It's Official: Piers Morgan to Replace Larry King

By PopEater Staff Posted Sep 8th 2010 11:47AM

CNN has made it official, announcing Wednesday that reality TV host and former tabloid editor Piers Morgan will replace the departing Larry King in the coveted 9PM time slot, according to The New York Times.

The British-born Morgan, currently a judge on NBC's 'America's Got Talent,' will debut the as-yet-unnamed interview show in January, a month after King signs off from the long-running 'Larry King Live,' which has aired for 25 years.

Jonathan Klein, the struggling network's president, informed staffers of the news in an upbeat internal memo. "We are delighted that he will now bring his dynamic, probing interview style to American television and to CNN viewers around the globe."

CNN and NBC worked out a deal to allow Morgan to continue his work on the popular 'Talent.' Before breaking into British television, Morgan was the editor of a tabloid, the Daily Mirror. He was fired after the newspaper published fraudulent photos of British soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners.

Klein said that the final 'Larry King Live' will air Dec. 16, but its 76-year-old host will continue to host occasional programming for the network.

Morgan, 45, has been in talks with CNN since the summer about replacing King.

King dropped the bombshell in June that he was giving up his show. King made the surprising announcement via his Twitter account right before he taped that evening's program. "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 came 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.

Tags: cnn, larry king, Piers Morgan

Comments

(168)

Wednesday 08 September

By tuffpaw

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A Brit? Really? Couldn't hire an American to replace an American, CNN? You've lost at least one viewer . . .

By Kent

American broadcast news has hired foreign journalists for years. Peter Jennings was from Canada. Christane Amanpour is Iranian.

Remember that Larry King Live isn't as serious as the Sunday interview shows on the broadcast networks. For every Condi Rice or Harry Reid, you get a Jimmy Fallon or Don Rickles.

You have to have someone with a bit of irreverence.

By Jay

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Don't like it? TUFF

Thursday 09 September

By grrrr8EST

Buh-bye, now. I can't think of a single American who can hold a candle to Piers in this arena, and, apparently, neither can you.

By Kelly

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

What a trivial reason. You're an idiot.

By Thomas V Iannitti

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They lost me as well. I guess Prince Charles wasn't available.

By paul smith

Naw, they've been losing viewers by the dozens, one more, they'll never notice...

By L8RPT8R

What is with all these Brits taking over the airways. I agree replace King with an American born person. Now there are 2 people who will not be watching.

By fknhippie

well you obviously forgot that being an American doesn't mean you need to be born here. He is an American, he is also an immigrant, as was your family at one point. GET OVER YOURSELF

By Alison

Make that 2!

By katydid579

Sounds interesting. I'm curious to see how he does and what kind of guests he has.

By Emily

Make that 3!

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By Cyndi

I can't believe that Mr. Morgan will be replacing Mr. King. He won't boost the ratings at all. He might even lower the ratings! I like Mr. Morgan, but not as an interviewer. Mr. King had style, grace and kept the interview on a great note, meaning that he didn't do yellow journalism. I understand that Mr. Morgan was relieved of his duties from "The Daily Mirror" for fraudulent pictures/story in his native land. I'm shocked that CNN replaced Mr. King with this gentleman. Big mistake and CNN really is going downhill fast. Good luck execs. at CNN. You'll need it.

By Cutie

that he didn't do yellow journalism.....where were you during the last presidential election??? He carried the water also....

By LARRY

Give the guy a chance Cyndi.

By Marcelo F. Levy

Seems to me that Jonathon Klein will be out of a job soon.

By bflogrl4evr

Exactly! No American born talent around???? Well it's easy to see why CNN is in the Dumper! Same ole, same ole. Campbell Brown who should have been held on to at all costs (one of the only REAL JOURNALISTS on CCN who wasn't AFRAID OF BUCKING THE CNN MENTALITY AND ASKING TOUGH QUESTIONS. I quit watching CNN totally after she left. Blitzer needs to depart immediately. He has too close a Love Affair with this White House! We need BERNIE BACK!!!

By vajimj

A guy whose morals were beneath those required of an editor for a British Tabloid?

By grrrr8est

Yeah! Piers is smart, witty and insightful. A GREAT choice after too many years of watching Larry King die a slow death. Piers will not sit silently by while his guests blow smoke up his skirt. He's as unstintingly honest and courageous as Simon Cowell. Can't wait! Finally, a talk/interview show worth watching.

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