It was a rare “I love the media” moment. Every once in a while they get one right, like this week when CNN mercy-killed the Larry King Show after twenty-five years.
The end came fifteen years after it should have, but better late than never.
Sprinkled in with the cheap shots at conservatives that viewers have come to expect from a CNN special were some fine moments. Regis and Donald Trump unintentionally brought attention to the elephant in the room (see 10:23 of the video) Regis said, “Why is he leaving?” and Trump responded, “Yes, what the hell is going on here?” The unspoken truth is, of course, that Larry wasn’t leaving – he was unceremoniously booted out the door due to years of dismal ratings.
Also notable, King said (18:05 of the video), “We’ll be back with America’s best news anchors” before being joined by Katie Couric, Diane Sawyer, Barbara Walters and Brian Williams. Not a one of them from CNN, the self-labeled “Worldwide Leader in News” and “Most Trusted Name in News.” Some people believe it was a subtle dig from Larry at the network that fired him, but let’s face it, Larry ain’t that sharp.
Unfortunately, they didn’t have room on the show for everyone. Guests we would like to have seen who were not invited include Sean Hannity, who did as much to make CNN’s nine o’clock hour as irrelevant as King himself, and the baseball instructor Larry hired for his kids, Hector “I had sex with Larry’s wife, in his bed, while watching him on TV” Penate.
To see Larry’s emotional, teary goodbye, watch the final 30 seconds.
Will the media make fun of him like they do Republican leader John Boehner? Yeah, right.
