My Ode to Phil

I cannot recall the exact time I began watching the Phil Donahue show, but it was sometime in the 70’s. After only one show, I was completely absorbed and rarely missed another. It was my first real love affair with a talk show, and I was hooked.

Phil Donahue had a way of educating without forcing, highlighting without over-emphasizing, and exploring without overlooking. He was truly masterful and engaging his audience with his endearing manner of covering a topic without selling it. He presented things objectively, fairly, and thoroughly. The topics he covered were topics not previously talked about, especially on television; abuse in the Catholic Church, homosexuality, cross-dressing, racial inequities to name a few, and respectfully delved into subject matter that others dare not. He interviewed Nancy Reagan, Nelson Mandella, and other notable celebrities. The most memorable interview for me was the one in 1977 when he met and fell in love with Marlo Thomas on air. They were both so enamored with one another there was no way to hide it.

      During the segment where Thomas was promoting her movie Thieves, the two seemed to hit it off instantly.

“You are really fascinating,” Donahue said to Thomas as he grabbed her hand.

“You are wonderful,” she replied. “I said it when we were off the air and I want to say, you are loving and generous and you like women and it’s a pleasure.”

She added, not knowing they would be tying the knot just three years later, “Whoever is the woman in your life is very lucky.” (Liza Esquibias, 2024)

In many ways, I credit Phil Donahue with cultivating my curiosity for learning about everything and everyone. I found his genuine love of knowledge contagious and have not only explored but embraced unknowns in my own life that, had I not been exposed to his brilliance, may not have taken the time or trouble. Learning more about the world around me has excited me and filled my life with a sense of joy and wonder.

To Phil Donahue I owe a debt of gratitude. Your hard work investigating so many topics in the 29 years you were on the air five days a week paid off for me in more ways than I can count. I thank you. To Marlo Thomas, whom I named my daughter after, you have my deepest condolences. You do not experience this profound loss alone, I assure you. Our world has lost a great mind and a genuine human of the highest order. We can only pray for another such person in our midst.

References:

Liza Esquibias,People Magazine, retrieved from the world wide web on August 19, 2024 from https://people.com/see-the-moment-phil-donahue-and-marlo-thomas-first-met-on-his-talk-show-8697625