TV Show Hosts Everyone Lost Respect For and Why
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VOICE OVER: Patrick Mealey
From late-night talk show hosts to news anchors, we're diving into the controversial careers of TV personalities who spectacularly fell from grace. Prepare for a wild ride through scandals, ethical breaches, and reputation-destroying moments that shocked the entertainment world. Our countdown includes shocking stories about James Corden, Dr. Phil, Ellen DeGeneres, Matt Lauer, and other TV hosts whose public images dramatically crumbled due to various controversies and misconduct. Which did you lose the msot respect for? Share in the comments.
TV Show Hosts Everyone Lost Respect For and Why
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at ten television show hosts who ruined their legacies with scandals and poor performances.
James Corden
We’re not entirely sure if James Corden lost respect, or if he just never had any in the first place. Corden has hosted a number of award shows, but he is perhaps best known for “The Late Late Show,” which he presented between 2015 and 2023. Despite his continued success and prevalence, Corden’s public reputation has plummeted. Allegations of rude behavior have followed him for years, including an incident in 2022 which saw him being banned from a New York restaurant. Others perceive him as being annoyingly arrogant, and he has been accused of stealing jokes from other comedians, including Ricky Gervais. And some just don’t enjoy his style of showmanship, believing that it is inauthentic and overly-rehearsed.
Dr. Phil
Despite running one of the most successful talk shows in TV history, Dr. Phil has long attracted criticism for…well, lots of things. He is known for harboring a blunt and confrontational approach to guests, which some interpret as dismissive. He is also not a licensed psychologist as of 2006, which many see as a huge stain on his professional reputation. But perhaps worst of all, Dr. Phil and his production team have faced major ethical concerns and have been accused of exploitative behavior. For example, interviewing the unwell Shelley Duvall for ratings, or providing alcohol to struggling guests in order to boost drama. Basically, he could care less about treating people. It’s all for the TV…
Jeremy Kyle
This English broadcaster hosted the “The Jeremy Kyle Show” between 2005 and 2019, attracting widespread criticism along the way. The program was accused of turning personal struggles into public spectacle, often exploiting vulnerable people and turning them into national laughing stocks. Kyle himself was also infamous for his aggressive interview style, often being extremely confrontational with guests and sometimes even outright humiliating them. But the final straw for everyone - including the network - came in 2019 when a guest took his own life shortly after appearing on the show. A coroner later exonerated the producers, but the backlash was still enormous and the show was swiftly cancelled. And with that, what little respect Kyle had evaporated.
Brian Williams
Unlike the others so far on this list, Brian Williams was a respectable journalist, having worked for NBC since 1993 and winning a number of awards. But that goodwill was ripped away in 2015, when it was found that Williams had greatly exaggerated his experiences in Iraq. For years, he recounted a story where his military helicopter was hit by an RPG and forced to make an emergency landing. However, military personnel later came forward and clarified that Williams was in a different helicopter that was never under direct fire. As a leading anchor for a major news network, Williams was expected to maintain high journalistic integrity, and this incident eroded public trust. He was subsequently fired from “NBC Nightly News” and demoted to MSNBC.
Jay Leno
Despite his long career in showbusiness, Jay Leno is now just “the guy who screwed over Conan.” Leno left “The Tonight Show” in 2009 and was replaced by Conan O’Brien. In return, he got his own primetime talk show. However, it struggled in the ratings, so NBC decided to reshuffle their lineup, moving Leno to the late night slot and pushing Conan past midnight. Conan rejected this plan and chose to leave the network rather than capitulate. He got a hefty severance package, Leno was reinstated to “The Tonight Show,” and his reputation tanked. Many people defend Leno, arguing that this was more NBC’s fault than his, but he still lost a ton of public favor and was widely regarded as a backstabber.
Paula Deen
Having hosted a number of popular TV shows, Paula Deen is one of the most prominent chefs in America. Or, she was. The downfall began in 2013, when Deen was sued by a former employee for racial and sexual discrimination. During the resulting deposition, Deen acknowledged having used the N-word in the past. It wasn’t just the use of the word that spurred controversy, but her nonchalant attitude, answering “of course” when asked if she had ever used it. She lost her television show and several endorsement deals in the fallout, and to make matters worse, her apologies were deemed insincere and made into jokes. Deen has sought to rebuild her brand throughout the years, but she never regained the mainstream success she once had.
