In an interview with Salon, former CNN host Larry King talked about his new web series, “Larry King Now,” and his old prime-time spot currently held by Piers Morgan.
Daniel D’Addario asked Mr. King what he thought of the more opinion-driven newscasting that’s taking place since he left.
“It does trouble me. I am not a fan of it,” he replied. “I grew up with the likes of Huntley-Brinkley, Eric Sevareid, Walter Cronkite: people who left themselves out of it. The guests were not a prop.”
“Now, the guests are the prop for the host,” he continued. “I’ll see the host on-screen more than the guest. Ninety-five percent of the time on my show, you should see the guest. I am a conduit for the audience. It [cable news today] is not to my taste. I don’t say that it’s wrong — the public goes to what it likes. But I don’t care what a host thinks.”
Mr. D’Addario then asked Mr. King if he was talking about Piers Morgan.
“Piers … he talks about himself a lot,” he replied. “Sure, the guest gets to talk. But he does a lot of ’I’s.’ That’s fine, but I’m not a fan of that. I don’t like people who shout at each other. I realize it’s dramatic, but it’s not my cup of tea.”
Mr. King then assured the interviewer that he likes his replacement as a person but that the kind of show he hosts is “tabloidish.”
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.