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What a sad day for Larry King. First, the Q2 cable ratings were released in the early afternoon, with CNN posting another double-digit year-to-year drop led by Larry King Live, which drew a mere 677,000 viewers and posted CNN’s biggest year-to-year demo loss of -37%. A couple of hours later, King announced that he will leave his nightly talk show in the fall after 25 years. (Larry King Stepping Down From CNN Talk) Year-to-date, King’s viewership is down -43%. On any network, such huge ratings declines would warrant a cancellation. But Larry King Live continued to be CNN’s top-rated program.
If Larry King had his way, American Idol host Ryan Seacrest would succeed him. “He’s curious, he’s interesting, he’s likable,” King told guest Bill Maher tonight. “If he has a great interest in politics, I would recommend him. But I’m sure there’s a ton of people who could do it. Come on, it’s Q&A.” Still, it’s very telling that two reality stars, Seacrest and America’s Got Talent judge Piers Morgan (who was tipped by the British press two weeks ago as King’s replacement), are in the running for the most prestigious show on a network dedicated to news and politics. CBS Evening News host Katie Couric’s name also has been part of the mix, with conflicting reports on whether she is interested or not. Her contract with CBS is up next year. Inside CNN, the two obvious candidates are Joy Behar, whose talk show on HLN is a rare bright spot on CNN’s ratings reports, and CNN’s lead primetime anchor Anderson Cooper, whose 2Q ratings dropped 30% from last year.
It’s sad to see King go as he was the last vestige of the old glory days of CNN when the network ruled the TV news world. His influence reached beyond America’s primetime talk show circuit where he was the king interviewer for a quarter of a century. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the first Western TV network allowed in my native communist Bulgaria was CNN, and all of us aspiring journalists wanted to be like Larry. Every male TV talk host back then was wearing suspenders.
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Rosie O’Donnell would be a fine replacement and get bigger ratings.
I know it’s not “cool” to like Larry King. I agree he tosses softball questions and has “softened” over the years, but one can’t deny his place in television HISTORY. His mark on the medium is substantial. He is a television pro, usually a quick wit and extremely curious. An HRTS luncheon years back with him moderating was hilarious, entertaining, fast paced (when are those things ever fast paced these days). Take a good look folks because the guard has been changing the last 5-10 years in the “news” business. Soon we’ll be left true infotainment news and journalists. Calling King a journalist, at this stage and in current format may be a reach but — he’s a pro and a natural. At this age he’s better then 75% of interviewers out there on a good night. There’s been some missteps, but they’ve been, well, charming and hilarious. It’s the right time. Ugh, Seacrest? Behar? Years back woulda called Seacrest but not so certain now. Behar – not broad enough. Cooper? His star is rising he’d be wise to leave the once glorious CNN, now a sinking ship and just another number on the dial – so sad.
Vayos con Dios, Mr. King. You did your job well for a long time but now you are waaaay overdue to smell the roses. Thanks for years of shows.
With Larry riding off into the pixelated sunset, it would be awesome for CNN to get back to its journalistic roots and get an interviewer who is both whipsmart, incisive and, yes, easy on the eyes and ears (plus a welcoming presence to balance out the bombastic, sensationalist Nancy Grace)
If a genie gave me a chance to toss some names out, these candidates to replace Mr. King come to mind:
* Anderson Cooper — currently of CNN fame. Solid reporter. Solid, comfortable presence on air. Nuff said. Would be his job in a jiffy if he wanted it!
* Aaron Brown — a quirky, thoughtful and witty interviewer who used to work for ABC News. Did a good job but, for some reason, never rose to starry heights at the network.
* Michele Malkin — uber-opinionated conservative pundit whose views cause me to roll my eyes often….but she is very cute and has a way of becoming a lightning rod on controversial issues of the day (she once championed internment of Muslim-Americans after Sept. 11, saying it was great when we did it to the Japanese back in the day….) Would definitely help CNN draw in the center-to-right leaning viewers it has been desperately craving. She would represent a crass reach for ratings for the Chicken Noodle Network.
* John Hockenberry — tenacious former Dateline NBC correspondent and current public radio personality. Solid interviewer. Easy on the ears. Tough but not so arrogant as to make you switch the channel. Not many handicapped reporters (Hockenberry is crippled and uses a wheelchair) rise to national prominence so Hockenberry would be inhabit rare air.
