About this season
The Donahue Show, also known as Donahue, was an American television talk show hosted by Phil Donahue that ran for 26 years on national television. Its run was preceded by three years of local broadcast in Dayton, Ohio, and it was broadcast nationwide between 1970 and 1996. In 2002, Donahue was ranked twenty-ninth on TV Guide magazine's list of the fifty greatest television shows of all-time.
Episodes (67)
1. Cults in America
Aired 7 January 1980 • 60 min
Topic: cults in America.
2. Inflation
Aired 8 January 1980 • 60 min
Topic: the effect of inflation on the middle class.
3. In-vitro Fertilization
Aired 9 January 1980 • 60 min
In-vitro fertilization is the program topic. Guests include Dr. Robert W. Kistner, president of the American Fertility Society.
6. Teen Pregnancy Prevention
Aired 14 January 1980 • 60 min
The responsibility of teen-age males in pregnancy prevention is the program topic.
7. Authors Paula Nelson and Howard Ruff
Aired 14 January 1980 • 60 min
Authors Paula Nelson ("The Joy of Money") and Howard Ruff ("How to Prosper During the Coming Bad Years") are the guests.
8. Chicago mayor Jane Byrne
Aired 15 January 1980 • 60 min
Chicago mayor Jane Byrne (D) is the program guest.
9. Gender Roles
Aired 15 January 1980 • 60 min
Topic: "gender roles".
10. Aid for Cambodian Refugees
Aired 16 January 1980 • 60 min
Reps. Elizabeth Holtzman (D-N.Y.) and Margaret Heckler (R-Mass.) discuss the U.S. role in giving aid to Cambodian refugees.
11. Single Motherhood
Aired 17 January 1980 • 60 min
Topic: single motherhood.
12. Lauren Bacall
Aired 18 January 1980 • 60 min
Lauren Bacall is the guest.
13. Adult Illiteracy
Aired 18 January 1980 • 60 min
Topic: adult illiteracy.
14. Anti-Loitering Laws
Aired 23 January 1980 • 60 min
Topic: anti-loitering laws. Guests include lawyer Richard Emery.
15. The President's Nephew
Aired 24 January 1980 • 60 min
Guests: William Carter Spann, President Carter's nephew, and his wife Jane.
16. FTC Chairman Michael Pertschuk
Aired 25 January 1980 • 60 min
Federal Trade Commission chairman Michael Pertschuk is the program guest.
17. Nightclub Owner Dana Montana
Aired 29 January 1980 • 60 min
Guest: Dana Montana, who runs a Wisconsin nightclub featuring male strippers.
18. Linda Lovelace
Aired 1 February 1980 • 60 min
Guest Linda Lovelace discusses her autobiography "Ordeal".
19. Fashion Designer Albert Capraro
Aired 18 February 1980 • 60 min
From Sacramento: American fashion designer Albert Capraro presents some of his creations.
20. From Sacramento Memorial Auditorium
Aired 18 February 1980 • 60 min
A program from the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium.
21. Excommunicated from the Mormon Church
Aired 19 February 1980 • 60 min
Mormon Barbara Smith discusses the case of Sonia Johnson, who was excommunicated from the church because of her pro-ERA stand.
22. Author Eda LeShan
Aired 20 February 1980 • 60 min
Author Eda LeShan ("Winning the Losing Battle") discusses women and weight.
23. Author Myra Turley
Aired 20 February 1980 • 60 min
From Sacramento: coauthor Myra Turley ("The New Couple: Women and Gay Men") is the guest.
24. Author Marcia Lasswell
Aired 21 February 1980 • 60 min
Author Marcia Lasswell ("Styles of Loving") is the guest.
25. Author Dr. George R. Bach
Aired 21 February 1980 • 60 min
From Sacramento, Cal.: Dr. George R. Bach, author of "Stop! You're Driving Me Crazy."
26. Marsha Mason and Neil Simon
Aired 22 February 1980 • 60 min
Marsha Mason and Neil Simon discuss their film "Chapter Two."
27. School Textbook Censorship
Aired 25 February 1980 • 60 min
The censorship of school textbooks is the topic. Guests are Mel and Norma Gabler, founders of a textbook-review service.
28. The Rights of Mental Patients
Aired 26 February 1980 • 60 min
A discussion of the rights of mental patients. Pt. 1 of 2.
29. Baby Black Markets
Aired 27 February 1980 • 60 min
Topic: the black market for babies in America.
30. Celebrity Wives
Aired 28 February 1980 • 60 min
Topic: the problems of being a celebrity's wife.
31. Spanking in Schools
Aired 10 March 1980 • 60 min
From Sacramento, Cal.: A debate on spanking as a disciplinary measure in schools.
32. Suzanne Somers
Aired 11 March 1980 • 60 min
From Sacramento: Suzanne Somers is the program guest.
33. Larry Hagman
Aired 28 April 1980 • 60 min
Guest Larry Hagman talks about the TV series "Dallas."
