One of Daytime TV's Most Iconic Shows Premiered 30 Years Ago Today
Thirty years ago today, one of daytime TV's most recognizable talk shows made its debut.
The Rosie O'Donnell Show first premiered on June 20, 1996, and quickly became a staple of daytime television. Now, three decades later, fans are looking back as the milestone anniversary is being celebrated online.
O'Donnell interviewed some of the biggest celebrities, from George Clooney to Tom Cruise. Her talk show helped define daytime television in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
"30 years ago today - we launched the Rosie O'Donnell show!!!! My oh my," the show's host, Rosie O'Donnell captioned an Instagram post on Wednesday, June 10. It didn't take long for fans of the program to fill up the comments section with fond memories of one of the most popular talk shows of all time.
"One of my favorite childhood memories is my mom letting me skip the last day of school just because seeing the premiere was that important to me. So grateful for that memory," one fan reminisced.
"Rosie you are a true legend. From stand-up comedy to becoming one of the most influential daytime talk show hosts, you have always been authentic, fearless, inspiring, and absolutely hilarious. Thank you for paving the way and staying true to yourself every step of the journey," someone else wrote.
"This show truly changed my life. Thank you for being there for me every day after school," a third comment read.
After more than 1,100 episodes, The Rosie O'Donnell Show ended in 2002.
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This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 7:11 AM.