Digg it!One of the most underrated skill or talent is interviewing. People seem to always think that sitting down with someone to ask questions is as easy as reading some questions for a cue card.
There is so much to it than that. It is an art in itself. Just to be able to make the subject feel comfortable enough to answer or act honestly, intentionally or otherwise, takes a great deal of effort.
Here are the few ones who manage to make their own mark – the ones who best show us a different and interesting side of popular personalities.
10. Dick Cavett
He was known for his controversial interviews with controversial people such as John Lennon and Yoko Ono. He made it a point to talk about issues no other talk show host would talk about. In his last interview with Lennon and Ono, they discussed his single that used the N word. It raised controversies that the network decided to edit it out in the final airing.
However, Cavett decided to make an edit of his own and the tape has found its way on youtube. Watch it below, it starts at 4:07.
9. Matt Lauer
I felt he was left out when Katie Couric got the evening news job instead of him but I am now realizing that Katie deserves the job just as much as everyone else and that it was more of a marketing move than about choosing the best one for the job.
Matt, however, has been proving his worth. He has done so many good interviews and the most famous is that of Tom Cruise and Elizabeth Edwards. He did a good job at provoking Cruise in a way no one has ever done before and he made Edwards feel really relax that communicated to the audience the kind person she really was.
In a way, that has been his trademark – reflect the personalities of his subjects through the tone of his interviews.
8. Oprah
Say what you want but she remains to be one of the best interviewers of all time. She is a lifestyle host and that is exactly what she brings to the table.
Questions like “what did your childhood room look like?” and “Did you like your mom?” are poignant and sublime because it is in the littlest of things that you get to know someone really well.
7. Charlie Rose
He can be talking with the Queen of Enland today and Mick Jagger tomorrow and it would be just as credible and just as interesting.
6. Larry King
Prolific.
I don’t think there is any other interviewer in the world who can do a casual interview as he does it and remain critical.
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i think parkinson should be number 1
Uhmm, you guys ever here of Howard Stern?
Yes. Thank you for making a great suggestion in case they ever decide to do a “most conceited douche-bag” list.
I don’t think he is world famous, but he’s very well know in Canada.
George Strombo is the best interviewer I’ve ever seen.
i’ll look him up
Strombo is far from it!
I’m with NittyGritty; to leave Howard Stern off of this list is crazy. I just listened to him do an amazing 60 minute interview with Jay-Z, followed by a 90 minute interview with Billy Joel. When he gets in his groove I can’t turn off the radio. Anyone that would say he doesn’t belong on this list should do themselves a favor, leave their assumptions behind, and give him a chance.
ok. i’ll search for his other interviews. i’ve only heard him interview celebrities so i’m not sure if he is prolific but yeah, i should give him a chance
Why isn’t Howard Stern on this list? The reason I ask is that Opera and Larry King interview guests that are already very famous. That usually gets people to listen. But Howard is able to get guests that a lot of people have never heard of and MAKE them interesting. He had Maureen McCormick (Marcia Brady) on a few years back and from what Howard was able to get out of her made me want to buy her book that day. Sometimes your biggest guests aren’t the best interviews.
He is good but he is yet to make interviews that deal with serious issues. Something that all other people on the list have done already. Maybe, time will give him that chance. Until then…
Seriously? Larry King? The king of the softball? Oprah? Honestly? Sorry, but they’re both terrible.
What about George Stroumboulopoulos?
Shouldn’t it be called “The top 10 best interviewers of all time IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE”? Or do you pretend that american and british journalists are superior? Come on. One more thing: if this is the purpose, such a list who has not David Frost in the top 3 is worthless.
Or Jeremy Paxman.
Howard Stern should be on this list.
Where’s 1-6?
Howard Stern should definitely be on this list. He asks the tough questions, gets down to the personal points without being offensive, and always gets the info out of his guests that the audience wants to hear. To leave Howard Stern off this list is asinine.
Also, what about Piers Morgan? He is a good interviewer. And I can’t see how Charlie Rose is on this list. The guy is self-serving when he interviews. Always has a “me too” attitude, trying to prove that he is as smart as his guests or smarter, and is notorious for finishing his guests sentences. I guess at least you didn’t put Bill O’Reilly on this list…
How in the world is Tim Russert not on this list? He owned hundreds of politicians on Meet the Press over the years.
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BOGUS LIST!!! WITHOUT A SHADOW OF DOUBT HOWARD STERN SHOULD BE TOP 3!!! Anyone who thinks otherwise should actually do some research on him before you make a list like this