PHIL DONAHUE, R.I.P.

Daytime talk show legend, and renowned husband of the beautiful Marlo Thomas, (whom all of us little girls wanted to grow-up to be when she was starring on That Girl,) Phil Donahue passed away earlier this week. Even though he was eighty-eight, it was semi-shocking news.

Phil Donahue running down the aisle on his eponymous talk show back in the day.

I was on Phil’s show just once, which means that I obviously didn’t know him well at all. But he deserves this bit of recognition from me just for having given my own local Los Angeles TV show, Karen’s Restaurant Revue, a national audience at that time in my career. And for allowing me to show a clip with my little mother as my guest, which made her a star to her friends around the country for a while.

I love that I got to see in person the man who basically invented the daytime talk show do his famous running up-and-down the aisles to put his microphone up to the various audience members to ask their questions. And it seemed pretty clear that they did not screen them in advance. What a big chance to take! (But I believe that none of his shows were live. I know that mine aired the next day, which was perfect because it was taped in New York, so I got to be at my parents home to watch it with them, and be there when their phone rang non-stop with love for my mother!)

Karen Salkin, (in the blue blouse and her signature two different color Reeboks at the time,) on the Phil Donahue (standing on the left) Show.

On the episode, (which was about the very few cable TV “successes” there were at the time,) Phil introduced me, we talked about my show for a little while, and then he led into the first clip of my show by telling the audience, “Karen is a hit!” I adored that!

One of my favorite aspects of my appearance on The Phil Donahue Show was having an audience member stand-up and ask Phil, “Have you noticed that Karen looks just like Marlo?” To which he replied, ‘Yes, and I’m sure they’re both very flattered.” I loved that, especially since when I was in the green room backstage, waiting to go on, the producers told me to not mention that I looked like Marlo. So, obviously, they noticed the resemblance, as well. (But why on earth would I have brought it up???)

Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas falling in love at first sight on his talk show!

Speaking of Ms. Thomas, I feel like everyone in America had seen the future Mrs. Donahue in her first guest spot on his show in 1977, and watched them crushing on each other. I distinctly remember that at the very end of the show, they sat on the edge of the stage, and he took her hand and declared, “You are really fascinating.” She put her other hand on top of his, and told him, “You are wonderful. You are loving and generous and you like women and it’s a pleasure. Whoever the woman in your life is is very lucky.”

I’m pretty sure that Mr. X is one of the millions who witnessed that, and then thought, “Couple alert!,” as he does all the time these days. I sure did back then, although not in those words. I actually remember thinking, “They are sooo into each other! ” I knew they were meant to be.

And now my heart goes out to Marlo to be without her “sweetheart,” as she refers to Phil. They’ve been together from that fateful day forward, for forty-seven years! I’m also sparing a thought for his children and their families, his friends, and fans.

R.I.P. Phil Donahue. And please tell May Rose Salkin that you recognize her from the tape of her on your show!