* Tavis Smiley — public radio and TV commentator who draws a surprisingly wide range of guests to his thoughtful programming. He also is black and something of a cool, debonair presence — think Cary Grant with a notepad — and would bring more diversity to CNN airwaves.
* Terry Gross — she does a great job on NPR and is one of the BEST radio interviewers ever — but this being a sexist world she may not be “attractive” enough for CNN (and programmers might say even she is too old) Still, she deserves to be in the conversation.
* Ira Glass — He’d be my dream choice. Smart, funny, whimsical. I am not sure, however, if this format plays to his many NPR-honed strengths. I think, to be truthful, this gig would bore the hell out of him but he’d knock it out of the park.
* Ted Koppel — We need Ted now more than ever. But his age and gravitas were factors in ABC Nightline going in another (read: younger) direction. Don’t know if CNN wants to replace one fossil with another. But Ted would be a good interim host until a successor is chosen.
* Tyra Banks — her syndicated show is winding down; she has gotten MUCH better at interviewing people, though is still lacking in that department. She sometimes reminds me of Larry in that she can give vapid interviews. Has a decent personality. With work, she could work out and she famously is a very hard worker. Plus, she’s young-ish and being a former runway model doesn’t hurt.
* Ray Suarez –PBS newshour interviewer/anchor. Does a decent job and has the journalistic heft that Larry lacked but may be a bit boring for a national audience and not much of a ratings draw.
* Oprah — I hate to say it, but she’d be awesome. But I think this is way beneath her. It would be a huge CNN coup though.
* Kimberly Guilfoyle – Say you want beauty? Check. Say you want brains? Check. Kimberly, a regular contributor on Fox news might be one to fit the bill. She is a former catalog model who went onto become an Assistant District Attorney in San Francisco and the wife of S.F. mayor Gavin Newsom. She’s photogenic, knows the law in and out and gives a good interview. There would be no shame in picking her for this game.
* Ryan Secreast — Not my pick. This guy has the intelligence of a fly swatter. Think a better looking version of Arsenio Hall. No wonder Larry King wants HIM to be the choice — after all, water always seeks its level.
* Star Jones — Nah. Just kidding!
What about Charlie Rose? I think he’s the best interviewer on TV, and he would be perfect for CNN. He deserves a bigger audience than what he can get on PBS. They should give him a call.
TED KOPPELL – YES but sadly, guy and it pains me to say this….. he’s not a draw and right now CNN needs a draw. Can you imagine saying something like this 10-15 years back about Ted Koppell? How the landscape has changed.
King was not a good interviewer when it came to political figures – too soft and poor questions – but as an interviewer of celebrities he was tops. His interviews of Frank Sinatra or Marlon Brando were classics in celebrity interviews. When it came to that nobody did it better.
he sucked at interviewing new, mainstream celebs too. it was painful to sit and watch him interview people like lady gaga, t.i., snoop dogg, etc. his time to retire is way overdue… should have retired 10 years ago.
“Still, it’s very telling that two reality stars, Seacrest and America’s Got Talent judge Piers Morgan (who was tipped by the British press two weeks ago as King’s replacement), are in the running for the most prestigious show on a network dedicated to news and politics.”
Piers Morgan may be a reality star now, but don’t forget he was a newspaper editor for 10 years. He knows showbiz and journalism – which makes him a pretty good candidate. I’m not a fan, in fact I find him irritating, but credit where credit’s due.
Larry King’s problems are more rooted in CNN’s overall dismal ratings performance than the media journalists are willing to admit. CNN’s golden child, Anderson Cooper has yet to live up to the hype bestowed upon him despite being propped up by every network and tabloid—sound familiar…a certain leader of hope and change? Many viewers have abandoned CNN, HLN and MMESSNBC for the Fox News Channel. The rabid left’s relentless and predictable attacks have helped catapult Fox News to the top of the cable news heap. Take a look at the ratings and there is no contest at all. Fox’s numbers are often greater than all the other cable news networks combined. Why?, primarily because it offers a point-of-view seldom found anywhere else—not on CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, HLN, or PBS. One thing is for certain: there is one group that has sought to muzzle a differing point-of-view: the left, liberals, progressives or whatever else they like to call themselves. It’s funny really. I watch the other networks to balance out my news sources, however, my liberal friends refuse to tune in to Fox at all. They can’t stand Fox because it presents a view which is in direct conflict with years of a goose-stepping, left-wing journalist perspective. They are often intolerant of my point-of-view while I am subjected to their ad nauseum blatherings.
