Breaking News on John King, USA tonight - Larry King is ending his nightly news show this fall. See the video and read the press release from CNN after the jump.
TO: CNN Colleagues
FR: Jon Klein
Larry King has asked that I share with you a message to his audience that will be broadcast tonight at the top of his show. After 25 years, Larry has decided to take a step back from the nightly grind. He wants to take some time for himself and his family. So he will end his run with Larry King Live on his own terms, sometime this fall.
He is not leaving CNN. Larry is a beloved member of the CNN family and he will continue to contribute to our air with periodic specials.
Larry has been a giant in the industry for as long as most of us can remember. Anyone who ever mattered has sat for an interview on Larry's iconic set. They all know the man it is our privilege to call our colleague and friend--tireless and curious, respectful and inquisitive, caring, generous, influential, a citizen of the world.
We will celebrate his tenure in proper fashion over the coming months. Today is about Larry and about the beginning of a new chapter. It is not about good-bye.
Larry's message below will air tonight at 9pm ET on CNN Larry King Live.
Larry King Statement:
Before I start the show tonight, I want to share some personal news with you. Twenty five years ago, I sat across this table from New York Governor Mario Cuomo for the first broadcast of Larry King Live. Now, decades later, 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. I’ll still be a part of the CNN family, hosting several Larry King specials on major national and international subjects.
I’m incredibly proud that we recently made the Guinness Book of World Records for having the longest running show with the same host in the same time slot. With this chapter closing I’m looking forward to the future and what my next chapter will bring, but for now it’s time to hang up my nightly suspenders.
CNN Statement:
Just as CNN redefined the news business, Larry King defined the art of the television interview. His candor, curiosity and compassion are legendary, and his ability to interview people from all walks of life—world leaders, celebrities and everyday people—has made him an icon. Having conducted nearly 50,000 interviews over 50-plus years in broadcasting, Larry deserves to take some time for himself and his family. After 25 years at CNN, he will conclude Larry King Live on his own terms, sometime this fall. We are proud and grateful that Larry will continue the next chapter of his storied career at CNN and will host several specials over the coming years.
Today is about Larry. We will announce plans for the 9pm hour in the weeks ahead.
Why is this such a surprise? People have been speculating for months and last night he had one of his lowest ratings in years. His show, at times, is unwatchable.
ReplyDeleteHe forgets who he's speaking to, and he can't read his cards, even though there printed by interns.
He even tried interviewing of all people, Lady GAGA?? Not his type.
His wife's mental state, also has not helped either.
Hire Conor Knighton to do a news type
ReplyDeleteversion of Infomania on the news and
media items each day, Let him bring the
Infomania crew with him.
I wish Larry the best.
I am pulling for Ellen or Whoopi If CNN could
ReplyDeleteget either of them. Ryan Seacreast is boring.
CNN has to get this one right. Groups are
sending CNN letters asking how is that black
and female journalists were passed over in
favor of Elliot Spitzer. Larry's replacement
must be American and likable. Good for him.
The suits at CNN are turning his show into
a circus. Does anyone thing Bill Maher is
serious about taking the job ?
The replacement decision must be made by
ReplyDeleteJim Walton. I am starting to feel that there
is internal conflict at CNN. Someone needs
to step in and fix things with regards to it's
employees before CNN implodes. I think
Larry is bowing out because the suits have
basically ruined his career. The suits would
not even let Erica Hill anchor when Anderson
was not there and now she is anchoring the
CBS Evening News while Harry Smith is in
the Gulf.If Anderson leaves right behind
Larry it is game over. CNN has not been
hiring rock solid journalists and now it
is about to cost them.ICN says Anderson
might just be the next to leave. Not one
of Klein's bosses thought about how
recent hiring decisions might affect the
staff. Now CNN staffers know the truth,
CNN is not interested in adhering to it's
principles and standards. I don't blame
Larry one bit, who wants Elliot Spitzer
for a lead in , you know your ratings are
going to tumble and likely won't recover
for some time to come. Morale is pretty
low because of bad decisions made by
management. Larry has been at CNN for
25 years he knows they are about to
destroy CNN. Maybe Klein needs to be
gone ASAP and someone needs to nix
the stupid Spitzer decision. There are
signs that people are tiring of Countdown
and Rachel is starting to overshadow
Keith. Yet CNN takes a route that has
everyone going what ? Management has
completely demoralized it's news staff.
I say look at Kelly Ripa and her husband Mark
ReplyDeleteor Mario Lopez, even Toure. CNN has to get
an up and comer for a replacement who has
a following and someone who people are
familiar with. Charlie Rose would be good
but I don't think he would be interested.
Best of luck Larry King. I think CNN should
ReplyDeletego with a hipster Nightline. Featuring Mariana
Van Zeller, who is a female Anderson Cooper
and is a globetrotting journalists. Add on her
Vanguard colleagues : Adam,Christof, and Kaj
along with Lisa Ling and Douglas Cabellero
along with a couple of Rolling Stoners, Toure
and Michael Hastings and see if CNN can find
a way to bring in some of the journalists at
Vice Tv, Kevin Rose of Digg and the reporters
at CNN, Nightline is not the same each night
and that should be the goal of the show.
