Larry King
America’s nightly dose of Larry King Live will soon come to an end. There have been months of rumors about the celebrated TV interviewer stepping down from his nightly news show on CNN. King confirmed in a statement on his show’s blog last Tuesday night he will be leaving Larry King Live later this year.
In his post, King says he is leaving the show in order to spend more time with his family. King didn’t mention when his show will officially end, but according to an article on CNN.com, the host plans to leave no later than the fall. CNN will name a replacement for King in the coming weeks.
King is an icon not only to the world of broadcasting, but also current affairs, politics and entertainment. There are few people who wouldn’t recognize his trademark gray hair, glasses and suspenders. He began his show in 1985, and it recently made the Guinness Book of World Records for being “the longest running show with the same host in the same time slot.”
The host has used his tough but sincere interviewing style to talk with newsmakers, drawing some of the biggest names in politics, sports, music, movies, TV, fashion and any other area making headlines that week to his show. King has interviewed every U.S. president since Richard Nixon during his career. Through the years, King has picked up two Peabody Awards and an Emmy. He was also inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1992.
With all of King’s aforementioned fame and accomplishments, it’s going to be difficult for CNN to find a fitting replacement for his 9 p.m. nightly time slot. But King has got a strong suggestion to help out the network. Just hours after he announced his departure from the show, King hosted his Tuesday night installment of Larry King Live. His guest for the evening, Bill Maher, asked him who he would like to see fill his shoes. Surprisingly, King said “Ryan Seacrest,” the American Idol host and go-to-guy for pretty much any hosting gig these days. King wasn’t even kidding, although he did add he wasn’t sure how Seacrest feels about politics.
No matter what everyone says about Seacrest, I do think he is a great host. He’s always done an excellent job on Idol, balancing enthusiasm, humor and dealing with Simon Cowell’s insults quite well. Seacrest will not have a problem interviewing celebrities because of his experience on Idol and hosting his own radio show. But can he handle the politics? I’m sure he’s no idiot, but I’m not so certain he can have an intelligent conversation with Nelson Mandela just yet. This isn’t a poor choice or even one that’s never going to happen. It may just take some studying for Seacrest before he can seal the deal.
We may soon be watching Ryan Seacrest Live on CNN, but King won’t be leaving the network for good. According to his statement, he plans on hosting “several Larry King specials on major national and international subjects.” Right now, you can catch Larry King Live every weeknight at 9 p.m. on CNN.
