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Larry King Live is a nightly CNN interview program hosted by broadcaster and writer Larry King. The show premiered in 1985.
Background
The show broadcasts from Los Angeles from CNN's studios. Sometimes, the show broadcasts from CNN's studios in New York and sometimes from Washington, the city where King gained national prominence during his years as a radio interviewer for the Mutual Broadcasting System. Each studio set features an identical colored-dot map of the world in the background and one of King's trademarks, a vintage RCA microphone, on the desk. The microphone is a prop, as King and his guests use lapel microphones.
Guests
Every night, King interviews one or more prominent individuals, mainly celebrities, politicians, and businesspeople. The one-hour show is broadcast three times a day in some areas, and can be seen all over the world on CNN International. Among those interviewed include Diane Sawyer, Nancy Grace, Sandra Bullock, Natalie Portman, Celine Dion, Benny Hinn, Patricia Hearst, Dominick Dunne, Bob Woodward, Mike Wallace, Wynonna Judd, Donald Trump, John Walsh, Richard Pryor, Bill and Hillary Clinton, President & Mrs. George W. Bush, Senator and Mrs. John Kerry, Martha Stewart, James Dobson, Dean Cain, the cast of The Andy Griffith Show (after actor Don Knotts' death in 2006), and the cast of NBC's Law & Order.
Interview Style
Some have claimed that Larry King asks "soft" questions in comparison to other interviewers, which allows him to reach guests who would be averse to interviewing on "tough" talk shows. When interviewed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, King said that the secret to a good interview is to get the guest to talk about him- or herself, and to put oneself in the background. A 1996 interview in the Washington Post had King note that he sometimes slips hard questions in between softballs. King prefers one sentence questions. In the Post interview, King also proclaimed that he prepares as little as possible for each program, does not read the books of the authors he interviews, and admitted that the show was not journalism but "infotainment". He said that he tries to project an image of earnestness and sincerity in each interview, and the format of the show (King in suspenders instead of suit and tie, sitting directly next to the guest) reinforce that.
Call-ins
King also accepts call-in questions, including a mysterious frequent caller from Ellijay, Georgia. Callers are identified only by city and state, and generally not by name. Occasionally, surprise guests telephone the show and comment, like Governors, royalty, and celebrities. At times, Prank phone calls come in, often from Howard Stern fans.
Notable Shows
King himself has interviewed people on-site in the White House, their prison cells, their homes, and other interesting locations. He does not insert his own commentary except when somebody passes away or when baseball is concerned. King's program is the highest rated on CNN and sometimes covers live breaking news with the help of correspondents like Anderson Cooper and Wolf Blitzer. The program is one of CNN's longest running programs and was the highest-rated cable news program before The O'Reilly Factor gained increased prominence. The show competes directly with similar shows on other cable news channels. The audience for the 1993 debate between Ross Perot and Al Gore on the North American Free Trade Agreement drew 11 million viewers, the highest audience for a cable news program at that time. Sometimes live animals are featured on the show with their handlers. King does not do elaborate prep work, but his staff do and his executive producer is the one who really keeps things moving, according to King and others.
Criticism
King is frequently accused of Infotainment and pandering to sensationalist news stories. Another criticism of Live is its focus on Missing white woman syndrome.
Topics
One of King's recurring topics is the paranormal. A frequent guest is John Edward of the popular televised show Crossing Over with John Edward. He was on the day before September 11th, 2001. Edward comes on the show and gives callers a free chance to supposedly communicate, via him, with their dead loved ones. King also had alleged psychics such as Sylvia Brown and James Van Praagh on from time to time to do readings and discuss the future. King sometimes allows skeptics such as James Randi to debate the psychics. In an April 2005 episode, King hosted a panel discussion regarding Evangelical, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, and atheist views on the afterlife.
Guest Hosts
When King is absent, Ryan Seacrest, Court TV/CNN Headline News' Nancy Grace or other interviewers substitute for him. In June of 2005, sportscaster Bob Costas was named as the regular substitute anchor for the show.
External link
"Larry King Live"