970-1996)
    Syndicated
    Tackled social, political and health issues in a talk-show format
    Host was Phil Donahue

Why Donahue (TV) might be annoying:

    Its most frequent guest was Ralph Nader.
    Its main focus was on liberal issues, sometimes not even bothering to balance the perspective.
    It changed its theme song every ten years.
    Towards the end of its run, in a desperate grab for ratings, it stooped to Jerry Springer levels. It didn't work.
    At one point, they thought it would be a good idea to have a teenage daughter reveal to her father that she was a stripper, simply by having her give him a lap dance.
    An affiliate in New York dropped the show from their schedule, depriving it of its biggest market and ensuring its cancellation (1996).
    It was finally cancelled after the daytime talk market became too saturated and competitive.
    It remains as Phil Donahues only major television success.

Why Donahue (TV) might not be annoying:

    It was the first of the syndicated talk shows where the host goes into the audience and allows audience participation.
    It was unlike the raunchy, sometimes shallow television talk shows that are seen on daytime television today in that it actually discussed real issues.
    It garnered a huge female audience and overthrew the typically narrow, sexist views of previous shows of its type.
    Some of their shows on abortions and birth techniques were banned by local affiliates for political reasons.
    Some even went as far to say showing a reverse vasectomy on television was 'too educational for women and too bloody.'
    Other talk show hosts consider this one to be the granddaddy of them all.
    It was the first show to truly refine the daytime talk show format.
    It won 20 Daytime Emmy Awards during its entire run.
    They were able to celebrate their last show and formally sign off the air by giving Donahue a champagne bath (see photo).

Credit: Captain Howdy


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 14 Votes: 78.57% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 74 Votes: 43.24% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 17 Votes: 52.94% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 7 Votes: 85.71% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 19 Votes: 78.95% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 20 Votes: 55.00% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 22 Votes: 59.09% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 21 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 17 Votes: 70.59% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 55 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 65 Votes: 73.85% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 28 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 78 Votes: 70.51% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 173 Votes: 69.36% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 283 Votes: 63.60% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 85 Votes: 55.29% Annoying