Phil Donahue Reveals His Most Annoying Guests | David Letterman

[@lindaadams2315]

Thank you for posting this in Phil's memory. Many blessings to his wife Marlo, and the rest of the family. Rest easy, Phil..

[@jimmyjames2022]

Phil Donahue was such an earnest, understated man, not a bone of pretense. Daytime TV was lucky to have him.

[@vanmoody]

I always liked when Phil Hartman did him on SNL.

[@TrishRyan-ey8go]

He was a good guy

[@peace-c2r]

May be in that business you can't have any bones with pretense either.

[@MrBuketman]

@@vanmoodySo funny. Similar voices and the way Hartman does the mannerisms while dealing with nonsense people😂

[@nasserhafes3021]

Amen!

[@lchaney]

Grew up on Donahue. Thanks for making my childhood at home a more interesting learning experience. My mom, grandma, great grandma all watched Donahue. RIP

[@shabadoo24]

I love watching Donahue too. Better than the rest

[@vanmoody]

I didn't always agree with Phil. But the word you used comes to mind. He was interesting. I would add he was likable too.

[@DaNiyaHodge]

Rip Phillip John Donahue, you will be missed

[@meagainandagain5756]

He was an intelligent man. He married beautiful Marlo Thomas, “That Girl”, for those who remember. So, he was even smarter than most people realized! 😊

[@DonnaMayStanish]

lchaney - My mom loved Phil's morning program, and I would skip a day from school to watch his program with her. Nice memories. ♥️

[@NoellaScott]

Phil was my buddy. He was a truly warm, great, humble, kind, and always joyous man. I worked with him for a few years, and never had a single bad moment. He helped me TREMENDOUSLY and was always such a wonderful person. He will be profoundly missed.

[@matthewdubay1180]

Why are you telling that to KZbin, and not at the funeral? Do you think that you are important? I never met the man, yet he had a TREMENDOUS impact on my life too. Do I also get a cookie?

[@NoellaScott]

@@matthewdubay1180 Maybe, if you think REAALLLLLL hard, you'll some day decipher why people broadcast personal stories about the dead to the world when they've passed. I wish you luck on your quest!

[@matthewdubay1180]

@@NoellaScott what quest? Phil was your buddy. So you feel so important, that you need to tell the world about how great he was? We all know this. Be with his family if you were such friends. If you can't attend, send a hand written letter. You like yourself a lot don't you?

[@matthewdubay1180]

@@NoellaScott Every time a friend of mine dies, should I go on social media, to prove how awesome I am, or spend time with the family and share stories in person? Celebrity or not?

[@NoellaScott]

@@matthewdubay1180 Hey, kiddo - you still don't get it. And you never will. You have some serious self loathing going on. Have a lovely life.

[@shaywhite5064]

Poor Marlo....they were so in love for so long. Rest in Peace Phil ❤💔

[@gerry-p9x]

THAT. GIRL ???😊😊😊

[@solitaryman777]

It's always the people left behind who suffer. The heartbreak of losing a long-time partner must be intense.

[@fuzzskis333]

I love Marlo. She has carried her father’s legacy so well. What St. Jude’s has done for families that have experienced the horrors of childhood cancer is beyond measure. Rest in eternal peace Phil. You are in my thoughts and prayers Marlo. May God bless and comfort you in this time of sorrow. 🙏

[@annemccarron2281]

She's fortunate to have found a decent man & lived so many decades without experiencing adultery or verbal or physical abuse. I'm sure she's very appreciative of the married life she had.

[@annrodriguez2891]

​@@gerry-p9xYes it was a beautiful love story❤

[@MiddleMalcolm]

Easy to forget how much of a landmark show Phil Donahue had. Hugely influential on that whole concept of television. Always seemed to be a great guy to have a conversation with. Just a natural. ❤

[@pamelaearl7191]

I remember him stating why he started his show. Always be grateful.

[@TrishRyan-ey8go]

I remember staying home sick from school and watching Donahue with my mom❤❤good memories

[@sulynn72]

I was thinking about a week ago we needed him back on tv

[@dBsound100]

He was such a likeable, kind soul. Rest it peace, Phil.

[@mrsj1417]

There's a hysterical clip where Dave fired Gerry Mulligan for the nth time - and Gerry immediately goes across the hall and appears on Donahue to talk about "horrible bosses who fire people for no reason". 🤣🤣RIP Mr. Donahue.