Piers Morgan
Things started off so well for Piers Morgan. Rupert Murdoch personally appointed him editor of News of the World when he was just 29, making him the youngest editor of a British newspaper in over fifty years. It was all downhill from there. Morgan quickly became known for his strong and divisive opinions, and his tenure at The Daily Mirror ended in scandal in 2004, resulting in his termination. He was also fired from “Good Morning Britain” in 2021 after rudely dismissing Meghan Markle’s mental health, showing a repeated lack of journalistic integrity. And speaking of that, Morgan has been accused of being implicit in the News International phone hacking scandal, which saw the newspaper illegally accessing private voicemails to find stories.
Ellen DeGeneres
It’s amazing how fast Ellen’s reputation dropped. One day she was an icon, having paved the way for LGBT acceptance in mainstream TV and hosting one of the most popular talk shows of its day. The next she was a social pariah. In mid 2020, several employees accused DeGeneres of harboring a toxic workplace, with instances of racism, sexual misconduct, and intimidation. Employees alleged that speaking up about the unfair treatment led to retaliation or termination, and some even reported being fired after taking medical leave. And many criticized Ellen herself, claiming that she was unbelievably rude and condescending behind the scenes. Her ratings plummeted, the talk show was cancelled, and Ellen eventually left Hollywood for England.
Matt Lauer
There was a time when Matt Lauer was the name in reporting. He began hosting “Today” in 1994 and remained there for over twenty years. However, his tenure came to an end in 2017 after getting hit with MeToo allegations. Like many, Lauer was accused of sexual misconduct when a colleague came forward claiming that Lauer engaged in inappropriate behavior towards her. NBC conducted an internal investigation and found that Lauer’s alleged misconduct was not an isolated incident, and he was fired on November 29, 2017. His career in journalism was effectively brought to an end, as no major networks or organizations sought to rehire him. He also faced personal repercussions, with his wife of 21 years filing for divorce.
Jimmy Savile
To say that Jimmy Savile “lost respect” is a massive understatement. He once had a ton, hosting both “Top of the Pops” and “Jim’ll Fix It” while also doing extensive charity work with British hospitals. But therein lay a very dark secret. Following his death, it was discovered that Savile was a serial sex offender, abusing hundreds of people throughout the last half century. These events occurred in said hospitals, schools, and the BBC studios, among other places. The scandal severely damaged the reputations not just of Savile, but the BBC and the National Health Service, both of which allegedly ignored or dismissed the claims of abused individuals. It also led to legal reforms, and most of Savile’s honors were stripped.
Did you lose respect for these hosts? Let us know in the comments below!
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at ten television show hosts who ruined their legacies with scandals and poor performances.
James Corden
We’re not entirely sure if James Corden lost respect, or if he just never had any in the first place. Corden has hosted a number of award shows, but he is perhaps best known for “The Late Late Show,” which he presented between 2015 and 2023. Despite his continued success and prevalence, Corden’s public reputation has plummeted. Allegations of rude behavior have followed him for years, including an incident in 2022 which saw him being banned from a New York restaurant. Others perceive him as being annoyingly arrogant, and he has been accused of stealing jokes from other comedians, including Ricky Gervais. And some just don’t enjoy his style of showmanship, believing that it is inauthentic and overly-rehearsed.
Dr. Phil
Despite running one of the most successful talk shows in TV history, Dr. Phil has long attracted criticism for…well, lots of things. He is known for harboring a blunt and confrontational approach to guests, which some interpret as dismissive. He is also not a licensed psychologist as of 2006, which many see as a huge stain on his professional reputation. But perhaps worst of all, Dr. Phil and his production team have faced major ethical concerns and have been accused of exploitative behavior. For example, interviewing the unwell Shelley Duvall for ratings, or providing alcohol to struggling guests in order to boost drama. Basically, he could care less about treating people. It’s all for the TV…
Jeremy Kyle
This English broadcaster hosted the “The Jeremy Kyle Show” between 2005 and 2019, attracting widespread criticism along the way. The program was accused of turning personal struggles into public spectacle, often exploiting vulnerable people and turning them into national laughing stocks. Kyle himself was also infamous for his aggressive interview style, often being extremely confrontational with guests and sometimes even outright humiliating them. But the final straw for everyone - including the network - came in 2019 when a guest took his own life shortly after appearing on the show. A coroner later exonerated the producers, but the backlash was still enormous and the show was swiftly cancelled. And with that, what little respect Kyle had evaporated.