“I watch the other networks to balance out my news sources, however, my liberal friends refuse to tune in to Fox at all.”
Perhaps your opinions would be more tolerable if your intellectual universe expanded beyond cable news.
Wow ANONYMOUS. You don’t even have the courage to leave your own name when criticizing another person’s post. How arrogant you are to presume that you are more intellectually well rounded than someone you have never had a face to face discussion with.
My two cents:
#1 pick: Canadian George Stroumboulopoulos from THE HOUR has the experience and can interview anybody and can make any guest comfortable enough to be interviewed.
#2 pick: Mitch Albom.
#3 pick: show Larry King reruns.
BY BY LARRY, OVER AND OUT, WE NEED NEW BLOOD -GO FR. JOHNNY O IN THE VALLEY
[ HOW ABOUT CHARLIE ROSE ]
Placing a brick onto the desk and letting it host would be just as informative, interesting, insightful and entertaining.
Might get somewhat better ratings, too. If you’re being turfed by a 3am show on Fox, it’s time to hire the brick and save some money.
Why are they replacing him? Just launch another interview show in that time slot.
Behar’s ratings are a bright spot. I look every day on mediabistro and Behar has the lowest ratings of all the HLN shows (and they seem to continually go down.) Hopefully HLN will soon come to their senses and get rid of her. She’d fit in nicely, however, on MSNBC.
Hey “Annonymous,” I guess I needed to spell out I was not referring to print or other broadcast media. I was referring strictly to cable news. You liberals are so predictable.
What about Howard Stern? If he isn’t available I believe Robin Quivers could handle that post.
Chelsea Handler!
Just kidding. It is sad letting him go, but I think an anchorman/newscaster would be the way to go rather than a reality TV show host.
I loved larry…his show was just what i was looking for..always checked to see who was on at 9pm.. hope he stays busy.
Used to listen to Larry when he was on radio late at night in the early 1980′s (nationally syndicated). He was cooler when he was on the radio, more-off-the cuff and edgy (yes, edgy).
I’ll miss the dude. He’s kind of comforting to watch even when he’s asking howler questions that indicate he’s done little or no prep.
Good luck with the bagels.
And thanks:)
I was really hoping to like her show but am so tired of all things Republican bashing, I like John King on CNN. Joy is just too obnoxious.
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Here is my two cents: Move Joy Behar and Nancy Grace over to CNN, what can it hurt? Create two new hours of programming with Rich Sanchez and Don Lemmon over on HLN, or with Spitzer and the other guy. “Larry King Live” reruns on Saturday and Sunday featuring the “Best of” interviews, etc. from earlier times.
CNN, in my opinion is seeking a new identity and has been in a mid-life sort of crisis for a while. Both Joy and Nancy deliver strong FEMALE demos that O’Reilly and company do not. It would be strong counter programming to a predominately male hosted day part.
Nice work
George Strobolopolis is the ideal candidate. I’m not Canadian but I’ve caught his show in Canada on occasion and find it completely fascinating. He shows empathy, intelligence and curiosity. Also, he’s in touch with a key demographic. CNN is probably to ‘corporate’ rigid and stiff to take a risk on him. These suits are too conservative at CNN to do something innovative and different. But Strombo could really turn CNN prime time around!
George Stroumboulopoulos is the host of a well known Canadian television show called THE HOUR. He is personable, professional and can interview anybody with insight, depth, candor, and with ease. A complete “natural” as Larry would say. I’ve been watching George online for a couple of years, and his interviews are always captivating. His interviews have been with world leaders, politicians, singers, Hollywood actors (young and old), religious leaders, all have been wonderful interviews. The best thing I can add, is that he has the utmost respect for the guests and his impartiality when conducting interviews with political people.
When I heard of Larry King leaving his show, my first thought was George Stroumboulopoulos as his successor. I really hope that he is seriously considered for the job.
http://www.cbc.ca/thehou