Should we really glorify Larry King?
A coterie of high-profile names joined Larry King for the final taping of "Larry King Live." Barbara Walters joked about no longer having to compete with him for interviews. Tony Bennett sang "The Best Is Yet to Come." In typical fashion, Dr. Phil asked King how he was handling the whole ordeal. And Bill Maher seemed humbled by the legend (though he did steal a moment to ask Bill Clinton why he's never agreed to appear on his HBO show, "Real Time with Bill Maher.") Perhaps the most touching (albeit hokey) moment was Katie Couric's poem that she co-wrote with King's executive producer, Wendy Walker. Some highlights from our friends over at Ministry of Gossip:
Your unique take on politics, culture and crime, never cutting off guests -- except for Barbara -- always giving them time. You made NAFTA exciting, and that's hard to do. And you scored Paris Hilton's post-jail interview.
Sinatra, George Clooney, Clint Eastwood, Bacall. So many stars, I just can't name them all. From Heather Mills' leg to Ross Perot's twang, you always cajole, not harass or harangue. [Watch the video here.]
Our columnist Meghan Daum also paid tribute to the longtime host. Although the commentary was less fawning. "Instead of glorifying the man, let's simply thank him and wish him well. We owe him no less -- and no more."
RELATED:
Larry King’s hard-hitting final days: A Barbra Streisand infomercial
As CNN says goodbye, Larry King's greatest gaffes, goofs and bloopers
On the eve of Larry King exit, CNN tries to paint happy face on record low ratings
-- Alexandra Le Tellier
Photo: Screenshot from CNN
People native to the USA like to "create" idols.Larry King seems to be another...
Larry King's personal life-any of my business- is still very far from being a positive example to anybody.
He has been available regularly-but for the money he has been making , it seems a small "sacrifice".
Q:What has he been good at?
A: Being able to read the scripts other people wrote for him.He is smart enough to know that nobody would complain so his risk in asking some questions was non existent.
Let him take care of his family and of his soul.
Posted by: PAX | December 19, 2010 at 06:27 PM
Larry Kings bosses must be much older than I first assumed or they watch "old Movies a lot".
They seemed to remember the part where Norman Bates, Psycho 1960, propped up the cadaver (his mother) for all those years pretending she was alive.
In watching Larry King, I sometimes went through a couple of "cold ones" waiting for some signs of life under the suspenders. When it finally appeared, it would be Larry dutifully reading from the list of "questions to ask me" previously submitted by the guest.
Larrys' guests accepted offers to appear on the show on their "down days" when they needed their ego stroked and larry always avoided anything the viewers wanted him to ask. It was a win win situation all around.
Posted by: PhillupSpace | December 20, 2010 at 01:30 PM
No.
Posted by: susan | December 20, 2010 at 05:33 PM