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If not for the hostage crisis in Iran in 1980, Ted Koppel would probably still be a correspondent instead of the host of ABC’s late night news talk show, “Nightline.”

British-born Koppel was a foreign and domestic correspondent, bureau chief and beat reporter for ABC News during his career. When ABC developed “Nightline” to keep Americans up to date on the hostage crisis, Koppel moved into the realm of talk host. He began doing live interviews regarding the crisis and when it ended, the show stayed on the air and began to cover topics all across the socio-political spectrum.

Koppel’s style is decidedly that of a newsman, so much so that at first glance “Nightline” doesn’t appear to be a “talk show.” But it is precisely that quality which brings seriousness and intelligence to the discussions on his program. He’s often accused of being stodgy by his detractors but he helped develop one of the first news-oriented talk programs - long before cable news dared venture there - and has kept it going for 22 years.