[@ratso69ful81]

LOL, I missed that one, now I have to search for it

[@bobreed414]

Just enjoyed him so much. His show was so informative.

[@ratso69ful81]

@@bobreed414 Agreed, informative & classy, before it all "went to hell"....

[@b5maddog]

Classy, respectful and such beautiful hair RIP Phil

[@timward3116]

RIP. Probably the most significant host in American television history. Boy, do we need people like him today!

[@autumn1231]

Many like him on MSNBC

[@lylecampbell9036]

​@autumn1231 that's absurd

[@timward3116]

@@lylecampbell9036 You are right, since he is no longer on MSNBC. But when he was on MSNBC, many did like him. Unfortunately, MSNBC didn't like him, though.

[@wampdog61]

@@timward3116they fired him because he was holding the Bush administration’s feet to the fire about the war……that’s a fact

[@TySpiceland]

Why RIP? Dave’s still alive…

[@BearbearbearbearbearbearRarrrr]

Donahue was a rare breed of person, and an icon.

[@TrishRyan-ey8go]

So true ❤

[@lexmax08]

RIP. I remember him well. Phil Hartman’s SNL sketch playing him is a classic.

[@justaguy6100]

Thanks for this callback. Phil was an ICON.

[@Greg-o1q]

Phil did all the heavy lifting and Oprah got the fan fare

[@bbcsoundcrew]

If you've ever seen Phil Hartman's impersonation of Donahue, it's a work of art. Rip to both of them...

[@JS45678]

Legendary pioneer of Daytime Talk Television. RIP Sir, You are sorely missed. 😔

[@esousa486]

Mr. Donahue was and will REMAIN, a CLASS ACT ...... "Thank You" for enlightening us all, for so long ..... R.I.P.

[@barbarakennedy2330]

Total class!!!!

[@judd442009]

May Phil's memory be a blessing to all those who knew and loved him.

[@susanmolnar9606]

Phil and Marlo lived in my town when they settled in together while his show was in NYC. Their house was recently put on the market and we wondered why. We believe now that the end was near. 😢

[@andywood5699]

He pioneered the audience participation format and did so with intelligence. Never talked down to his audience and always informed and tackled taboo subjects. I missed him when he left. Rest in Peace Mr. Donahue. My condolences to your wife, Marlo.

[@northwesttravels7234]

His audience didn't act crazy or mean, it was a nice show.

[@brentgardner5103]

RIP to a TV pioneer. 🕯🕯🕯

[@dawngrzeszczak5173]

He certainly was ❤he’ll be missed for sure ❤RIP Mr Donahue. Condolences to his family . ❤

[@privatepenguin3137]

Although I watched a little bit of Dave on the morning show...followed by a little bit of Late Night in '82 & '83...but when I really started watching Letterman on a nightly basis, the Phil Donahue Countdown Calendar was in full force. Great memories. R.I.P. Phil...a true television pioneer and had a great sense of humor.

[@gerry-p9x]

Dave was too cool on morning show alot of antics there made it to late night. His show. Was a qwik NBC. ATTEMPT TO FILL IN FOR THE CANCELLED BOYCOTTING OLYMPICS......THE BEST WAS A TRIBITE TO A COUPLES ANNIVERSARY. BUT THE SPARKLERS AND CONFETTI NEARLY TORCHED THE TV STUDIO😅😅😅

[@annavasquez1394]

Marlo & Phil fell in love on live tv🇺🇸

[@rsgabrys----]

-------------------------- yep ....during commercial breaks they were playing spin the bottle of Gretcian formula.....thx ....ok

[@rhoho2217]

There’s a clip somewhere I’ve seen of them on his show and you can literally see them both bewitched with each other. It was the sweetest thing to see. (I’ve never used the word bewitched before but it seems like the best description of what was happening between them.)

[@JChow-e1c]

He was the best daytime talk show host ever. He was unbiased and fair. I learned so much from his show. RIP Aphil and thank you!!!!!! ☮️💟

[@acousticshadow4032]

Agreed. Phil was the Best. No contest.

[@davidrice3337]

It's a low bar

[@JonathanHudgins]

Back in the day when TV was good, they even gave shows to intellectuals like Mr. Donahue. RIP.

[@MrBaltch]

It's sad that a decent guy like Phil Donahue is gone, but if you think he was an intellectual, then that's pretty sad as well.

