Is Larry King On the Outs in 18 Months?

By PopEater Staff Posted Sep 28th 2009 03:10PM

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.

Rumored contenders to take Larry's chair include 'American Idol' host Ryan Seacrest, network anchors Diane Sawyer and Katie Couric, CNN correspondent John King and co-host of 'The View', Joy Behar.

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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Tags: abc world news, AbcWorldNews, american idol, AmericanIdol, cbs evening news, CbsEveningNews, cnn, diane sawyer, DianeSawyer, joy behar, JoyBehar, katie couric, KatieCouric, larryking, larrykinglive, ryanseacrest, theview

Comments

(70)

Tuesday 29 September

By joan

Vote down Vote up Report this

who is hannity?

By Ray

Good! He has a big mouth in fact, all three of them do!

By Joanne

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Please! No Joy Behar! I am Conservative and she is Sooo liberal. Ugh. As for Ryan Seacrest.. Doesn't he already have ENOUGH jobs?? Too bad someone like Trista Sutter couldn't do it. She seems like a fun person; one that could handle the job with ease. I will miss Larry, though.. I enjoy watching him... reruns of him Please!!

By Char

Barbara Walters is the logical replacement.

By solomeeo

Joy Behar, OMG, you've got to be kidding. I can't imagine that big mouth taking over that show! The only upside is maybe she will quit The View!

By Melba Ann Williams

No one could replace the King. He has a wonderful young family-- but he would be miserable in 1 month not in command at CNN. Joy would be my choice--but Anderson Cooper in the long run is younger and doing so well. If Larry leaves-- I vote for Anderson for permanent replacement and Joy as his back up. It will take 2 to do LKL if the King has to go.

By Todd Sorensen

What's wrong with just letting the show die and doing something new? Larry King is a unique individual, as we all certainly are, and in my opinion trying to keep Larry King Live going, I would hope they would change the name, without Larry is kind of ludicrous. I wouldn't tune in to see any of the people mentioned even though I am a fan of a couple of them. One sure way to lose viewers fast would be to put anybody ever connected with the View in as host. So CNN, please do us all a favor, and also give Larry some respect and just retire the show.

By john

A lot of famous people are on "Larry King live" because of Larry King. Over the years he has built a trust with guests, that he will not make them uncomfortable with a line of inappropriate questioning. He handles guests and himself with class. A replacement will have to build such a trust. The people that "might" replace him are all classy people; but it still might take time for a new host/hostess to attract some famous people who are cautious about being interviewed. I hope Larry King stays with the Show until HE wants to step down and be replaced.

Wednesday 30 September

By COMC

I do not normally post comments to stories like this.
However, on this occasion I feel compelled as a long-time CNN viewer of some 15 years to do so.
It has become increasingly clear to me that Larry is well past his prime, with too much focus on going over the history of the good old days of telelvision with other retired program hosts etc. It's time for someone else with more youthful vigor to revitalize the show.

Monday 05 October

By foleyrc

A very wise man you are!

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