A full season after she’s been gone from daytime, Oprah Winfrey still leaves a big hole in daytime.
And as the new season in daytime begins today, a wealth of new talk shows led by strong, familiar personalities, each try in their way to fill the void.
Best suited for the challenge is Katie Couric, who was a hit for decades on “Today” before she became the first solo female anchor in network history – though she didn’t bring the ratings for “The CBS Evening News” in her stint.
Reunited with “Today” producer and later NBC chief Jeff Zucker, who produces “Katie” (syndicated, check local listings), the show will be able to best pivot between issues and celebrities. But can she relate to her audience in the studio and at home? If you count “Today,” she certainly has the most experience doing so.
Also new today is “Ricki Lake” (syndicated, check local listings) from the woman who starred in the original “Hairspray” movie as a teen, was host of a daytime talk show that made a difference in bringing in young viewers, and most recently danced on “Dancing with the Stars.” Like Oprah (and Tyra after her), she may spend too much time obsessing about her weight or talking about herself, but she knows the rope of daytime expectations.
Not so “Jeff Probst” (Syndicated, check local listings). The guy best known for presiding over competitions and tribal councils on “Survivor” finds his way indoors (for one thing) and in a whole new world of daytime talk. He’s spoken loftily of his goals, but the question remains whether he’ll be a survivor in this newly chosen arena or will he be told “The viewers have spoken.”
The sleeper daytime show may be “Marie” (Hallmark, noon), starring another “Dancing with the Stars” alum, Marie Osmond. She might just be corny enough to make this venture work, and she’s got an audience who clearly loves her.
Getting the jump last week was “Steve Harvey” (syndicated, check local listings) who in his first shows resembled nothing more than an African American version of Dr. Phil (including the bald head and mustache) with even fewer credentials to solve audience members’ problems. But at least he’ll attempt to do so with humor, something sometimes lacking in daytime.