In honor of Black History Month, we’re highlighting influential Black TV hosts that have changed the face of American TV. These generation-defining trailblazers have made their mark and given African Americans more exposure and representation on a large scale. Their cultural impact is remarkable and they have served as an inspiration for many minority journalists and entertainers.
Here are 12 Black TV Hosts That Changed the Game!
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey became a household name in 1986 with the premiere of “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” which made her the first Black woman to host a nationally syndicated talk show. The iconic show ran for 25 years and remains the highest-rated talk show in American television history. It also racked up 47 Daytime Emmy Awards. The show helped Winfrey become the first Black female billionaire and one of the most influential people in the world.
Arsenio Hall
“The Arsenio Hall Show” ran from 1989 to 1994, and made Arsenio Hall TV’s first African American late-night talk show host. The show was a hit with the younger demographic and was known for the audience chanting “woof, woof, woof” and fist-pumping instead of clapping. Hall was one of the first late-night talk show hosts to interview a presidential candidate when he interviewed Bill Clinton in 1992. “The Arsenio Hall Show” provided one of the most memorable moments in late-night talk show history when then-presidential candidate, Clinton famously played a rendition of “Heartbreak Hotel” on his saxophone with his Ray-Bans on, giving him a boost in support from young voters. In 2013, the show was revived for a one-season run and once again last year as a special for the Netflix Is A Joke festival.
Trevor Noah
Trevor Noah is a South African comedian, television host, political commentator, and author who is best known as the host of the American satirical news show “The Daily Show.” After appearing as a correspondent in 2014 Noah replaced John Stewart as the host the following year. As the host of “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah,” he offered a unique outsider perspective that connected with viewers and brought in a younger and more diverse audience. During Noah’s tenure as the host, the show picked up its most Emmy Award nominations since its premiere in 1996. After seven seasons, Noah left the show in 2022 to do more comedy tours.
Steve Harvey
Comedian, actor, author, and entertainer Steve Harvey’s self-titled daytime talk show, “Steve Harvey,” debuted in 2012 and ran until 2017. The successful show focused on timely issues and a range of relatable topics, such as marriage, parenting, dating, friendships, and finance. Harvey launched another talk show called “Steve” in 2017 that ran for two seasons. He also served an eight-year stint as host of “It’s Showtime at the Apollo,” and has many other hosting gigs including “Family Feud,” “Celebrity Family Feud,” “Little Big Shots,” “Miss Universe,” and numerous others. In 2021, Harvey surpassed original host Richard Dawson as the longest-serving host in “Family Feud” history.
Amber Ruffin
Amber Ruffin is the host of Peacock’s “The Amber Ruffin Show,” which is currently in its third season. The show has also been nominated for a Writers Guild Award for Comedy/Variety Sketch Series. Ruffin is the only Black woman with a late-night show currently on the air and became the first black woman to write for a late-night talk show in 2014 when writing for “Late Night with Seth Meyers.” With her political and social satire comedy style, she is not scared to shy away from topics such as race, sexuality, or gender.
Montel Williams
Montel Williams is a motivational speaker and U.S. Marine Corps and Navy veteran, known for hosting the tabloid talk show “The Montel Williams Show.” The show discussed a variety of controversial topics and brought awareness to various social issues. It ran from 1991 to 2008 and received a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show Host in 1996. In 2021, he launched a talk show called “Competitive Edge” and currently hosts “Military Makeover: Operation Career” on Lifetime. He is also an advocate for multiple sclerosis and founded the nonprofit MS Foundation after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999.
Whoopi Goldberg
The iconic Whoopi Goldberg is a woman of many talents, seeing as though she is the first Black woman to win all four major North American entertainment awards (EGOT: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony). She made history in 1992 as the first Black woman to helm a late-night show, “The Whoopi Goldberg Show,” which only lasted for one season. Goldberg has served as a cohost on the daytime television talk show, “The View” for 15 years, which she earned a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host for in 2014. She also serves as moderator for the show and is known for her relatable and straightforward commentary.
Nick Cannon
Nick Cannon is a jack of all trades having dipped his toes into music, television, film, and radio, but has seen much success these days for his talents as a host. He is best known for his work as creator, host, and executive producer of the sketch comedy show MTV’s “Wild ‘N Out”, which is currently airing its 18th season. The show has helped develop the careers of comedians such as Kat Williams, DC Young Fly, Mikey Day, and several others. Cannon is also currently the executive producer and host of Fox’s hit TV series “The Masked Singer” and the host and producer of the nationally syndicated radio show “Nick Cannon Radio.” His other hosting gigs include, “The Nick Cannon Show”, “America’s Got Talent”, and “Lip Sync Battle Shorties.” In 2021, Cannon hosted his own syndicated daytime talk show, “Nick Cannon,” which had a one-season run.
Michael Strahan
NFL Hall of Famer, Michael Strahan made a seamless transition from football to hosting in 2010 when filling in for co-host Regis Philbin on “Live with Regis and Kelly.” The gig became permanent in 2011 after Philbin retired, and Strahan went on to cohost “Live! With Kelly and Michael” until 2016. He received two Daytime Emmy Awards for his co-hosting on “Live!” He then became a co-host on “Good Morning America.” The Texas Southern grad is also a co-host on America’s most-watched NFL pregame show, “Fox NFL Sunday,” and hosted “The $100,000 Pyramid” game show for six seasons.
Tamron Hall
After serving as a news anchor and correspondent for the ‘Today Show,’ MSNBC, and NBC, Tamron Hall launched her own talk show in 2019. “Tamron Hall” is a daily destination for all things topical and a platform for viewers to connect with the people who are shaping our world through meaningful, engaging, and entertaining conversations. “I don’t want our show to be an agenda,” Hall told TV Insider in 2020. “I want to talk to the people you’re talking about and talk about the things you’re talking about.” She has won two Daytime Emmys as Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host.
Don Cornelius
American television host and producer Don Cornelius was best known for creating, producing, and hosting the variety music television show “Soul Train.” Cornelius used his own funds to create a pilot of “Soul Train” and positioned it as the Black version of “American Bandstand.” The groundbreaking show televised young people dancing to hit soul and R&B songs and featured performances by established musicians such as The Jackson 5, James Brown, and Gladys Knights & The Pips. The hit show debuted in 1970 and ended in 2006. Cornelius retired as host in 1993 but continued to produce new installments of the show as the Soul Train Music Awards. “Soul Train” was one of the longest-running syndicated programs in American television history.
Robin Roberts
Robin Roberts rose to fame in the 1990s as a host of ESPN’s ‘Sportscenter”’ and as a guest reporter on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” In 2005, she was hired as a full-time co-anchor of the morning news program, for which she has a Daytime Emmy Award. In 2013, after a break to undergo a bone marrow transplant, Roberts returned to GMA garnering the show’s best rating numbers since the morning after the presidential election in November 2012. Roberts is also the first woman of color and the first openly LGBTQ+ woman to host “Jeopardy!” and hosts her own Disney+ show “Turning the Tables with Robin Roberts,” in which she holds intimate roundtable conversations with female celebrities from all walks of life
