Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas, who celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on May 21, 2020, interviewed other famous married couples for the new book “What Makes A Marriage Work.” Phil Donahue, a broadcast legend and retired TV talk show host, died recently following a long illness.
Donahue was a giant years ago. He deserved all the accolades for his popular issue-oriented 6,000 shows that were must-see TV in one of the most controversial periods of the 20th century. His daytime show catered to women in the studio audience and watching from home. He created the first issue-oriented TV American talk show that featured an in-studio audience asking questions of the controversial guests. His strategy paid off.
Even if Donahue disagreed with guests, he would often invite them back to have another discussion. He was a smart, funny and respectful talk host you couldn’t help but like. There were stories at the time in the 1970s that husbands would come home from work only to face fuming wives who watchedregularly and were becoming more energized and empowered, raising questions with their husbands.
So I mourn the loss of Phil Donahue, the genial talk show host who set a high standard for thoughtful, civil discussion on television that seems to have died long before he did.