Famous TV Personalities Who Built Empires Around Their Names

In recent years, network television has been saturated with game shows, news programs, talent shows, daytime dramas, and late-night talk shows. The creators and hosts of these series are extraordinary people in their own right. These professionals have generally left an impression, taught a lesson, and demonstrated that they are deserving of their position in society.

Love him or hate him, no one can dispute the fact that Jimmy Kimmel’s visage is well-known. Most people equate him with the occasionally immature but always light-hearted comedy stylings of the late-night talk show circuit.

Ellen has a long and illustrious history. What is it about the comedian that makes her such a successful TV personality? Her witty sense of humor, warmth, and distinct style are among the attributes that have helped her win the hearts of Americans. These traits also earned her the title of second-highest-paid US television host of all time.

No doubt, ABC has a great deal of faith in Michael Strahan. They started him on Live! With Regis And Kelly, but the ex-New York Giants defensive end soon got his name in the title when it was changed to Live! With Kelly And Michael. The network gave Strahan even more opportunities to show off his on-camera prowess as co-host of Good Morning America – a move that enraged Kelly Ripa at the time.

Vanna White is an all-American belle who is still as captivating today as she was when she first made her hosting debut in the 1980s. White is most remembered for his role on the popular game show, Wheel of Fortune. 

Jimmy Fallon is the second Jimmy on the list, and he shares a similar legacy to Jimmy Kimmel. Performing skits and conducting interviews with celebrities on The Tonight Show has pushed Fallon’s prominence as one of the country’s most recognizable celebrities to an even higher level.

Since David Letterman’s debut on NBC’s Late Night with David Letterman, television has never been the same. He was the show’s captain in the 1980s. Letterman moved to CBS and hosted The Late Show with David Letterman until 2015. If you think back, there are probably countless times when his charm made you chuckle.

The tall redhead from Boston possesses extraordinary comedic ability. In addition to carrying a brutal sting, his remarks are also funny. All of his jokes are made in a lighthearted manner, and he knows how to keep the audience laughing.

If doctors can find a place on daytime talk shows, so can chefs, as Rachel Ray has demonstrated. Ray worked as a cook for numerous restaurants before beginning her television career, which is where she got the idea for “30 Minute Meals.” Her concept earned her a Food Network show, which lasted 11 seasons.

The legendary Bob Saget was a man of many talents. He was an American stand-up comedian who became a household name for his role as Danny Tanner on the ABC sitcom Full House. The whole country looked towards Saget as “America’s Dad.” 

Dr. Oz isn’t the first doctor to take over daytime television; Dr. Phil was the first. Dr. Phil claims to have worked as a psychologist at his father’s family practice before landing his own daytime talk program. In 1990, he also started a trial consulting film, which led to him meeting Oprah Winfrey.

For decades, reality television has been dominated by court shows. Judge Judith Sheindlin, while not the first TV judge, is the most famous and arguably, the greatest. Sheindlin was the hardest, sharpest, no-nonsense person on television for the entire 25-year run of Judge Judy.

Above all else, Pat Sajak has the advantage of being a professional. Except for Hollywood Game Night host Lynch, most of the hosts on this list only do a handful of episodes a year, and most have had no previous hosting experience.

Johnny Carson was the man who paved the way for many other talk show hosts to come. He not only had nice looks, but he was also talented, and many people felt at ease with him. Carson’s performance on The Tonight Show became legendary.

From 1989 to 1994, The Arsenio Hall Show was a smash hit, with a brief revival in 2013 and 2014. Despite not having the extensive run of many of his contemporaries, Hall managed to create a number of unforgettable moments. Bill Clinton’s famed saxophone-playing appearance in 1992 is unrivaled.

Anderson Cooper is an American journalist and the host of Anderson Cooper 360, his own news program. After working as an ABC News correspondent in 1995 and a CNN anchor a few years later, he began hosting his own show in 2003.

