Oprah Winfrey Lauds “Pioneer” Phil Donahue: “Wouldn’t Have Been An Oprah Show Without” Him

Oprah Winfrey today paid tribute to Phil Donahue, calling the late longtime daytime talk show host a “pioneer.”

“There wouldn’t have been an Oprah Show without Phil Donahue being the first to prove that daytime talk and women watching should be taken seriously,” she posted on Instagram (see it below). “He was a pioneer. I’m glad I got to thank him for it. Rest in peace Phil 🙏🏽🕊️

Indeed, Donahue, who died today at 88, treated his studio audiences with respect and is regarded as an early advocate for women. He gave his largely female audience the opportunity to speak and ask questions on serious topics rather than the home ec subjects that so many daytime talkers focused on.

Winfrey appeared on Donahue’s 25th anniversary show in 1992, along with such talk luminaries as  Sally Jessy Raphael, , Geraldo Rivera, Jenny Jones, Jane Pauley and Montel Williams.

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