LARRY KING is dismayed by the networks move - Angela George photo

Video Beat EXTRA Part 3 - LARRY KING DOWN BUT NOT OUT

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

LARRY KING'S Talk Show of 25 Years Ends - King is dismayed by the networks move but insists that his life will go on. He intends to do four specials for CNN . . - Recommended TV Listings

Thursday December 16, 2010

DOWN BUT NOT OUT

As is said in boxing parlance Larry King is down but not out. Today (Thursday in USA Friday in East Asia) will be Kings last episode on the Larry King Live talk show on CNN after 25 years of stellar service to CNN and excellent entertainment for the television viewer.

This past summer King was dismissed by the network he helped build by his popularity to millions of fans around the world. King was told that his show was to come to and end. The network will replace King who is liked by virtually all who has appeared on his show or came into contact with him by the surly Brit Piers Morgan who as we are aware of has more enemies than friends or fans.

Morgan stated recently on CNN's Situation Room hosted by Wolf Blitzer that on his show he will be, "Adventurous and a bit dangerous." He added that he will do things his way and not King's way.

King is dismayed by the networks move but insists that his life will go on. He intends to do four specials for CNN in 2011. Starting next week CNN will air highlights of previous King shows. Those programs will continue throughout the holiday season and Morgan will be on the air in January.

Since King was given the bad news his guests have told him how much they appreciate his talent and being a guest on his show. Russian Prime Minister Vladmir Putin expressed amazement that CNN made such a decision. Comedian John Stewart told King that he was leaving a sinking ship (CNN) just in time. Stewart was serious.

CNN founder Ted Turner who originally hired King recently appeared on Kings show. He was a bit perturbed by King's situation.

After Time Warner made a controlling stock purchase of the network Turner was forced out. He told King that they offered him a million dollars a year. When Turner asked Time Warner brass what his duties would be they told him nothing. Turner told them to stuff it.

But hey... that's the way the NEW (Time Warner) CNN does business. Very few key figures from Turners management team remains with CNN since he was in control of it preceding the Time Warner take over.

What helped make King popular was a direct, non-confrontational approach. His reputation for asking easy, open-ended questions has made him attractive to important figures who want to state their position while avoiding being challenged on contentious topics. His interview style is characteristically frank, but with occasional bursts of irreverence and humor. His approach attracts some guests who would not otherwise appear.

King, is known for his general lack of pre-interview preparation, once bragged that he never read the books of authors before making an appearance on his program. In a show dedicated to the surviving Beatles, for example, King asked George Harrison's widow about the song "Something", which was written about George Harrison's first wife. He seemed surprised when she did not know very much about the song.

Throughout his career King has interviewed many of the leading figures of his time. CNN's online biography states that King has conducted more than 40,000 interviews over the course of his career.

King was not perfect which made him that much more engaging. He is your typical down to earth everyman but with excellent communication skills and talent. So life will indeed go on for King who turned 77 November 19th. The question now is how long will CNN or Piers Morgan survive? Stay tuned...

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