Roberts serves as the host of ABC’s Good Morning America. She began her career as a sportscaster for ESPN from 1990 until 2005. Roberts was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012 to recognize her achievements and impact on the sport.

Ryan Seacrest has a reputation for being one of Hollywood’s toughest workers. Despite the fact that Seacrest did not begin his career as a daytime TV anchor, he now co-hosts Live! with Kelly Ripa.

Though James Corden is a British comedian, he has become a household figure in America because of his hilarious appearances on US television, most notably The Late Late Show. 

Lester Holt is an American broadcast journalist who has hosted NBC Nightly News since 2015 and also hosts Dateline. He was the first black person to host a nightly network newscast on a weekday.

Dr. Mehmet Oz of The Dr. Oz Show is one of the few men regularly involved in hosting daytime television. Dr. Oz worked as a cardiothoracic surgeon and later as a professor at Columbia University for much of his career prior to joining the television industry.

In the 1980s, this TV legend rose to prominence as a stand-up comic, filling in for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show on occasion. When Carson retired, everyone expected the show to go to David Letterman, but instead, Jay Leno took over.

Whether you agree or disagree with her, it is undeniably true that Oprah Winfrey is one of the most iconic individuals in American history, having broken down many boundaries on her way to becoming one of the most prominent women in the country.

The weekend edition of CNN Newsroom is hosted by Fredricka Whitfield. Prior to joining CNN in 2002, Whitfield worked as a journalist for NBC News, where she was located in Atlanta and served as a correspondent for The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, and Dateline.

Without Simon Cowell, it’s impossible to imagine American Idol being the unstoppable behemoth of early-2000s reality television that it was. Cowell pioneered reality TV judging in ways that are still relevant more than 20 years after the international Pop Idol franchise was founded. Of course, that doesn’t make him popular with everyone! 

British-born journalist and television broadcaster Christiane Amanpour is of Iranian heritage. She is CNN’s Chief International Anchor and the host of the nightly interview program Amanpour on CNN International. The PBS show Amanpour & Company is also hosted by the talented journalist.

Hu Shuli is a Chinese journalist who is presently the editor-in-chief of Caixin Media, a media conglomerate that she formed in 2009. Shuli had previously worked as a chief reporter and international editor for the China Business Times before launching Caijing, a business and financial magazine for which she served as editor-in-chief for 11 years.

Robert Upshur “Bob” Woodward is an investigative journalist who is widely regarded as one of the most famous journalists of the twentieth century. Most of this fame is attributed to his role in uncovering the Watergate crisis during Richard Nixon’s presidency.

Louis Sebastian Theroux works for the BBC as a journalist and documentary filmmaker. The famous broadcaster is one of television’s most prominent documentarians, best known for his study of marginal and off-beat cultural issues in his show Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends and celebrities’ daily lives in When Louis Met…

Eugene Scott works as a correspondent for The Washington Post. For The Fix, he focuses on issues of identity politics. His previous experience includes serving at Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics.

Yamiche Alcindor works as a White House correspondent for the Public Broadcasting System’s NewsHour. She also contributes to NBC News and MSNBC’s political coverage. In the past, she has worked as a correspondent for various publications, including USA Today and The New York Times.

Reality TV judges come in many varieties. Some are pure joy and cast a light on all. Most of the competitors are big personalities that want to excite their audience. Experts are those who have the knowledge and confidence to give truly valuable advice. Bruno Tonioli is a pro on Dancing With The Stars.

Project Runway has judges, but Tim Gunn is not one of them. He does, however, unofficially critique all of the participants’ work during his hallmark workroom visits as a mentor to Project Runway contestants. He is also a valuable source of information.

Blake Shelton wasn’t the biggest name of the first four coaches on The Voice. His co-hosts included Adam Levine from Maroon 5, CeeLo Green, and Christina Aguilera. However, it quickly became evident that Shelton was the best of the lot.

Some restaurant owners are also chefs who know what they’re doing in business and in the kitchen. Then, of course, there are restaurant owners who have never prepared a meal and many chefs who have never owned a restaurant. Chefs who have trained in the world’s finest restaurants and launched their own are among the greats. Tom Colicchio is a member of this select group.

