Larry King

From a struggling young man attempting to launch a career in radio whose first break was an interview with Bobby Darin for a Miami, Florida in the late 1950’s to a national figure, Larry King has been the face of CNN since the mid 1980’s when CNN was the only name in cable news to now when they are a struggling organization often coming up short against the left wing hacks at MSNBC both falling way short of the dominance of the Fox News Network, whose in your face style which gives conservatives a forum in the media is ruling cable news. While Larry King might trail Sean Hannity’s program terribly in the ratings, he continues to enjoy a loyal following and snippets from his programs interviewing celebrities and world figures still make the news with regularity. Naturally, his huge glasses, suspenders, hoarse voice, and mannerisms make him an easy target of satirical comic impressionists. “Moose Fart, Montana, next caller….”

Alas, come this fall, Larry will close up shop and enjoy his retirement at age 75. For a fellow who was once the insomniacs best friend with his all night news show, to the King of CNN, Larry King will be remembered as a major figure in American broadcasting whose cozy fluffy interviews were perhaps not so revealing of any real substance but gave viewers a sense of what some of the movers and shakers were like as just human beings.

We wish Larry King well in his retirement. Yes, he also dabbled as a sportscaster, a passionate baseball fan and color analyst for the Miami Dolphins on radio station, WIOD, he even contributed to early cable broadcasts of the Baltimore Orioles when Home Team Sports was an early regional cable sports network.