34. Menstruation
Aired 28 April 1980 • 60 min
Topic: menstruation.
35. Doctors' Responsibilities
Aired 28 April 1980 • 60 min
Topic: doctors' responsibilities to their patients.
36. Walter Cronkite
Aired 29 April 1980 • 60 min
Guest: Walter Cronkite.
37. Surrogate Mothers' Rights
Aired 29 April 1980 • 60 min
Topic: the moral and legal rights of a surrogate mother.
38. Ayn Rand
Aired 29 April 1980 • 60 min
Guest: author Ayn Rand.
39. Prayer in the Classroom
Aired 30 April 1980 • 60 min
Prayer in the classroom is the program topic.
40. Economist Milton Friedman
Aired 30 April 1980 • 60 min
Economist Milton Friedman discusses his book "Free to Choose."
41. Author Marabel Morgan
Aired 30 April 1980 • 60 min
Author Marabel Morgan talks about how cooking can improve a marriage's romance.
42. California Law on Child-Support Payments
Aired 1 May 1980 • 60 min
Topic: a proposed California law to deduct all child-support payments from a parent's wages.
43. Author Daphna Ayalah
Aired 1 May 1980 • 60 min
Guest: coauthor Daphna Ayalah ("Breasts: Women Speak About Their Breats and Their Lives").
44. Teachers
Aired 1 May 1980 • 60 min
An audience of teachers discuss their profession.
45. Financial Adviser Howard J. Ruff and Author Morton Shulman
Aired 2 May 1980 • 60 min
Guests include financial adviser Howard J. Ruff and author Morton Shulman.
46. Dr. Benjamin Spock
Aired 2 May 1980 • 60 min
Guest: Dr. Benjamin Spock
47. Comulsive Gambling
Aired 2 May 1980 • 60 min
Topic: compulsive gambling.
48. Sammy Davis Jr.
Aired 5 May 1980 • 60 min
Guest: Sammy Davis Jr.
49. Mike Douglas
Aired 6 May 1980 • 60 min
Mike Douglas is the guest.
50. Psychologist Robert Williams on IQ Tests
Aired 7 May 1980 • 60 min
Psychologist Robert Williams discusses whether intelligence tests are culturally biased.
51. Ralph Nader
Aired 8 May 1980 • 60 min
Guest: Ralph Nader
52. Author Barbara Hansen
Aired 2 June 1980 • 60 min
Author Barbara Hansen ("Mexican Cookery") discusses and prepares authentic Mexican dishes.
53. Off-Broadway Play's Cast
Aired 2 June 1980 • 60 min
Guests: the cast of the off-Broadway play "I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road."
54. Pro Kids
Aired 3 June 1980 • 60 min
Guests: representatives from Pro Kids, an organization that stresses the fulfillment of motherhood.
55. Author Michael E. McGill
Aired 4 June 1980 • 60 min
Author Michael E. McGill ("The 40 to 60 Year Old Male") discusses male mid-life crisis.
56. The Iranian Crisis
Aired 4 June 1980 • 60 min
Methods of dealing with the Iranian crisis are debated.
57. Battered Women
Aired 5 June 1980 • 60 min
Topic: programs that aid battered women and abusive husbands. Guests include representatives from Women Together.
58. Author Stephen Gaskin
Aired 5 June 1980 • 60 min
Author Stephen Gaskin ("Mind at Play") is the guest.
59. Video Dating Services
Aired 6 June 1980 • 60 min
Video dating services are discussed on the program.
60. Househusbands
Aired 23 June 1980 • 60 min
Topic: "househusbands."
61. Psychologist Miriam Gotseyeff
Aired 24 June 1980 • 60 min
Guests include psychologist Miriam Gotseyeff, who discusses children and depression.
62. Coauthors Peggy and James Vaughn
Aired 25 June 1980 • 60 min
Guests: coauthors Peggy and James Vaughn ("Beyond Affairs").
63. Bob Newhart
Aired 26 June 1980 • 60 min
Guest: Bob Newhart.
64. Shelley Winters
Aired 27 June 1980 • 60 min
Guest: Shelley Winters, who talks about her book "Shelley: Also Known as Shirley."
65. Truman Capote
Aired 11 August 1980 • 60 min
Author Truman Capote ("Music for Chameleons").
66. Psychosomatic Illnesses
Aired 12 August 1980 • 60 min
The program topic is psychosomatic illnesses.
67. Author Norman F. Dacey
Aired 13 August 1980 • 60 min
Author Norman F. Dacey ("How to Avoid Probate -- Updated!") is the program guest.
68. Nudist Campgrounds.
Aired 14 August 1980 • 60 min
Topic: nudist campgrounds.
69. Sex on Soap Operas
Aired 15 August 1980 • 60 min
Sex on the soap operas is the program topic. Guests include Josh Taylor ("Days of Our Lives").