Larry King Live not for much longer
30 Jun 2010
Iconic TV interviewer Larry King said on Tuesday he will step aside from hosting of his prime time CNN show in a few months.
King, 76, made the announcement with a short posting to his Twitter account, citing his desire to spend more time with his wife and young children.
"I want to share some personal news with you. 25 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," King wrote.
"I'm incredibly proud that we (Larry King Live) 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." Wearing braces on the show has long been his trademark.
The news comes at a time of falling ratings for the show. "He will end his run with Larry King Live on his own terms, sometime this fall," said Jon Klein, president of CNNUS. "Larry is a beloved member of the CNN family and will continue to contribute to our air with periodic specials."
During his Tuesday night show, King told guest Bill Maher "there's a freedom" that came with his decision.
