Netflix has dipped its toes into all sorts of TV show genres over the years, but one that it never quite perfected was the talk show. After all of these years, only one Netflix talk show has lasted more than a couple of seasons: David Letterman’s My Next Guest Needs No Introduction. The series returns for its fifth season today, so we thought this would be a good time to take a look back at some of the more notable talk shows of Netflix’s past.
Best talk shows streaming on Netflix
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman
As noted above, David Letterman’s talk show is by far the longest-lasting of any that Netflix has produced. In the new season, he talks to Charles Barkley and Miley Cyrus, but he previously sat down with Will Smith, Lewis Hamilton, Robert Downey Jr., Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Barack Obama, and more. It’s a no-frills interview series, but Letterman is as good as anyone at making guests comfortable and creating an atmosphere for an open and honest conversation.
John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in L.A.
One of Netflix’s weirdest experiments to date, Everybody’s in L.A. was a live late-night talk show hosted by comedian John Mulaney during the 2024 Netflix Is A Joke Festival. He invited experts and celebrities to come talk about their lives and the oddities of Los Angeles, from its palm trees and coyotes to earthquakes and paranormal encounters. If you are a fan of Mulaney’s eccentric sensibilities, you owe it to yourself to check this one out.
Norm MacDonald Has a Show
After hosting a talk show on YouTube for a few years, Norm Macdonald moved to Netflix, where he had a fancier studio, a bigger budget, and the same ridiculous format. It was among his final projects before his death in 2021, highlighting his wry sense of humor and unique perspective with guests such as David Spade, Judge Judy, and Lorne Michaels.
Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
Long before he made a movie about Pop-Tarts, Jerry Seinfeld hosted a quirky interview show called Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, which is exactly what it sounds like. Seinfeld picks up a comedian in one of his many, many cars, drives them to a coffee shop, and talks to them about whatever is on their mind. It’s a breezy show, but there are genuinely engrossing discussions in the series, especially the Michael Richards episode.
Chelsea
Chelsea Handler has had a few talk shows over the years, but her latest (and potentially last) was Chelsea on Netflix. Despite only lasting two seasons, the series spans 54 episodes with a variety of guests, including actors, comedians, politicians, news anchors, CEOs, and singers. If Netflix were to ever bring a talk show back, this should be the one.