Throw in the tech person Katie who is on
during weekends. You can't replace Larry
King , you have to do something different.
If CNN wants to stick with the interview type show at 9pm I suggest they go with Carson Daly. He's good at talking to people and very respectful. I remember when he used to host TRL on MTV. You knew he didn't like the music of most of the people he was interviewing but he was always polite and respectful and asked some interesting questions.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it necessary to replace Larry and have a talkshow? Blah, Blah, blah. It's all talk. When
ReplyDeleteLarry started, this was innovative. Now Fox and Friends, leads cable in the morning because the three of them are "morons." Just ask Jon Stewart. He makes fun of them every nite. If Klein were Roger Ailes, which we KNOW he's not, would he even try to reinvent Larry???
What CNN needs to do is find a really likeable moron...I'm not kidding. No one with intellect is going to make it on CNN, no one.
Unfortunatley, most of the viewers are "mentally challenged," that's why FOX is leading. Do I include myself, maybe.
Easy call : John Roberts. He is a seasoned
ReplyDeleteanchror and should be given a shot. Let
him develop a show that will fit his personality.
Roberts plays guitar and knows music as well
and being a strong interviewer. There is a rumor
floating around that they are going with Joy
Behar.A couple of weeks ago someone wrote
an article that CNN management is responsible
for Larry King's ratings drop because they have
two underperforming shows on for 2 hrs prior
to his show. I think Larry knows Elliot Spitzer
is going to be a drag on CNN ratings.CNN
might want to have the hipster Nightline
ready to go since there is a lot of organizing
to get people not to watch CNN at 8 and
looking at Campbell's ratings last night
it is already beginning. CNN can no longer
call itself the worldwide news leader.CNN
has turned it's back on news. Rachel did
top Keith last night in viewers and demo.
It is too bad that CNN just saved Countdown
from trending downward. I know the folks
at MSNBC will miss Jon Klein. The man made
their jobs real easy.
I happen to agree with the poster about Joy Behar. Yes, John Roberts knows music and politics and has the background, but he doesn't have the personality. CBS had the same problem with him before he came to CNN. He's a total bore in the morning and if he does have personality it doesn't come across.
ReplyDeleteJoy, has a following from the View, and even though she knows less about politics and wings it, she's NO INTELLECT and neither was King. She just may get the job.
As long as other posters have given their suggestion as to who should fill Larry's shoes, if that's even possible, I will throw out a name, for nomination: Lisa Robertson of QVC host fame. Now before you all ruffle your feathers, here's why. Most of the hosts from QVC were in fact, former news anchors.
ReplyDeleteOK, Lisa wasn't, BUT, SHE'S the Q's top host, and she's sold more useless stuff to the membership than are closets can hold and interviewed everyone from The Donald to his wife. She has charm, wit, personality, the smarts, and is absolutely beautiful...even The Donald acknowledges this.
If CNN can even contemplate hiring "Piers what's his face," why not Lisa Robertson...she also well traveled and just returned from Africa.
Put her in the 8PM slot, and on Fridays have HER, coanchor with AC!
They would be a perfect match. If things were slow, she could sell bags and shoes. I'm not kidding. Ladies, and you know who you are, WE love shoes and pocketbooks just drive us crazy! There's just something about a pocketbook, small, medium, large, what have you that stops us in our tracks and Lisa can sell anything to anybody...even AC.
She could sell AC the latest backpack and bring on the different sizes, shapes colors, and organization with zipper pulls and the leather, just the feel of that leather!!
What you say? This is nuts! No, think of the ratings....in a slow news cycle Lisa is the answer and in a fast news cycle she could read the bulletin and AC could still report from the Gulf!
There, problem at 8PM solved and really, she's the ONLY one who could both hold our attention and beat O'Reilly. Just tune in to PM Style at 7 on Mondays, and watch her do her magic. No really.
Lisa Robertson is not so far fetched as you might think. Barry Diller, the media mogul and friend of Anderson Cooper, used to own the Q, and then in hast bought HSN, something he later regretted.
ReplyDeleteBut it is a good possibity that he had some part in hiring Lisa Robertson and knows exactly who she is. So doubters, stop doubting.
She could be a true contender, if only Jon Klein would read this blog.
Then again Lisa comes with a pricey price tag and knowing the Q, they'd fight to keep her and she's really happy at what she does. Just check out my closet.
USA Today is reporting that Katie Couric is still in the running for Larry's job and may well be the front runner. The article states that AC is a "wild card," because he doesn't like to sit in the anchor chair, but instead prefers to globe trot wherever the "hot spot" is.
ReplyDeleteCouric would still report for CBS by doing various specials. Imagine the price of her CNN contract!