Brian Williams
Unlike the others so far on this list, Brian Williams was a respectable journalist, having worked for NBC since 1993 and winning a number of awards. But that goodwill was ripped away in 2015, when it was found that Williams had greatly exaggerated his experiences in Iraq. For years, he recounted a story where his military helicopter was hit by an RPG and forced to make an emergency landing. However, military personnel later came forward and clarified that Williams was in a different helicopter that was never under direct fire. As a leading anchor for a major news network, Williams was expected to maintain high journalistic integrity, and this incident eroded public trust. He was subsequently fired from “NBC Nightly News” and demoted to MSNBC.
Jay Leno
Despite his long career in showbusiness, Jay Leno is now just “the guy who screwed over Conan.” Leno left “The Tonight Show” in 2009 and was replaced by Conan O’Brien. In return, he got his own primetime talk show. However, it struggled in the ratings, so NBC decided to reshuffle their lineup, moving Leno to the late night slot and pushing Conan past midnight. Conan rejected this plan and chose to leave the network rather than capitulate. He got a hefty severance package, Leno was reinstated to “The Tonight Show,” and his reputation tanked. Many people defend Leno, arguing that this was more NBC’s fault than his, but he still lost a ton of public favor and was widely regarded as a backstabber.
Paula Deen
Having hosted a number of popular TV shows, Paula Deen is one of the most prominent chefs in America. Or, she was. The downfall began in 2013, when Deen was sued by a former employee for racial and sexual discrimination. During the resulting deposition, Deen acknowledged having used the N-word in the past. It wasn’t just the use of the word that spurred controversy, but her nonchalant attitude, answering “of course” when asked if she had ever used it. She lost her television show and several endorsement deals in the fallout, and to make matters worse, her apologies were deemed insincere and made into jokes. Deen has sought to rebuild her brand throughout the years, but she never regained the mainstream success she once had.
Piers Morgan
Things started off so well for Piers Morgan. Rupert Murdoch personally appointed him editor of News of the World when he was just 29, making him the youngest editor of a British newspaper in over fifty years. It was all downhill from there. Morgan quickly became known for his strong and divisive opinions, and his tenure at The Daily Mirror ended in scandal in 2004, resulting in his termination. He was also fired from “Good Morning Britain” in 2021 after rudely dismissing Meghan Markle’s mental health, showing a repeated lack of journalistic integrity. And speaking of that, Morgan has been accused of being implicit in the News International phone hacking scandal, which saw the newspaper illegally accessing private voicemails to find stories.
Ellen DeGeneres
It’s amazing how fast Ellen’s reputation dropped. One day she was an icon, having paved the way for LGBT acceptance in mainstream TV and hosting one of the most popular talk shows of its day. The next she was a social pariah. In mid 2020, several employees accused DeGeneres of harboring a toxic workplace, with instances of racism, sexual misconduct, and intimidation. Employees alleged that speaking up about the unfair treatment led to retaliation or termination, and some even reported being fired after taking medical leave. And many criticized Ellen herself, claiming that she was unbelievably rude and condescending behind the scenes. Her ratings plummeted, the talk show was cancelled, and Ellen eventually left Hollywood for England.
Matt Lauer
There was a time when Matt Lauer was the name in reporting. He began hosting “Today” in 1994 and remained there for over twenty years. However, his tenure came to an end in 2017 after getting hit with MeToo allegations. Like many, Lauer was accused of sexual misconduct when a colleague came forward claiming that Lauer engaged in inappropriate behavior towards her. NBC conducted an internal investigation and found that Lauer’s alleged misconduct was not an isolated incident, and he was fired on November 29, 2017. His career in journalism was effectively brought to an end, as no major networks or organizations sought to rehire him. He also faced personal repercussions, with his wife of 21 years filing for divorce.
Jimmy Savile
To say that Jimmy Savile “lost respect” is a massive understatement. He once had a ton, hosting both “Top of the Pops” and “Jim’ll Fix It” while also doing extensive charity work with British hospitals. But therein lay a very dark secret. Following his death, it was discovered that Savile was a serial sex offender, abusing hundreds of people throughout the last half century. These events occurred in said hospitals, schools, and the BBC studios, among other places. The scandal severely damaged the reputations not just of Savile, but the BBC and the National Health Service, both of which allegedly ignored or dismissed the claims of abused individuals. It also led to legal reforms, and most of Savile’s honors were stripped.
Did you lose respect for these hosts? Let us know in the comments below!
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