Reaction to the end of 'Larry King Live': almost entirely gracious

Nancy Reagan called, and Regis Philbin, and Diane Sawyer, and Anderson Cooper via video, all to check in with Larry King on Tuesday after he announced that he'd be leaving his 25-year-old CNN show come fall.

"Nothing is forever, but there's new things ahead," King told Reagan. 

"Well good, as long as it's better, that's fine," she replied.

Ministry readers responding to our nonscientific online poll were, at the time of this post's publication, also tilting in favor of "Yes, I'll miss 'Larry King Live' when it's gone." (You can vote at the end of this post.)

King's cable competitors from MSNBC chimed in as well: Rachel Maddow with well wishes, and Keith Olbermann with some tweets that were, surprisingly, all about Keith Olbermann.

After alerting his followers that King would be stepping down, the "Countdown" kid explained who he was talking about — "Larry King is a lovely, generous man who tried, for eight years, to convince his bosses to hire me to be his 8 p.m. lead-in at CNN" — and then trifled with a world-record reference from Larry's "I'm outta here" statement:

"Oh, crap. This means mine will be the longest running prime-time cable news show not on Fox. Crap, crap, crap," Olbermann said.

Hmm. Based on what our associate Joe Flint notes in his Morning Fix — listing Piers Morgan, Katie Couric and Ryan Seacrest as buzz names to succeed King — maybe Olby's just a little on edge these days.

The Fox folks were quiet, though after a straightforward announcement of the news, Andy Levy from the late-night comedy-news mashup "Red Eye w/Greg Gutfeld" worked out some material: "This should be interesting: Larry King's suspenders just announced they are not stepping down. Wow."

Bill Maher appeared on King's show Tuesday, incidentally, and nosed around the idea that leaving might have been CNN's idea more than the host's. King said no, and added, "It was time, Bill. It was time."

For a reminder of the difference between leaving and getting pushed, check out King's interview with Jerry Seinfeld, above.

— Christie D'Zurilla

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Comments

[Marilyn]

Larry King has not been well prepared the last couple of years. He mispronounces guests' names and frequently appears to be out of touch with the subject matter. He also seems uncomfortable with technolgy terms.

[PonteBeach]

I've noticed that over the past year or so, Larry often seems befuddled with his guest's answers or completely misses an obvious follow-up question. It seems that though all the preparation is done by his staff, and he's simply "phoning-in" and going through the motions of performing a true interview. So yeah.....it's time to hang it up.

[BGM]

Larry King is from a different era - never did like his style!

[Patty]

I remember Mr. King during his reign of terror....oops, time on the air waves in Miami in the 70's. I have always been in the minority when it comes to his interviewing skills (I just don't think he really has any, but I don't either). Any who or how...he has drawn the big names, so for that, I give him credit. Will he be missed? Probably; however, he should spend his golden years enjoying his family and life in general. Blessings Mr. King in all you do.

[Lisa]

"Reaction to the end of 'Larry King Live': almost entirely gracious"

No doubt, the reaction to the beginning of "Larry King Dead" will be exactly the same!

[True Blue]

King IS from a different era. King never interviewed so much as he had conversations. Little Jack Paarish conversations. He talked with, not at, people. He didn't yell. He didn't accuse. He didn't get in anybody's face. Larry King was a gentleman. THAT'S what you'll be losing when he leaves. Now everybody on TV will be just alike: childish, loud, insulting, rude, offensive, and right about everything.

As far as KIng mispronouncing people's names and his lack of preparedness, that's nothing news. King has been that way since the 1970s, when I first discovered him.

[Anonymous]

Larry King is a HORRIBLE interviewer and conversationalist. It's way past time for CNN to put him out to pasture. And if they're smart -- but of course they're not -- they would get someone surprising, interesting and unknown to shake things up. NOT Seacrest or that British guy or any other White person, for goodness sake!

[Jammer]

Love you Larry King. These negative people here are very negative and disrespectful. We love you Larry. You're the best interviewer.

Peace to some of you negative critics