20 Talk Shows That Took Big Swings and Missed

Charles Grodin had no interest in behaving like the loudest person in the studio. His humor usually arrived through a pause, a doubtful expression, or a question that sounded almost too blunt to have been planned. That peculiar style shaped The Charles Grodin Show (1995), a CNBC program that mixed interviews with discussions of public affairs, politics, and contemporary issues. Guests could never be entirely certain whether Grodin was sincerely puzzled, gently teasing them, or preparing a follow-up that would expose an inconsistency.