Avanii Thakur If The Ellen Show, Koffee with Karan, or even A Little Late with Lily Singh were the first talk shows that popped into your head on reading the title, you’re probably in the majority of the population. Talk shows are pretty much synonymous with their hosts these days.
Their charismatic personality, unapologetic sense of humor, and vibrant presence are the reasons we still watch them to date.
But let’s not disregard where the concept of talk shows actually originated. Well before talk shows came about, people would get their daily dose of entertainment from radio interviews or radio talk shows. Take Walter Winchell’s political gossip program on NBC in the 1930s for instance. It ultimately gave rise to the concept of talk radio.
Did you know that the first-ever actual talk show aired nearly 70 years ago? Seems pretty unbelievable right? The Joe Franklin Show aired between 1950 to 1993 and set the course for the talk shows today.
Talk shows typically feature celebrities, musicians, activists, social media influencers, comedians, and in rare cases, politicians as well. Do you remember the time Barack Obama was referred to as the Nickelback of Presidents in an edition of Celebrities Read Mean Tweets and took it like an absolute champ? Or the time he gave it back to Zach Galifianakis like the boss he is in an episode of Between Two Ferns.
It’s safe to say that none of us are getting over that anytime soon!
Pushing the Norm
Today, talk shows aren’t limited to ‘candid’ couch or interview-style conversations. Talk show hosts have become increasingly creative with how they engage their guests and the audience. Take Carpool Karaoke or Hot Ones, for instance.
Carpool Karaoke takes the simple concept of jamming in the car with your friends and turns it into a lighthearted conversation between the host, James Corden, and various musicians and celebrities. Who doesn’t want to watch Jennifer Hudson use a bottle as a mic and sing out of the car window to a bus full of people?
On the other hand, Hot Ones is a show where we can watch celebrities have a complete meltdown over ultra spicy hot wings while answering controversial ‘hot’ questions. Tom Holland literally had to call for a doctor while he was on the show.
From Lip-Synch battles, True Confessions, Water Wars to Egg Russian Roulette, talk shows have incorporated games that are strange (to say the least) and highly entertaining. It’s a great way to break the ice and leave your viewers in splits.
For years, these shows have helped viewers connect better with their favorite media personalities. After all, who doesn’t love watching their favorite celebs geek out over topics they’re passionate about? It only makes them all the more relatable.
Hosting a Stellar Internet Talk Show
There’s no denying that at some point we’ve all stood in front of a mirror with a shampoo bottle or hairbrush and pretended to be a singer, celebrity, or in some cases, the host of a popular show.
Talk shows are a great way to speak about topics you’re passionate about while also getting the inputs of your guests and adding your own spin to it.
So, if you’re someone that’s looking to start their own talk show, then you’ve come to the right place. Let’s get into a couple of tips and tricks that will help you host the perfect internet talk show.
Everything Starts with an Idea
Before actually sitting down to film your talk show, you need a solid idea.
To successfully start a talk show, narrow down on your niche, tone, and the topics you are passionate about and would like to cover. This is especially important so you can avoid your segments going all over the place.
Another crucial aspect to keep in mind is understanding your target audience and what they like to watch. Once you have that in your back pocket, you can incorporate ideas and include guests you think will resonate with your audience the best.
Now, coming to your talk show guests, try picking people with whom you’re comfortable and compatible. This will allow the conversation to flow smoothly and not look forced.
The last thing people want to experience is second-hand cringe if the conversation runs dry.
Once you have these things down to a T, you can start looking at the bigger picture.
Creativity is Everything!
Now that you’re done with the ideation bit, you can explore concepts that will make your talk show original and entertaining. Even the wackiest of ideas can work here. So as cliche as it sounds, try thinking out of the box.
Take Hailey Bieber’s talk show Who’s in my bathroom, for instance. As the name suggests, Hailey invites her close friends from the industry for a candid chat in the comfort of her luxurious bathroom.
Yes, you read that right. As bizarre as the whole concept sounds, she always manages to have a wholesome and candid conversation with her guests. They usually indulge in some friendly banter, along with a side of food prepared by the two.
Now, it’s only fitting that a special mention goes out to ‘Spill Your Guts or Fill Your Guts’ with James Corden as well as ‘Mean Tweets‘ with Jimmy Kimmel. When it comes to creative concepts, these two definitely take the cake. Who would’ve thought that watching your favorite celebrities read ruthless tweets and make self-deprecating jokes about themselves would be that entertaining?
And a little blast from the past for all the Glee fans out there. We aren’t forgetting the iconic internet talk show Fondue For Two hosted by the character Brittany on the show. Let’s face it, we all secretly wished it was a real talk show.
Me, Myself & I
Being authentic and true to yourself is extremely important to be the host of a talk show. You want to radiate that authenticity beyond the screen and really engage your audience. It’s one thing to have perfectly timed comic relief and charisma. But beyond that, staying true to character will only help your viewers connect better with you.
Cracking the Code with Research
The key to cracking the code is tons of research! Imagine showing up without doing enough research. Yikes! Not only will it limit your scope of conversation, it will also make your guest and audience feel slightly awkward if you slip up. None of us want to have our Larry King moment now, do we?
No matter who you choose as a guest for your talk show, be it an influencer, a comedian, or even a friend, make sure to do thorough research. You can create talking points and cue cards to have an in-depth conversation and get up close and personal.
Picking the Right Broadcast Medium
While the content of your talk show is vital, establishing a home base for your talk show is equally important. There’s a ton of scope for picking a suitable medium for you to entertain the masses.
Remember that the medium you decide to pick will be the one your viewers associate your talk show with. Stay as consistent as possible and watch your talk show grow on that platform!
You can either go with a traditional long-form talk show or take the short video route. Going with the latter eliminates the need to invest in heavy production equipment or significant costs associated with shooting the actual video. And not to mention the hours of professional editing.
At Rizzle, the creation and editing process is so smooth that you don’t need to have any technical know-how about editing. The creation tools, music, templates, and features available on the app will add that pizzazz to your video and make it all the more appealing to watch.
You can even create your own episodic short series and grow your channel through Rizzle series. The perfect way to accommodate your talk show series! You can even create your own channel intro and give it that authentic touch.
Suppose you want to take it up a notch. In that case, try incorporating affordable smartphone add-ons such as audio recorders/microphone attachments to elevate the experience for your viewers.
Scream from the Mountain Tops
Lastly, now that your talk show series is ready to launch, it’s only right to promote it everywhere. After all, you want an audience that you can entertain, right?
You can share snippets from your footage on your social media channels and build all the hype around your show.
So, if any of these tips persuaded you to start your own talk show, go download the Rizzle app, and you’ll be on your way to becoming the next David Letterman of the short-video industry.