Political satire has been a staple of television for as long as television has existed, but with shows like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, the genre of political comedy reporting reached new heights. Stephen Colbert is a dry-humored, witty star, and his critically acclaimed work has established him as one of the most iconic comedians of the 21st century.

Gordon Ramsey may be the ultimate instructor, coach, judge, and, of course, chef. In his many series, such as Kitchen Nightmares, Hell’s Kitchen, and MasterChef, he illustrates his unique set of skills. Gordon Ramsay, who is known for his rage and insults, attracts an equally harsh audience.

Nigel Lythgoe, the only constant judge of every season of So You Think You Can Dance, is a recognized elder statesman of both reality TV and dance. He is now in his seventies. Over the course of 50 years, Lythgoe has performed in and choreographed hundreds of television productions.

Craig Ferguson is the type of guy that can turn any subject into a laugh, as seen when he served as the host for The Late Late Show. For doing things differently, he deserves recognition. Ferguson should also be admired for never punching down in his comedy and for not making light of celebrities going through difficult circumstances.

RuPaul may be known as “Mother,” but the queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race actually have two mothers, one of whom is Michelle Visage. Visage – RuPaul’s lifelong friend and co-host – is the show’s only other permanent host, and her word is almost as powerful as Mama Ru’s.

It’s a toss-up between Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry for best judge on The Great British Baking Show or The Great British Bake-Off. Both are experienced, smart, perceptive, and tough-but-firm judges. Neither is frivolous nor harsh.

Elizabeth Banks is a talented comedian, producer, and filmmaker, as well as the host of the game show, Press Your Luck. What makes Banks a terrific actress, though, does not necessarily translate to her job as a presenter.

Bhan is an Indian journalist who hosts and produces several popular shows, including India Business Hour, The Nation’s Business, Young Turks, and Power Turks. She is also the Executive Director of CNBC-TV18 in India, as well as the Delhi Bureau Chief.

Like Strahan, Haines was an ABC talent reserve hired to host a primetime game show. She’s also totally capable as a host – some people just say that she just lacks personality. In her defense, the complicated framework of The Chase makes her mission more challenging.

Joel McHale is particularly good at hosting the relaunch of Card Sharks, a needlessly convoluted show that I’ve seen multiple times and still don’t fully comprehend, but I do like him over Strahan and Haines because he’s more entertaining to watch.

On The Weakest Link, Jane Lynch must work under the lengthy shadow of the popular former host. Anne Robinson was an integral part of The Weakest Link brand in both its US and UK editions, making Lynch’s role in the relaunch all the more difficult.

An Emmy-nominated star of Black-ish, Anthony Anderson has a celebrity panel on his show. Anderson’s involvement is largely restricted to moderating the game and introducing the panelists. But it’s the massive, overblown reactions to identity revelations that make this reprise of To Tell the Truth work.

Fans of 30 Rock will always wonder if Jane Krakowski’s new television projects are an inside joke. She plays the mother of Emily Dickinson in the TV show Dickinson, and she hosts Name That Tune, which features a band led by American Idol’s Randy Jackson. Krakowski fits the bill perfectly for this musical guessing game.

Because Match Game was one of the original primetime network game programs, Alec Baldwin is a veteran on this list, and it shows. Baldwin keeps things moving, despite the contestants’ illogical responses and the celebrity panel’s inebriation. 

Leslie Jones and Supermarket Sweep were made to be together. In a raucous, muscular game like this, Jones’ energetic, theatrical hosting approach is ideal. That is why Jones puts in the same amount of effort that these competitors do. When they succeed, she’s right there with them.

Jon Stewart is recognized as the clever but frequently agitated presenter of The Daily Show. He isn’t afraid to speak what he believes, and it’s fascinating to watch him let off steam. While Stewart is best known for his political satire and humorous takes on current events, he began his career in stand-up comedy.