Larry King Live

1 9 8 5 – 2 0 1 0 (USA)
6120 x 60 minute episodes

For 15 years, Larry King Live was the most-watched programme on CNN, regularly reaching over one million viewers nightly and making King one of the most recognisable celebrities in the United States.

Dressed in signature suspenders (braces) and facing a non-functional vintage RCA microphone as a prop, King would engage his guests in casual conversation.

Politicians, royalty, movie stars, or former prisoners, they all received courtesy and respect, though his centrist approach meant that the far left and the far right regularly accused him of favouritism.

King was often criticised for only asking soft questions. He expressed bewilderment at this, saying that the best way to get a guest to open up was to allow them to speak about themselves.

He was also criticised for not preparing properly for interviews and admitted that he never read the books of guest authors.

The last episode of Larry King Live aired on 16 December 2010, but 19 months later King began hosting Larry King Now four nights a week on streaming service Hulu and the cable and satellite channel RT America.

CNN replaced Larry King Live with Piers Morgan Tonight, a talk show hosted by British television personality and journalist Piers Morgan, that aired from 17 January 2011 until it was cancelled on 28 March 2014.

King died on 23 January 2021, aged 87, from complications arising from his infection with COVID-19.