7 in Audience of Donahue Show Faint--1 On-Camera

NEW YORK —  Seven people in the audience for Phil Donahue’s television show fainted today, and the studio was cleared in the midst of the program, a spokeswoman said.

It appeared that those who fainted had had little or no breakfast before the 9 a.m. show, said the spokeswoman, Penny Rotheiser. Many were wearing heavy clothing because of the subzero temperatures outside, while temperatures in the studio were in the mid-70s, she said.

Today’s Donahue show topic was gay senior citizens. Rotheiser said the first person who fainted was a woman who was asking a question from the audience. She complained that she felt faint and tumbled at Donahue’s feet.

Donahue went to a commercial break and tried to help the woman, who was escorted out of the studio. Six others fainted during the show, although all the rest were off-camera.

About 40 minutes into the show, Donahue decided to clear the studio of all but his guests, technicians and staff. This was explained to the audience at home, and the cameras panned the empty studio.