Talk show legend Phil Donahue dead at 88

NY Post ^ | 08/19/2024 | Eric Todisco

[ChicagoConservative27]

Phil Donahue, the legendary TV talk show host, has died. He was 88.

Donahue passed away Sunday night following a long illness, his family confirmed to “Today” Monday morning.

The late star died at home surrounded by his loved ones, including his wife of 44 years, Marlo Thomas, his sister, his children, grandchildren and his beloved golden retriever, Charlie.

The family’s statement requested that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Phil Donahue/Notre Dame Scholarship Fund in lieu of flowers.

[ChicagoConservative27]

RIP Phil. The clip of Milton Freedman giving Phil the business is the best.

[Reno89519]

RIP. I remember watching him occasionally decades ago.

[ConservativeMind]

I really enjoyed watching his show.

It brought up great debate opportunities with friends.

RIP.

[Leaning Right]

Phil Donahue was a liberal. But I don’t remember him being obnoxious. Quite unlike the smirking “progressives” on TV shows today.

[Words Matter]

Me too

[blueunicorn6]

Was he related to the race car driver?

[Bob434]

Yep, we are the “Phil Donahue, Johnny Carson, Dinah Shore, Heehaw “ generation. Makes me feel wicked old lol

[Alas Babylon!]

“Is the caller there?”

No, I’m afraid he died.

THAT Girl is in mourning.

[newfreep]

The clip of Milton Freedman giving Phil the business is the best.

Ditto ...and that smackdown of Phil was classic Milton Friedman.

Milton Friedman was my economic/finance hero even before I completed my MBA with national academic honors.

[PGR88]

Phil Donahue was a liberal. But I don’t remember him being obnoxious.

My Father called Donahue a "bleeding heart liberal." looking back on what I remember of him - he was a 1970s fore-runner of the simp male Karen of our present age, or as much as society of that time allowed such a figure to exist.. But you are correct, he was not hateful or arrogant and conducted civilized debates

[xoxox]

Marlo Thomas is interesting because she’s the daughter of Danny Thomas.

Otherwise, meh.

[ChicagoConservative27]

Milton was the best

[Ciaphas Cain]

Donahue had one of the better talk shows. Maybe he was a liberal but he never seemed to make a big deal out of it.

For some reason the show he did about the Biosphere 2 stunt came to mind. He told its designers "I'm telling you people, this is gonna leak!"

[HombreSecreto]

You mentioned Hee Haw...

https://www.facebook.com/heehawroadhouse/videos/roy-clark-dancing-pigs/2476966362529068/

[Biblebelter]

In the history of television Donahue gets too much credit for developing the audience participation format.

Joe Pyne preceded him with a similar format.

[xoxox]

In retrospect, it was a breathtakingly short slide from Phil Donahue through Larry King to Jerry Springer to Hell.

[Skywise]

I disagree. Near the end of his shows run he was every bit the smirking progressive.

[ronniesgal]

RIP guy sorry for marlo.

[wardaddy]

LaRouche dust up la guardia airport
And I was there real time
RIP

[Dan in Wichita]

During his time decades ago, Donohue was at the leading edge of the leftist movement in America. Compared to the rabid leftists of today, he seems rather mild, but...

As one of the Left's ideological ancestors he did a great deal of damage, paving the road to the edge of the cliff where we are today.