When discussing the timeline of successful talk shows, it’s impossible not to mention Oprah Winfrey. In September 1986, Winfrey launched “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” On the trailblazing syndicated daytime show, she interviewed some of the biggest public figures, as well as everyday people. After running for 25 seasons, it remains the highest-rated daytime talk show in American television history , according to the Television Academy Foundation.