The 10 Greatest A**hole Hosts in TV History
5. Graham Norton
The outrageous BBC host has made a career of laughing in guests' faces. Though his Comedy Central talk show The Graham Norton Effect never took off, he manages to have a dismissive, blithely condescending perspective on talk shows as a whole. "The only people who are desperate to go on the show," he once said of his variety hour, "are people we're desperate not to have on the show."
4. Bill O'Reilly
Love him or really, really hate him, Bill O'Reilly is television's reigning boor. Combining sneering interview skills with the unfeeling authority of one of Animal Farm's shadier pigs, O'Reilly's style has proven unforgettable and viral. Few a**holes get to exercise their skills against a range of foes that has so far included Jon Stewart and Barack Obama.
3. Stephen Colbert
Truthy news anchor Stephen Colbert turns his a**holery into a provocative question: Is the bastardliness real, or is his entire presence an ingenious construction? Either way, he's a singular presence, one whose exquisite meanness ("Now, there's nothing wrong with being gay -- some of my best friends are going to hell") is universally likable.
2. Anne Robinson
The Weakest Link was a fad that passed quickly in the U.S., but host Anne Robinson's contestant putdowns are unforgettable. "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the dumbest of you all?" she might chirp before an elimination round. She still hosts the UK version of Weakest Link, the original program that earned her the title "the Queen of Mean."
1. David Letterman
Letterman scored the top spot on our Best Late Night Talk Show Appearances of the Last Decade list, and I conclude this list with the same question: Was there any doubt he'd snag #1? Letterman's detachment and contempt is so palpable that even a guest as entitled as Paris Hilton has no choice but to succumbs to him. Letterman doesn't suffer fools, mince words, or let you off the hook when you've just been released from jail. Best of all: He does the funniest Jay Leno impression of anyone on TV.
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Letterman shows a clear affection and admiration for people who work for a living (i.e., non-celebrities), and seems to relish good conversation with smart people. Jay Leno, on the other hand, laces every interview with condescension and awkward put-downs, and his most famous routine ("Jay-Walking"), has no apparent purpose except to show how stupid people are. That Letterman will forever be described as "the mean one" is, to me, one of the great show-business ironies.
Also, about Colbert: There's really not a "provocative" question about his persona, or any question at all. He's a famously non-bastardly comedian playing a character.
Ah, Matchgame. I used to love watching it after school as a little kid, knew there was something naughty about it but couldn't quite figure out what. In hindsight, I would have loved to kick back a few martinis (you can't tell me these folks were sober) with Charles Nelson Riley and Brett Somers. Gene Reyburn FTW!
My comment may seem like it's coming out of nowhere, but AMEN to everything you just said.
Letterman is such a badass
No Morton Downey Jr.?
Bruce, you are a genius. I was THIS close to including him -- but "greatest" is a term I try not to associate with ole Morty.
Wow you are right that Donald Trump is a major Ahole isnt he?
Lou
http://www.Anonymous-VPN.de.tc
Trump may be an asshole...but HES OUR ASSHOLE DOWN HERE IN THE SOUTH...! Prez Trump
Congratulations hope u southern rednecks are proud!!
I know this was more of a So Cal thing but anyone who ever got to see Wally George knows he would be on this list. That guy was such a bastard but so entertaining
Ramsay's much less an asshole than he portrays, stemming from his run for his first michelin star and the write ups done in tabloids about him. TV Producers in North America—most especially—prefer to show the "angry" side of Chef Ramsay; the one the UK stopped caring about a decade ago.
He has one of the higher employee retention rates in the restaurant business, and garners huge levels of respect and loyalty of those who work for him. A sous-chef I worked under had worked under Ramsay, Joël Robuchon and some other "big names" in the business. This sous had nothing but respect for Ramsay; describing him as one of the most honest, loyal and generous chefs he has ever worked for. Doesn't sound like much of an a**hole to me.
um..... What? David Letterman? Wheres Jay Leno on this list
oh, lenon, colbert and letterman.. someone forgot jimmy fallon. now that dude is cool.
I loved Letterman years ago when he was a funny asshole, but recently he become an angry old asshole.
We want Coco!
How about Trebek? that smug asshole is the worst. his condescending tones and pompous attitude make me want to reach through the tv and punch is canuck face.
I agree with all of these but you're missing a few people.
Anyone nominate Chevy Chase and Tom Snyder for the a**hole list? What about Rush Limbaugh. Yeah yeah, I know he is not a TV talk show host anymore, but he still SHOULD BE ON THE LIST!
Slack;
I have met Alex, and he is a truly nice person. Maybe you are just not smart enough to understand his interactions with the contestants, but he has a sly sense of humor and truly likes the contestants. Never having met any of the others, I can't say, but I also notice your bigotry showing by the reference you made to his Canadian heritage. I feel sorry for a know-nothing like you who must resort to nationalistic put-downs to try and get your point across.
This is the perfect description for Pat Screeching Buchanan I have ever seen. Hope you don't mind but I'm definitely borrowing it, he-he-he!
So anyone who dislikes Alex Trebek must be too stupid to share your deep understanding of his interactions with the Jeopardy contestants?
It's not surprising that someone so pompous and condescending would be a die-hard Alex Trebek fan.
As much as I can't stand Letterman O'Reilly is so far ahead of everyone on the ASSHOLE SCALE ITS NO CONTEST