The King Will Be Gone, But Not Forgotten
The King & Hef: 160 years and countless women between them
CNN will soon be saying goodbye to the person who helped put it on the media map 25 years ago. No real “suspends,” especially after that nasty on again/off again divorce and affair with his wife’s sister scandal, but “Larry King Live” will sign off this fall. The 76-year old King says he’s not leaving CNN entirely, and will do periodic specials, a la Barbara Walters, it appears. The ratings were down, sure, but now CNN has to replace the still-popular show with a new host and a new program. (Sorry, Eliot Spitzer, you already have another time slot on the cable net.) King himself wants Ryan Seacrest to take over. Other speculation centers on Piers Morgan, a judge on “America’s Got Talent” and Katie Couric. But it’s doubtful anyone can match the King’s reign.
Last week, King interviewed Hugh Hefner live at a television industry conference in downtown Los Angeles, and made no mention of his impending departure, but did elicit this fun exchange:
King: Do you have orgies?
Hef: Let’s see. Is this Thursday?
Larry, we’ll miss those insightful questions.
