John Oliver, Jimmy Fallon, Ellen DeGeneres, Stephen Colbert, Conan O'Brien (HBO, NBC, Telepictures/Warner Bros. Entertainment, CBS, TBS)

(Photo by HBO, NBC, Telepictures/Warner Bros. Entertainment, CBS, TBS)

Fall 2018 TV Survey: Favorite Talk-Show Hosts

Who really is TV’s host with the most? We decided to find out with our 2018 Fall TV Survey, in which we asked Rotten Tomatoes fans, “Which current talk-show host is your favorite?”

The most popular choice was Last Week Tonight host and Daily Show alum, John Oliver, with 12.99 percent of the vote, but only by a whisker; The Tonight Show’s Jimmy Fallon was only 0.01 percent behind with 12.98 percent of respondents naming him their fave. The full list of hosts, ranked by popularity, is below.

Ellen DeGeneres, who placed third overall among Rotten Tomatoes fans, was the clear favorite among women, with 17.2 percent of female respondents picking her as their favorite (5.79 percent of male respondents cast their vote for the current queen of daytime). DeGeneres was also the favorite of the over-55 set. There were big gender divides, too, for Oliver and Conan O’Brien (almost three times as many men as women picked the TBS host); meanwhile, Stephen Colbert of The Late Show and Jimmy Kimmel of Live! had similar numbers for both men and women.

In fifth place, the write-in vote was overwhelmingly “none of the above,” “I hate talk shows,” and similar sentiments, but BBC host Graham Norton (noted below) otherwise got the most write-in votes.

The result shows that RT fans are in step with the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences; Last Week Tonight With John Oliver has won the Outstanding Variety Talk Series Emmy for the last three years.

Synopsis: An extension of Bravo's "Watch What Happens" reunion specials and the original live online shows, this interactive series -- live... [More]
Starring: Andy Cohen

Synopsis: With his signature monologue and sharp newsy segments like "A Closer Look," Seth Meyers hilariously breaks down the day's biggest... [More]
Starring: Seth Meyers
Directed By: Lorne Michaels

Synopsis: It seems her correspondence role on "The Daily Show" was just a warm-up act for the next stage of Samantha... [More]
Starring: Samantha Bee

Synopsis: For more than 30 years, David Letterman came into viewers' homes every weeknight, first as host of "Late Night," then... [More]
Starring: David Letterman

#12
Synopsis: Acerbic comic Bill Maher welcomes a panel of three guests from diverse parts of the political spectrum for a lively... [More]
Starring: Bill Maher

Synopsis: Comic Jerry Seinfeld is the creator, executive producer and host of this unique series that features vintage cars, funny conversations... [More]
Starring: Jerry Seinfeld
Directed By: Jerry Seinfeld

Synopsis: The popularity of AMC's "The Walking Dead" aftershow "Talking Dead" -- and specifically of host Chris Hardwick's conversationalist ability to... [More]
Starring: Chris Hardwick

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#9

Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003)
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#8
Synopsis: Emmy-winning funnyman Jimmy Kimmel serves up comedy bits and welcomes guests that include other comics, celebrities, athletes and musicians, as... [More]
Starring: Jimmy Kimmel

Synopsis: Broadway, television and film star James Corden takes over the reins of the late-late-night franchise at CBS from fellow U.K.... [More]
Starring: James Corden

Conan (2010)
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#6
Synopsis: Heeeere's Conan! The former longtime host of "Late Night" and abbreviated presenter of "The Tonight Show" moves his talk show... [More]
Directed By: Jeff Ross

#5
Synopsis: BAFTA Award-winning comedian Graham Norton hosts this long-running, eponymous talk show on which he discusses the people, trends and news... [More]
Starring: Graham Norton
Directed By: Graham Stuart, Toby Baker

Synopsis: Improv actor and comic Stephen Colbert flexes the hosting muscles he honed over nearly 1,500 episodes of the popular and... [More]
Starring: Stephen Colbert

#3
Synopsis: This talk-variety show features comic Ellen DeGeneres in the studio performing an opening monologue and interviewing guests who include celebrities,... [More]
Starring: Ellen DeGeneres

Synopsis: Hailing from Rockefeller Center in the heart of New York City, Jimmy has made it his mission to make sure... [More]
Directed By: Lorne Michaels

Synopsis: Comedian John Oliver hosts an in-depth, satirical look at developments from the past seven days in news, politics and current... [More]
Starring: John Oliver