(This is the third in a series of rants about news media personalities. On Friday I wrote about Judy Miller and her latest assignment and the The Washington Post’s blogger problem.)
Larry King, it is time for you to quit. Or if you prefer, you can call it being Novaked, a verb I made up while celebrating that Robert Novak left CNN. Now it is time for you to also leave CNN.
Larry, you have long been an embarrassment to the news profession.
One of the worst kept secrets in politics and entertainment is that if you want to try to revive a dying career, or fight a controversy, you go on Larry King’s show.
I’d say his questions are softballs, but that would be an insult to softball players.
Jon Stewart – whose show I have started writing about regularly – does a hilarious bit in his book Naked Pictures of Famous People – sending up the idea of Adolf Hitler going on Larry King’s show. You can listen to it – or read the transcript – at NPR's site.
As offensive as the idea might be, it does hit on two central points that are totally true: first, go on King’s show, and you can pretty much have your way with him. In terms of not being pressed hard about questions, I mean.
He will avoid asking the tough questions, and you can virtually say whatever you want, spin whatever version of reality you wish to spew. It is a handler's dream come true.
Second, you get a chance – on his shows – to convince millions of viewers that the news media is wrong about you when they suggest you are a slimeball for (pick one) your involvement with Enron, sleeping with an intern who then disappeared, slept with his mother, etc.
I have long held this position that Larry must go. While writing this, I noticed that other Blogcritics' writers have also made similar suggestions.
I decided it was time to put these thoughts to paper, er, to screen, when reading stories on the Internet about whether or not CNN was considering pulling the plug on King’s show.
Executives at CNN say rumors they are about to can King are false.
Count me as one who hopes they reconsider.
It’s time to get rid of this sad excuse for a television interviewer.
Say bye-bye, Larry
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - nehad ismail
Why should Larry go. He has charisma and presence, the younger ones don't have. We follow him from the UK on CNN and enjoy his program.
Sir David Frost in his late 60s has just been snapped up by Aljazeera English Language Channel which will start broadcasting in a matter of weeks or months. We discovered Larry when visiting the US some 13 years ago and have been fans ever since. Go on Larry regardless.
nehad ismail
camberley, england
Larry King is still OK
2 - Scott Butki
Comparing Larry King with David Frost is like comparing an actor like Robert DeNiro with a stick
3 - Steve
Well, although Larry is not the best interviewer in the world by any means, he does have people on (particularly the older generation, and religious types) that you just don't see on any other talk show. We need more older and wiser folks on TV. I think his show does fill a niche that no other does, and I would be sorry to see him go.
4 - lumpy
sweet christ yes. put the hideous bug-eyed living mummy in a tomb where he belongs.
5 - sr
Lumpy, 200% right you are. Then we have Nehad Ismail([Edited] Nehads hero is madam David Frostbite and Larry hard-ass King. Of course Ismail would follow him from the UK on CNN. [Edited]
6 - observer
You seem to be ignorant and racist. What's the big deal if some one likes or dislike Lary King. Why do you have to be an idiot.
SR : Stupid and Rude
7 - Scott Butki
Observer, I'm not clear who you are talking to in your comment.
Are you calling me racist?
8 - David J
I happened to be Jewish and noticed comment no.5 saying that someone's name sound Jewish. That's not nice. He could have been Mexican or Eskimo, does it make any difference.
Who cares what religion a person is or what nationality he happens to be. Who cares whether he likes L K or not.
D J
9 - sr
Observer#6. You got me. Yes s is for stupid however r is for racist not rude. [Edited]
10 - Benjamin
Scott, SR, Observer and David:
please be aware of the warning above in Red:
Personal attacks are not allowed.
Why we get worked up about someone admiring or hating Larry King. If we disagree with someone, we don't have to personalise the issue.
So cool it.
ps: I am Jewish too and I don't like the comments that contain references to: Race, Religion, Nationality and so on. Such comments lack objectivity and distort the discussion..
Can we agree to close this subject.
11 - JP
Give the guy credit for having class. Bill O'Reilly is the one who should be sent out to pasture.
12 - Scott Butki
If they both quit and ran off together, Brokeback Mountain-style, I'd be ecstatic.
Having class shouldn't be the criteria for having a tv show.
13 - Issac SC
I followed with interest the various comments and
would like to just say, keep it up but without the insults.
Issac
South Carolina
14 - Scott Butki
I don't want insults or personal attacks either
Thanks for reading
15 - Matt
I feel sorry for Larry. I hope he doesn't read this. He can derive some comfort from the fact that not everyone agrees with Scott.
Matt
16 - Linda
Most interesting and amusing discussion I have seen on the www for a long time.
Linda,
New York
17 - sr
David J. Never said his named sounded Jewish. What I said was does Nehad Ismail sound like a Jewish name. Of course not. Then you chime in with, Im Jewish and thats not nice and he could be Mexican or Eskimo. Holy fucking guacamole and whale blubber. Right. Nehad the Eskimo sleeps in an igloo and when in Mexico eats taco's all the while sitting on the Cameeelll. No you dont care what religion a person is. Did you know Nazi Fascism was and still is a religion. This does not mean Mr Nehad fits within all the BS I have just tossed out. David J. Get out of liberal world. It will come back and bite you in your CNN ass.
Almost forgot. I tremble at the comments that for sure will come. Like, wow dude. [Personal attack deleted by Comments Editor] What a school.
18 - Mathew Golding
I am amzaed that SR cannot help resorting to abuse again and again when challenged by normal polite people. If it was not for the first comment from nehad, there would have been no discussion, no debate and nothing.
SR: please have a life and stop insulting people you don't know just because they have a differnt opinon.
MG
19 - John and Dorothy Jacob
We should all have taken Benjamin's advice to close this conversation which is turning nasty.
I agree with MG that the first comment started the ball rolling, and we should all thank him for that.
David J is also right, we must'nt make race or religion the subject. The main topic was L K, not whether David is a Jew etc.
20 - Mark Schannon
Here's a suggestion. When people make idiotic, abusive, insulting comments, ignore them. Just go one talking about the post. They'll get the hint and go away.
In Jamesons Veritas
21 - Linda
I agree 100 percent with Mark's suggestion.
Abuse and insults ruin an interesting debate. Thanks Marks.
Linda
Denver, Col
22 - Joanie
Scott, all I could think of when I was editing this piece was Craig Ferguson as Larry King...and that hideous tongue thing. You did this on purpose, didn't you?
23 - Scott Butki
Joanie, what tongue thing? Oh you mean how often King sticks out his tongue?
I had forgotten about that.
24 - sr
Mark #20. Think you have the proper perspective on this. I also concur that idiotic, abusive, insulting comments from lovers of Larry King will get the hint and go away. Well we can at least hope Mark. Thanks big guy. sr
25 - sr
Look who left the building. Bet you were thinking Elvis. Dipsticks