[@JonathanHudgins]

@@MrBaltch He was a very bright man. That's all the qualifications it takes to be called an intellectual, so...

[@missoula2213]

Go take a nap Grandpa.

[@MrBaltch]

No it isn't, an intellectual was generally an author, an academic, someone with great expertise in a specific area. You're also forgetting that Donahue also did stunts for ratings. Good guy, smart guy, not an intellectual.@@JonathanHudgins

[@JonathanHudgins]

@@MrBaltch Go look up intellectual in the dictionary and leave me alone.

[@leilanirocks]

This is so good. Phil is smart and funny and this interview is just the Essence of Dave. I watched this and felt transported back to the first time I watched it almost 40 years ago. Dave did Great TV. 📺

[@dennismarcucci3465]

An absolute legend, my mom, brother and I watched every morning, even when he was on CNBC

[@WhtrBruin]

I would LOVE to see a Countdown Calendar compilation. Those were comedy gold.

[@harvesttable77]

I love this. I used to watch Phil everyday. He was very intelligent, not afraid of controversial guests, and paved the way for so many others.

[@pamelaearl7191]

My heart sank when I saw this heading. Remember this scene! Linus Pauling, Carl Sagan, Stephen Hawking; orphan diseases, Turettes, Dominos delivery crashes and the very first time A.I.D.S. was discussed. Those are just some of the guests and topics. Cheers Dave and Dave's team. Feels like we've lost a favourite teacher. He was funny too. RIP Phil and thank you for everything. My thoughts are with Marlo, Charlie and their families.

[@maryvitale9264]

I always liked and ADMIRED PHIL

[@raywalsh9152]

RIP Phil ... thanks for putting in the effort to educate and entertain at the same time.

[@andyroo9381]

Phil Donahue never had an ego. If he did, he never let it govern his show. Such a good man. I miss the Phil Donahue Show.

[@royfizzbin2938]

Donahue was a good guest. I remember him being on Late Night often (17 times, according to IMDB). Dave did Phil's show in 1985. A good episode; it's on Don Giller's channel.

[@lyncressler2608]

I loved this man. He will be missed . Sending love to Marlo ♥️😥

[@AdamShaiken]

Phil was the first, finest and a genuine human being. May he rest in eternity. My thoughts and prayers to Marlo.

[@kimr5479]

I loved his talk show, Boy I miss the talk shows from back then Rest Well Phil Donahue!😥🙏

[@mikefannon6994]

I was in high school in Dayton when he started- always watched in summer. Different kind of TV.

[@CatJabZ]

Phil Donahue was a great hero of broadcasting history. I loved his show growing up. He was so earnest and wise. You could really trust his words. Don't get much of that these days. Rest in peace Mr. Donahue.

[@rhyslynjones5817]

Total CLASS ACT. Hope he always knew how beloved he was. May he RIP!!

[@blu48]

The days of staying up super late to watch Letterman. What a joyous time. RIP wonderful, ,legendary Phil Donohue.

[@BradC44]

Iconic Phil. What a great American and person. We will all miss him.

[@cwyci]

I can't help watching and smiling. Phil was so charismatic, and disarming. How could anyone NOT like him! I loved his show. It was groundbreaking, and always enlightening and entertaining! My condolences to his family and dear friends.

[@kamuelalee]

A legend has died. Phil will be greatly missed. He was a real class act and intelligent human being.

[@jmaxxtv9912]

I remember Dave doing a "Phil Donahue Week" thing, and he had Phil sitting beside him for the opening of the show, and Phil said something to the tune of "Gee, that's great Dave. You're really not the bastard everyone says you are." I'm paraphrasing, but I'd love to see that clip again. I laughed so hard at that. Rest well, legend. 👍

[@huflungdung8252]

Phil Donahue. A dear good man. RIP

[@AZbluedot196]

I am so lucky to have grown up watching Phil Donahue!!!!!

[@beckyshell4649]

I Remember growing up with the Phil Donahue show . He always had informative show that was also interesting and at times entertaining.

[@mwyatt222]

My mom was on his show speaking on prisoner rights.

[@rhondafortson5205]

PHIL DONAHUE did change daytime TV indeed. His unique ability to tackle so many controversial subjects and handle some difficult people was, and still is, EXCEPTIONAL.

