Speculation is rising that late night talk powerhouse Larry King will be hanging up his 'Live' mic when his current contract with CNN expires in 18 months. If he does retire, which King himself has revealed little interest in doing, there is no shortage of potential successors waiting in the wings.
Each of the potential replacements has a complication, according to a report by the New York Post.
Seacrest has signed a multi-year $45 million mega deal to continue hosting 'American Idol.' Sawyer has just been named to replace Charles Gibson at the helm of 'ABC World News' after a lengthy courtship. Couric is inked to anchor 'CBS Evening News' until 2011. King currently works with CNN but his profile is largely in the political realm. Behar is just starting as a host of a new show on HLN, formerly CNN Headline News, after co-hosting 'The View.'
Potential replacements have not be forthcoming with their intentions. "I really don't know, is the honest answer." said Couric in response to questions about her future.
CNN is being nothing but supportive of King. "Larry is at the top of his game," an unnamed CNN rep told the Post. "He gets the best newsmakers of anyone on television, and his ratings lead over MSNBC's [Rachel] Maddow has never been wider," the source added.
"Larry has the full intention of continuing in the job he loves, and he's very confident about the future." said Howard Rubinstein, King's spokesperson.
King himself shows no reservation about continuing "I'm signed through 2011 . . . then we'll see," said King. "I should retire? Retire to what? If I didn't work, I don't know what I'd do. I'll probably fall over right on the set one night."
Larry King, 75, has hosted 'Larry King Live' since 1985. It is the longest running program on CNN as well as its most watched. It regularly attracts over one million viewers. Oprah Winfrey endorsed Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign on the show.
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Larry King has run his course. It is time for him to retire. I liked his radio show back in the 80's, and his early TV interviews, but he has lost that luster and needs to retire and enjoy the rest of his life out of the spotlight.
I agree, take a rest Larry. Just please don't put Behar in there-it seems impossible for her to be neutral at all. She just can't help her vicious self.
Yep, its time for Larry to step down. Lately, he has been mis-pronouncing words, interrupting guest, not hearing their answers, and mis- understanding the guests comments. Its very iritating and frustrating to watch. Like any older person, his time for quick responses and smooth communication is over. Dont want to watch him anymore.
For sure you will reach a time when you are no longer as bright and smart as you think you are. Larry should be applauded for doing his show. At 75, he is still doing a great job. Let him decide when he needs to retire. He will leave on his own if he feels he can no longer do the job. He will not embarrass himself if it comes to that. Just hope that you will be as active when you are 75.
Larry, Barbara Walters and several others get it wrong every now and then. I remember one night on Larry, (I've forgotten who the guest was) he called the guest "Pancho Gonzales". Where did that come from? It's not like Pancho is in the news! LOL Don't get me wrong, I like Larry and Barbara, but the older we get the less brain cells we have!
Less brain cells? Here we go again! That's bunk! Older people have wisdom and perspective from having lived more years - something young people lack until they get "older"! Quit picking on mature people. Grow up and show some "maturity" yourself.
Oh yes, Hannity has a wide audience, after all, FoxNews is the only channel where the right wing nuts can watch people like Hannity lie and fabricate about Obama, socialism, communism, health care, Afghanistan and Jesus Christ. Any other channel would be kind of difficult for those intelectually challenged rednecks to understand.
re: "...said King. 'I should retire? Retire to what? If I didn't work, I don't know what I'd do. I'll probably fall over right on the set one night.'"......I'd tune in to see that.
And, to the person who said that Hannity gets the most viewers. I seriously doubt it, but any viewers watching him are sort of like people who slow down to view an accident. There is always the element who like horror and will watch slasher movies. It's the same thing with Hannity.
Sure he has been working long enough to retire years ago, but CNN must think he is worthy of his job. One poster said something about not liking older people, doesn't he think he will ever get old & he may not be as fortunate as L.K. & will have to work, that is if someone one still wants his work he is "OLD'. Personally I like L.K. All the hosts forget stuff every now & then.
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Larry King has run his course. It is time for him to retire. I liked his radio show back in the 80's, and his early TV interviews, but he has lost that luster and needs to retire and enjoy the rest of his life out of the spotlight.
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I agree, take a rest Larry. Just please don't put Behar in there-it seems impossible for her to be neutral at all. She just can't help her vicious self.
Yep, its time for Larry to step down. Lately, he has been mis-pronouncing
words, interrupting guest, not hearing their answers, and mis- understanding
the guests comments. Its very iritating and frustrating to watch.
Like any older person, his time for quick responses and smooth
communication is over. Dont want to watch him anymore.
Reply
I still enjoy his show. It's his show really.
Who cares if it isn't your deal.
For sure you will reach a time when you are no longer as bright and smart as you think you are. Larry should be applauded for doing his show. At 75, he is still doing a great job. Let him decide when he needs to retire. He will leave on his own if he feels he can no longer do the job. He will not embarrass himself if it comes to that. Just hope that you will be as active when you are 75.
Give me a break, Lady.
Larry, Barbara Walters and several others get it wrong every now and then. I remember one night on Larry, (I've forgotten who the guest was) he called the guest "Pancho Gonzales". Where did that come from? It's not like Pancho is in the news! LOL Don't get me wrong, I like Larry and Barbara, but the older we get the less brain cells we have!
Reply
if larry and barbara should retire; then all of the old foggies in congress should follow the lead.
Less brain cells? Here we go again! That's bunk! Older people have wisdom and perspective from having lived more years - something young people lack until they get "older"! Quit picking on mature people. Grow up and show some "maturity" yourself.
Don't watch him. Don't care!
Reply
"He gets the best newsmakers of anyone on television, and his ratings lead over MSNBC's [Rachel] Maddow has never been wider,"
Of course King and Maddow together don't get half the number Hannity gets in that time slot. Oops, forgot about Hannity.
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Oh yes, Hannity has a wide audience, after all, FoxNews is the only channel where the right wing nuts can watch people like Hannity lie and fabricate about Obama, socialism, communism, health care, Afghanistan and Jesus Christ. Any other channel would be kind of difficult for those intelectually challenged rednecks to understand.
Enrik, YOU must be a "redneck," if you're not smart enough not to misspell a word like "intellectually".
re: "...said King. 'I should retire? Retire to what? If I didn't work, I don't know what I'd do. I'll probably fall over right on the set one night.'"......I'd tune in to see that.
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Joy Behar is very good on the nights she has filled in for Larry King. She brings humor and seems to be very well versed on many subjects.
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And, to the person who said that Hannity gets the most viewers. I seriously doubt it, but any viewers watching him are sort of like people who slow down to view an accident. There is always the element who like horror and will watch slasher movies. It's the same thing with Hannity.
Reply
You may not like Hannity but his ratings are impressive. Fox destroys its competition. It's a fact. deal with it!
Sure he has been working long enough to retire years ago, but CNN must think he is worthy of his job. One poster said something about not liking older people, doesn't he think he will ever get old & he may not be as fortunate as L.K. & will have to work, that is if someone one still wants his work he is "OLD'. Personally I like L.K. All the hosts forget stuff every now & then.
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Have Reverend Wright and Luis Farakan co-host the show!
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Why not Cheney and Rumsfeld? They are much more sinister and lie much better than those other two.