About (Late) Last Night: Larry King trades jokes and memories with Jay Leno

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Larry King celebrated the end of his 25-year run on CNN’s ‘Larry King Live’ with a stop by ‘The Tonight Show’ on Monday, telling Jay Leno that being done is ‘tough,’ but not all bad. ‘It’s a great feeling of mixed emotions. It’s hard to describe,’ he said. ‘It’s like your mother-in-law going over the cliff in your new Cadillac.’

Leno teased King for being the one to crack a joke. ‘Let me ask you something,’ said King. ‘Why do Italians like to give it to Jews?’

But the interview wasn’t all taunting. Leno’s praise for King was effusive, and he noted that King could secure guests that late-night hosts never could -- Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando. ‘They know they’re going to be treated fairly,’ said King. ‘They’re not going to be cut off, interrupted,’ he said, indicating toward Leno.

And for that, Leno went back to needling. ‘Now, what is the age difference in your kids?’ he asked, giggling. ‘You actually have a son that’s older than you -- I heard that. Is that true?’

King began listing his children’s ages: ‘Andy is 55...’ Leno erupted in laughter. ‘And the youngest is how old?’ Leno asked. ‘Ten,’ said King. Leno cackled and clapped. ‘Without Viagra -- 10,’ said King.

‘We always tease you about being married seven times,’ said Leno. ‘Why not date some of those?’ King explained that the way he grew up, couples didn’t live together before they got married. ‘Hey, I have no regrets,’ he said. ‘Well, maybe a couple.’ He said he could think of one in particular but kept it to himself. Instead, he went on to credit one ex-wife with recommending his now-signature suspenders.

Later, Leno asked for quick reviews of some guests King interviewed over the years. O.J. Simpson, for example, King deemed a character in ‘a Greek tragedy’ -- ‘the most famous person ever charged with murder,’ he said.

But before riding into the sunset, King had one last order of business: he wanted to perform some stand-up comedy. He told two jokes, both sufficiently funny, but that wasn’t the point. It was about the spectacle, and about showing that after all those years of hosting, Larry King is still a hell of a guest.

-- Joe Coscarelli

See the rest of Leno and King’s chat after the jump.

Part 2

Part 3