Piers Morgan 'Very Close' to Getting Larry King's Job

By PopEater Staff Posted Jun 30th 2010 08:49AM

'America's Got Talent' judge Piers Morgan has long been mentioned as a possible replacement for Larry King. Now that the suspendered one has announced his retirement, Morgan's elevation to the coveted time slot on CNN is looking more like a reality than a rumor.

RadarOnline.com has learned that Morgan is this close to finalizing a $10 million deal with the beleaguered news network to replace King. A source close to the situation reveals CNN has made it clear Morgan is the network's "first choice," adding, "He is very, very close to agreeing to terms" after weeks of negotiations.

Earlier this month, CNN swiftly dismissed reports that a replacement had been finalized. Their statement at the time said, "Not surprisingly, there is no shortage of people who would love to succeed Larry King if and when he moves on, but rumors that we are close to signing a deal for a Larry King replacement are untrue."

Katie Couric has also been named as a possible replacement, but it's long been known that King thinks 'American Idol' host Ryan Seacrest should take the reins.

On Tuesday evening, King dropped the bombshell that after 25 years of hosting the 'Larry King Live,' his nightly show will end this fall. King made the surprising announcement via his Twitter account right before he taped that evening's show. "Announcing tonight: I'm ending my nightly show this fall but continuing at CNN," King wrote.

In a larger statement on CNN, King gave his reasons, which involved family, but didn't mention his plunging ratings.

"I talked to the guys here at CNN and I told them I would like to end 'Larry King Live,' the nightly show, this fall, and CNN has graciously accepted, giving me more time for my wife and I to get to the kids' little league games."

The decision to leave the show comes after months of declining ratings and media speculation about the future of King's career. The NY Times reported in March that the program was down about 50 percent in viewers and had seen its worst quarter ever at the start of the year.

King's announcement also comes just a few weeks after his own personal life made headline news. In April, King and his wife, Shawn Southwick, filed for divorce after both accused the other of infidelity. A month later, the reconciled couple called off the divorce and moved back in together. Earlier this month, Southwick suffered a prescription pill overdose and has been recovering since.

Tags: larry king, Piers Morgan

Comments

(128)

Wednesday 30 June

By mw

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I heard that Ryan Seacrest might get the job, I hope not, but I have never watches Larry King, so who am I to say? Just a thought.

By KC

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So what was your point???? Just want to bad mouth Ryan Seacrest??

By jarijasper

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I swear I was clicking the link saying "Please don't let it be Ryan Seacrest, please don't let it be Ryan Seacrest, please don't let it be Ryan Seacrest..."

By Denise504

Piers Morgan, Wow Oh """"NOT'' so qualified...Please DON'T.

By trey

Hi,
you may not think he is up to the job based on americas got talent, but he has had a similiar intervier show to larry kings on bbc for a couple of years now (not nightly however) just thought I would mention that, it is a rather good show. Not dissing your opinion though, he is somewhat a jerk on americas got talent lol.

By Nick Mayor

Amen Denise. Morgain is an insufferable bore and so condescending.

By g-i-f-t-w-a-t-c-h

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weeks after his own personal life made headline news. In April, King and his wife, Shawn Southwick, filed for divorce after both accused the other of infidelity. A month later, the reconciled couple called

=== g i f t 2 w a t c h .[c o m] ===

159 [u - s- d] [r -o - l- e- x] [o - m- e- g- a] [g -u - c- c- i] [e - d] [g -u -c -c - i] [w - a- t- c- h]

[b -e -s -t ] [g -i -f - t] [f -o - r] [y -o -u - r] [p -e -o -p - l- e]

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By LARRY

g-i-f-t-w-a-t-c-h, YOUR A LOSER AND GET YOUR CRAP OFF THE NET !

By egerdfvdedr

Seacrest might get the job, I hope not, but I have never watches Larry King, so who am I to say? Just a

=== g i f t 2 w a t c h .[c o m] ===

159 [u - s- d] [r -o - l- e- x] [o - m- e- g- a] [g -u - c- c- i] [e - d] [g -u -c -c - i] [w - a- t- c- h]

[b -e -s -t ] [g -i -f - t] [f -o - r] [y -o -u - r] [p -e -o -p - l- e]

=== g i f t 2 w a t c h .[c o m] ===

Thursday 01 July

By julie

HEY JUST GET THE CRYPPTKEEPER OR SKELETOR FROM HE-MAN TO HOST, NO ONE WOULD EVEN KNOW LARRY WAS GONE

You just happen to be ignorant.....

By N2

KING WAS GREAT, SORRY TO SEE HIM RETIRE. PIERS IS AN INTERSTING CHOICE. HE HAS THAT KILLER INSTINCT, ATTITUDE WHEN NEEDED, AND NO FEAR OF SAYING WHAT HE THINKS. I'D WATCH HIM.

By Robert Dorff

Larry King has always irritated me. The good news was he often had guests I enjoyed seeing.

rdorff

By Red

On please NO Piers Morgan!!!!!He is a sarcastic, rude, crude, arrogant, full of himself idiot. Can't stand him. Wish he would go back to the UK where he belongs. Will miss LK.

By Kay

I so agree with Red. I cannot stand Piers...didn't like him on Celebrity Apprentice and he drives me crazy on America has Talent. Give the job to an American!!! Why give the job to someone who already has 2 or 3 jobs? Spread the wealth!!

By blue lou boyle

i'd rather see piers replace obama as president...

By heyjude

Piers can't be President. He's not from the U.S.

By jaboettch1

Obama's not from the U.S. either, so what's your point?

By linnie

Anybody's better then the great leader "O"

By Terry Stewart

AMEN

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