Phil Donahue, the game-changing daytime television host, died last week at 88. Mr. Donahue turned “The Phil Donahue Show” into a participation event, soliciting questions and comments on topics as varied as human rights and orgies.

Michael Barbaro explains what Phil Donahue meant to him.

Background reading: 

• donahue-dead.html">An obituary for Mr. Donahue, who died last week at 88.
• donahue-show-episodes.html">Here are 3 episodes that explain Mr. Donahue’s daytime dominance.

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