Not long after the advent of televised entertainment did the concept of a "talk show" make the jump from radio to TV, a more formal but realistic style of programming meant to cover a topic (or series of topics) presented by the talk show host, often with a guest. Beginning in 1962, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was the undisputed king of late night television for three decades. While it was hardly the first, it introduced different talk show staples which remain used to this day-- the opening monologue, the host sitting behind a desk, the agreeable sidekick, and the hour-long structure have all become structure scripture for any of the budding talk shows to follow.

The media landscape has changed greatly since Carson however, and with it has come countless interpretations of that traditional talk show formula. Some versions take heavy inspiration from the original Tonight Show, while others stand out from the crowd, for better or worse, and turn the very idea of a talk show on its head. Here's a look back at the most notable examples of talk shows that have gone so far off the rails, and become so weird, that they need to be seen to be believed.

7 Fernwood 2 Night (1977)

Martin Mull and Fred Willard talk
T.A.T. Communications Company

Set in the fictional town of Fernwood, Ohio, this satirical take on the talk show formula set out to parody not only traditional talk shows of the time, but to also mimic the off-kilter charm of Midwestern local broadcasting. Hosted by actor/comedians Martin Mull and the late Fred Willard, playing host Barth Gimble and sidekick Jerry Hubbard respectively, Fernwood 2 Night would often cover absurd or offensive subject matter with a dry and straight delivery, leading to hysterical and ridiculous exchanges. The program lasted only one season and was reworked into America 2 Night, being a more professional take on the show using the same fictitious hosts and structure, though also only lasting one season. It's thought that the show was perhaps too dry-witted and satirical for general audiences at the time, though it remains a hilarious and bizarre trip to revisit to this day.

6 Alf's Hit Talk Show (2004)

Alf Interviews Tom Arnold
Burt Dubrow Productions

You read that correctly, 1980s sitcom star and alien puppet, Alf, had his very own short-lived talk show during the mid-2000s. Created nearly 15 years after the cancelation of the original Alf show, Alf's Hit Talk Show hit the airwaves on TV Land, lasting only seven episodes before being taken off the air. Though structurally, the show isn't too distant from the regular talk show formula with guests, monologues, interviews etc., what makes this show so utterly weird is just how normal it really is.

The premise of an alien puppet talk show host should make room for far more of an absurd and creative take on the formula than what's presented here, which is merely a run-of-the-mill program that just so happens to be hosted by a puppet. Down to the late Ed McMahon being the announcer/sidekick (plucking him directly from his former Tonight Show position), this show fails at creating a distinct identity for itself, and manages to waste a creative premise on a very standard and predictable format, becoming a strange failed experiment to look back on.

Related: Alf Celebrates 35th Anniversary with NECA Ultimate Action Figure

5 Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1994-2008)

The cast of Space Ghost Coast to Coast
Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution

Keeping with the theme of fictional characters hosting their own sitcoms, Space Ghost Coast to Coast revives the obscure Hannah-Barbera character Space Ghost to star in his own surreal parody talk show. Airing first on Cartoon Network before being one of the shows which created Adult Swim (and later to the now defunct GameTap), the series featured the titular character Ghost interviewing real-world celebrities and asking scripted off-the-wall questions whilst utilizing recycled animation from the original Space Ghost series. Outside of the guest interviews were short sketches between the host and other cartoon characters, who often argued or made absurd distractions. The cartoon talk show was beloved by teenagers and young adults who tuned in late at night to enjoy the outlandish premise and scenarios the program would feature each episode, and its humor and special guests tapped into the alternative and indie scene of the '90s. It also served as the starting point for other cartoon spin-offs, such as the popular Adult Swim show Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

4 The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005-2014)

Craig Ferguson dances and sings on his desk
CBS Television Distribution

Before being taken over by James Corden in 2015, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson was a leading example of what an "anti-talk show" looks like. Host Craig Ferguson makes no secret of his contempt for the typical talk show formalities, and relishes going off-script and letting each guest speak naturally, as if it was just an average conversation between two people. This approach often times led to much more memorable interviews with celebrities than what they may have provided on competing talk shows, and creating a relaxed atmosphere where awkward moments aren't shied away from, but rather embraced. Subverting typical talk show tropes in fun ways, such as having a robotic skeleton named Geoff as his sidekick, and a two-person horse costume as a recurring character, The Late Late Show managed to create an identity all its own, and remains an irreplaceable and unforgettable staple in weird talk show history.

3 The Max Headroom Show (1985-1987)

Max Headroom
Chrysalis Visual Programming

An oft-forgotten product of its time, The Max Headroom Show featured the fictitious computer program host Max Headroom, portrayed by actor Matt Frewer, and quoted as being "the first computer-generated TV presenter". Headroom was conceptualized as an AI host, parodying television presenters at the time and utilizing a stuttering and pitch-shifting delivery to invoke the feeling of being a real computer program. Though first being introduced in the TV movie Max Headroom: 20 Minutes Into the Future, the character was given his own talk show in 1985, and after its original iteration featuring skits and new music videos, was reworked to feature interview segments with guests and even a live studio audience, making it a more traditional "talk show". The program and character, while maintaining a cult following, do come off dated by today's standards, though reside so much so in the visual zeitgeist of the era that it's hard not to be charmed by the strange-yet-nostalgic nature of the obscure and 'futuristic' Max Headroom.

2 Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis (2008-2018)

Zach Galifianakis between two ferns
Comedy Bang! Bang!

Beginning life as an online talk show on the Funny or Die Network, Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis is an intentionally awkward and uncomfortable take on the guest interview format. Featuring host Zach Galifianakis and a celebrity guest, the two sit, as the title suggests, between two potted ferns and engage in purposefully stiff and antagonistic conversation, often resulting in awkward silences or even threats from the guests. Though all interviews are rehearsed, it does not affect the second-hand embarrassment felt by the viewer when unbelievable questions are asked of the guests, often offensive or overly personal, and make it impossible to stop watching. The show even garnered enough popularity online to get its own Netflix original movie, Between Two Ferns: The Movie.

Related: Between Two Ferns: The Movie Takes Zach Galifianakis on an All-Star Road Trip

1 The Eric Andre Show (2012-Present)

Eric Andre cries at his desk
Warner Bros. Television Distribution

Kick-starting the career of actor/comedian Eric Andre, as well as pushing the boundaries of what a traditional talk show can do, The Eric Andre Show has become the go-to example when coming up with the strangest talk shows that have ever graced our screens. Thriving in surreal absurdist humor, the Adult Swim series parodies low-budget public access television with its cheap set and intentionally unprofessional tone. Host Eric Andre ambushes guests who have no idea what to expect with deranged bits and questions that, if not causing celebrities to nervously laugh in fear, sees them walking off the set entirely to escape. Sandwiching these interview segments are sketches, either in the studio (alongside frequent sidekick Hannibal Buress) or interacting with real people on the street, that always deliver on making the viewer question what it is they're even seeing, and thus laughing out of pure shock from the over-stimulation.

The show has garnered massive popularity online through scenes and bits which have been re-uploaded to YouTube, and shared among people who wish to see their friend's reactions to the undefinable absurdity. When juxtaposing the exploits of the Eric Andre Show against the formal and sophisticated nature of talk shows in the past, one can't help but appreciate the ridiculousness of what can only be seen as the absolute weirdest talk show of all time.