Digg it!5. Katie Couric
She’s one badass interviewer. Her interview with Sarah Palin solidified her status as one of the best in the business. Questions like “What court decisions have you disagreed on in the past?” and “Who are the outstanding Vice Presidents you feel really made a difference?” are so appropriate but has never been asked before.
4. Diane Sawyer
Decent and comprehensive
3. Edward R. Murrow
He pretty much set the theme of the talk shows as we know it today. In the video below, he interviews a young Marilyn Monroe where he perfectly captured the emotions of a young starlet on the brink of stardom. In many years to come, this interview will be often used as a reference to analyze Marilyn.
2. Michael Parkinson
He has been around long enough to master the art of interviewing. Even when he asks the same kind of questions the other interviewers do, he manages to squeeze out a new information other interviews never got.
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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