[@Redmenace96]

I remember this show! Donahue was awesome.

[@tas22222]

I gotta say Bravo to his parents his upbringing what a GEM Of a man !! I am so happy I got to watch his shows every chance I got, RIP Phil you were a pioneer and as I said A gem of a human being !

[@deborahdeborah8724]

I loved watching Phil! A lovely man, and his show has been greatly missed over these many years!

[@TomLloyd-18]

My 2 fav TV personalities of the 20th Century. This was such a good memory and tribute to Phil. RIP Mr Donohue

[@annmariethompson4587]

Phil will be missed. He was a staple watching in our household. RIP

[@michelek.5233]

RIP Phil. You were progressive, amazing at talking to people and just a Real One. You'll be missed.

[@JChow-e1c]

I wish more of his shows were on KZbin. I WOULD watch every one.

[@kimr5479]

I would too!👍

[@karenworley241]

I grew up watching him, wonderful human being 💙🎯💙

[@jmbutler5]

I was fortunate enough to be on the Donahue show 3 times and it was a honor to meet him along with Walter Cronkite, Ryan White’s mother & I don’t remember the last time. He was a very honest, fascinating man & I love my memories of those times.❤

[@Eye2Eye24]

That's cool. He was a 1 of a kind

[@HardRockMiner]

RIP, Phil Donahue. ❤

[@waltwenzel9549]

Rip Mr Donahue. Loved your show and the person you were.

[@cherylsibson2529]

Thanks for posting about Phil Donahue, he was a class act, and he took his staff to Paris! They do need a talk show host like Phil Donahue, and Marlo Thomas Parents are People - she could update a video and make one about Grandparents are people, and tell a story about Phil being a Grandpa!

[@cherylmahaffey6184]

God Bless you Phil for the years we spent together! You on tv and me making an hour to watch your show. For years and years. Margo 🫶🏼✅

[@fire1777]

Condolences to Marlo.

[@dakotahstr]

Loved watching Phil everyday❤❤

[@StevenTorrey]

Phil Donahue passed on today 8/19/24 aged 88.

[@markusallport1276]

A wonderful and grateful man. I had the honor of meeting Phil & Marlo back in 2000-2001. He was a gratious and shy as he was here on this show. Just a true gentleman, very humble. RIP

[@jvalatka]

A lot of insights from dearly departed Phil in this clip, but if you came for the "most annoying guests" part: 12:21 - 14:14: Phil was generally annoyed at people who answered his long questions with replies like "uh-huh" and "yeah". He did mention Jerry Rubin, and Dave volunteered Abby Hoffman, who had called Phil "Merv" throughout his appearance.

[@KatieHiggins-hc1ph]

Watching Phil Donahue with my mom , pregnant with my first child , I saw the midwives whose practice was 45 minutes away ! I am a nurse, who was not comfortable with hospital deliveries. One of those midwives delivered my son - the whole experience, including pre ant post natal care was amazing. Loved his show because it was cutting edge, informative, civilized and fun. No one could or has come close to him or his format. 🙏❤

[@KenJohnsonMusic]

Phil was such a class act. So glad he had an amazing life with That Girl.

[@carolcarpenter4681]

I started watching Dave because of the Phil countdown calendar - that struck me as comedy genius and I became a Dave fan after that. Loved Phil’s show too.

[@TrishRyan-ey8go]

Phil Donahue was a genuinely and sincerely a good man ☘️

[@obionekenobi7401]

Two people having a conversation wearing ties…..my heavens!!!!!

[@ratso69ful81]

R.I.P. Phil Donahue

[@bubbercakes528]

Wonderful memory for me. I remember how much I loved the Phil Donohue show and watched it as much as I could. My philosophy professor had us all watch the show and critique it according to philosophical teachings. He said the show was not great for getting at the truth but he admitted to watching it also. He was an original and one of the very best!

[@KathiB-e5n]

As a child I was sick a lot and my Mom watched this show. We only had one TV so I ended up watching starting in first grade. I always liked him. Rest in Peace, Phil. No one was as good as you.

[@annarousiadou784]

Rest Easy Sir 🕊️. God how many loses this Summer…

[@dreamcatcher5502]

Such a nice man. ❤

[@MicheleHuffman-d8c]

My most favorite Phil Donahue show was when Neil Diamond was trying to teach Phil to sing and move to the Torah. Neil was having a hard time keeping a straight face. He was trying to get Phil to loosen up and sway back and forth. Neil said "don't worry you're gonna look sexy"! The audience was screaming with laughter. It's here on KZbin if you want to watch it. God Bless you, Phil. You are going to be missed.

