Talk shows: Public Relations / Publicity Tips

Talk shows are television or radio programs hosted by an individual who interviews or converses with invited guests. Talk shows routinely feature multiple guests, usually notable persons such as celebrities. Talk shows may focus on current events, such as with a news talk show, politics, celebrities, comedy, pop culture, or specialized topics such as automobiles or food. Whether televised or aired on the radio, talk shows often allow viewers or listeners to call in and ask the host or a guest questions.

Talk shows have been aired nearly since the inception of television and radio, with popularity and show offerings increasing in the 1950's. Since then, televised and radio talk show have been a popular has not waned. Talk shows are known for their witty exchanges, quips, humor, confrontational discussions, and/or intimate interviews.

Popular Talk Shows
There is a large variety of talk shows broadcast via television and radio. These types of shows include:

- Call-in radio shows, usually hosted by a field expert, such as an automobile repair expert;
- News talk shows, usually featuring experts in certain fields, such as a political or financial expert;
- Comedy talk shows, usually hosted by a comedian and frequently featuring comedians as guests, with comedic entertainment interspersed throughout the show;
- Tabloid or "trash" talk shows, which normally feature a variety of guests discussing or arguing about personal issues;
- Celebrity talk shows, normally hosted by a celebrity and regularly featuring celebrities as guests;
- Late night talk shows, always airing late at night or into the early morning, featuring a variety of guests and frequently interspersed with forms of entertainment.

The longest running televised talk show is The Tonight Show, which first aired in 1954 and is currently hosted by Jay Leno. The longest running daytime television talk is The Oprah Winfrey Show, which first aired in 1986.

Talk Show Sources and Ideas
Talk show hosts normally do not choose the topics of discussion for the show they host. Although hosts may frequently assist with choosing topics and dialogue writing, show producers and other professionals must find new and interesting topics or stories to be discussed for each show.

There are essentially two categories that talk show producers select topics from:

- Relevant news, trends, and topics;
- The viewers or listeners.

Talk show topics and ideas arise frequently from pertinent world conditions, news, and trends. For example, during a period of war, talk show hosts will frequently interview persons of political influence, such as a politician or perhaps even the First Lady.

Published studies regarding health, food, and exercise frequently become the topic of a talk show, perhaps with humorous results. Viruses, global warming, elections, health debates, and hurricanes are all news items that have the potential to form the theme of a talk show and indicate the type of talk show guest.

Trends in books, movies, food, and especially fashion are popular sources of talk show fodder, and frequently form the basis of subject matter for a celebrity-hosted talk show.

Actors, actresses, authors, and musical performers are regular talk show fixtures. Usually, their presence on a talk show coincides with a recent piece of news or event that has put them in the national spotlight; for example, an actor appearing in a newly released movie, or a singer involved in a public incident.

A vast majority of talk show topics, themes, and ideas stem from show viewers or listeners. Almost every single talk show website has a section devoted to the submission of ideas or stories. Producers regularly make human interest stories customary parts of a talk show. Usually talk shows, especially tabloid or comedy talk shows, are looking for:

- A person with a unique, outrageous, or amazing ability or hobby;
- A pet who with a unique or amazing ability or trick;
- A child with a unique or amazing talent, hobby, ability, or collection;
- Unusual or humorous videos or outtakes from life or television;

Additionally, talk shows regularly encourage or search for viewers to send in something relevant to the theme of a show, such as video footage, photographs, or inventions.

Depending on the type of talk show, producers look for human interest stories with a positive ending, or a tragic and/or outrageous ending. Certain types of talk shows actively search for guests to take part in their themed show discussions, as with a tabloid or "trash" talk show.

Well Known Talk Shows
- Click and Clack
- The Daily Show
- The David Letterman Show
- Dr. Phil
- The Early Show
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show
- Geraldo
- Good Morning America
- The Howard Stern Show
- The Jerry Springer Show
- Larry King Live
- The Late Late Show (CBS TV series)
- The Late Late Show
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien
- Late Night with David Letterman
- The Late Show with David Letterman
- Live with Regis and Kelly
- Meet the Press
- Montel
- The Oprah Winfrey Show
- Ricki Lake
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show
- The Today Show
- The Tonight Show With Jay Leno
- The Tonight Show
- The Tyra Banks Show
- The View