I like it when they are funny (but only clean humor, like Bill Engvall)
It’s nice if they know all sorts of interesting fun facts and odd, random anecdotes (not just stupid stuff, but interesting and potentially educational stuff) Pat Sajak seems to be pretty good at this.
Someone who doesn’t get flustered, or angry or pissed off.
Someone who can get the ball rolling, when things seem to be falling flat, without having to resort to low humor or insults or putting people on the spot. John Stewart seems to be pretty good at this as is Rachel Maddow.
I’ve always enjoyed hosts (maybe more like Ellen or Oprah) who have a few common subjects like their pet or their propensity for enjoying southern cooking, or whatever, that they become known for, so that even though maybe the audience has never met them, they can bring up these “familiar and/or homey” subjects and then everybody can relate to them on a more human level.
Be humorous, in a kind and gentle way. Don’t use insults as humor.
What I absolutely hate (because I’m a pretty private person) is to be touched, singled out in a crowd, or put on the spot. I hate it when comedians come up to people in the audience and try to make a person be part of the show. I absolutely hate that, and it has happened to me more than once, and I wanted to run, crying and screaming out of the place. Don’t do that to people. If you are the host, you need to host. Don’t make your show about pin-pointing people in the audience. And don’t ask people to come up on stage and help you and don’t ask them questions. That is really horrific for people that are shy and reserved.
Examples of good hosts: Pat Sajak, Ellen Degeneres, Oprah Winfrey, Kelly Ripa, Bob Barker, Wayne Brady, Guy Fieri, Drew Carey, Ricky Lake, Jay Leno, Jeff Foxworthy and Jerry Springer (his show might be trashy but he’s not, and he is a kind and gently funny and very intelligent fellow, you’ll notice that he doesn’t yell or curse or make fun of people).
The best host of all time IMO is Tom Bergeron.
Not so good: David Letterman (too sarcastic) Chelsea Handler (too insulting, but her show and her comedy are funny, but not for the general public) Joan Rivers (too negative, although she can be very funny, but not for a general audience) Conan O’Brien (too boring and directed at a specific demographic, not good for a general audience).
Horrible: Don Rickles (really mean, insulting, picks on the audience, not funny) Howard Stern (vulgar, mean) Glenn Beck (often wrong about important subjects, not funny, irritating way of speaking and moving around on stage) Rush Limbaugh (he’s too much of a blowhard, can’t relate to the general population and has a big, ugly ego).
People who I think would make good hosts: Jenna Elfman, Jon Cryer, John Goodman, Betty White, Matthew Morrison (the teacher on Glee) Sean Murray (McGee on NCIS) Alan Alda, Billy Gardell (Mike on Mike and Molly) Sean Hayes (Just Jack from Will and Grace) Megan Mullally (Karen from Will and Grace) and Kelsey Grammer, John Mahoney and David Hyde Pierce (all from Frasier). All of these people seem nice, are extremely funny and would never use their humor to hurt someone’s feelings and they are relatable to most regular folks.