[@edralphy]

I don’t cry for people I don’t personally know. Today I’ve been crying. R.I.P. Mr. Donahue. 😞

[@patrickplummer1027]

RIP Phil and condolences to his family

[@jamescarter3196]

I'm 48 and was a child when Donahue was the biggest daytime talk show, before Oprah and many others made their versions of it. There were a lot of talk shows through the '70s but his represented such a solid core of compassion, intelligence, humility and just generally a benevolent and helpful attitude about life, it is hard to overstate how great that show was and what a tremendous moral compass he was for a lot of people and brought together people who today would be separated by partisanship and the like. I can think of hardly anyone else whose work has ever approached the incredibly well-considered and skillful approach to engaging people in conversation that Phil Donahue did for decades. One of the greatest tragedies in media is the way he was scraped out of the television landscape due to political pressure from the right when they went hardcore-partisan in the 90s. He deserved so much better than to be treated that way and his legacy deserves much more attention than it's getting so far.

[@davidmc8475]

WTH are you talking about? The right didn’t end his show, Oprah came along, his ratings dropped and he was cancelled. Turns out women were more interested in trash TV than interesting topics. Women who made up his audience like shows without a lot of substance. The Bachelor, Housewives of Beverly Hills, Daytime Drama shows.

[@janicescott6569]

Oh yes, he was loved and will be missed.

[@NightWarriorAlive]

Guy was part of my childhood; home from school, watching daytime TV.

[@victorbar-s5c]

Phil was one class act. RIP Mr. Donahue.

[@fakerating]

That was a great interview! RIP, Phil.

[@lynnlobliner3933]

This was such a pleasure to see. I never saw him in this light (didn't watch his show much but on his show he wasn't like this. I did watch him on CNN with he co-hosted with a Russian man named Vladamir Pozner. I enjoyed that show but I moved and didn't have CNN anymore.

[@jacquesjoseph2022]

This was the time when tv host and journalist couldn’t be brought. RIP Phil Donahue🙏🏽

[@jamesw5353]

One of the most genuine and generous people I've ever met. Total opposite of Regis Philbin!

[@Mmdmade]

Phil Hartman = Phil Donahue. Must watch

[@JayShep-te4kj]

Joe Piscopo actually did a pretty good a few Donahue years before Hartman. May be hard to believe today but he was actually pretty funny on SNL just because he did so many impersonations on the show.

[@antihero5203]

The SNL sketch of the Donahue show is still comedy gold.

[@tomryan4968]

Darrell Hammond’s impression of Donahue is the gold standard.

[@teeveeparty]

I liked when you guys started putting "Remembering (name)" when posting a video of someone who just passed. It makes it feel more like a tribute than an algorithm-grab and helps prevent the played out RIP jokes in every other video you post.

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

Milton Friedman and Ayn Rand on the Donahue Show was absolutely awesome. The crowd had no idea how to respond to them. LOL!

[@wintercame]

Wish I'd seen those, 😄.

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

@@wintercame They're on youtube and they are totally worth watching! The Ayn Rand show from Madison Square Garden is insane. The crowd was absolutely enraged at her and she called a woman a "hippie" for asking a question she thought was "rude". It's absolutely hilarious.

[@douglasmennella4525]

It's fun when Dave is excited to have a guest on.

[@carleneburton4557]

What an awesome human being and will be missed. He was the first to call out the lies from the Bush administration leading up to the war on Iraq - and he was cancelled (of course) from MSNBC. Prayers and love to Marlo and his family, let his memory be a blessing.

[@dennismarcucci3465]

You were the reason I got into doing a talk show. You were the dean of talk show hosts.

[@mst6459]

Loved this guy!

[@BlueberryStinkFinger62]

The most honest talk show host ever..rest well Phil Donahue 🙏

[@larrygrebler5054]

Two really classy guys. Even though Dave was goofy he never was rude. Phil here brought out the best in him.

[@melcolley5459]

I only wish God made more people like Phil Donahue, such a classy, gentle, human being. RIP!

[@2Majesties]

In terms of positive influence on modern culture, late 20th century, Phil was a real giant.