Earlier this week, Larry King called it quits after 25 years as the host of CNN’s “Larry King Live.”
Larry is an iconic figure who will always be remembered. This man found a unique way to straddle the fence between the lightest of light hearted broadcast journalism and pop culture/entertainment talk show reporting. You could always count on the fact that each evening Larry would be interviewing someone who was either front and center in the news, or simply was viewed as the latest political, business or cultural phenomena/superstar of the day. Love him or hate his style, the fact is that Larry’s show (up until recently) was unique because it reached millions of people who crossed a multitude of demographics across our society. This diverse viewership made Larry’s show incredibly appealing to my industry.
There’s no doubt that the public relations world will greatly miss Larry. Sure, many entertainment publicists loved to book their hot Hollywood clients on his show. But, that’s not what I’m getting at here. You see, “Larry King Live” was the dream interview for our clients who faced the deepest public crises of the moment. I can remember many times throughout my career when a client was being torn apart by national media for some controversial business or personal scandal and it was critical to find a way to “get our client’s real story out” through a kinder and gentler format. Larry was that desperate, much maligned client’s salvation.
You may not have ever noticed this, but in many cases Larry actually allows his guest to interview themselves. Sure, he’ll start the interview off with a few relevant questions about the crisis at hand. But, the beauty behind Larry’s style is that he then allows the interviewee to take over from there. I’ve watched former heads of state, indicted CEOs, accused murderers and others (who should be sitting on the hottest of hot seats) simply dance around that opening tough question and then spend the next 15-20 minutes offering up a one sided monologue, rebutting all the negatives that other tough journalists had properly written about before. There were even times when Larry was so lax in his questioning that it seemed like he (Larry, that is) was empathizing with the interviewee. Just think about how powerful this opportunity can be for someone who has basically been indicted and found guilty through the media. Larry King provides an on-air asylum that can influence millions like no one else.
Let’s not forget the other side of Larry. The man has this lackadaisical (mostly forgetful), folksy style that should have gotten Larry in deep trouble many moons ago. But, instead, after each embarrassing moment, he simply shook it off with little care and moved on. Larry committed some legendary blunders and some consider him a laughable joke because of these. For example, there was the time when he interviewed the two remaining Beatles a year ago (Ringo and Paul). Of course, Larry had no idea what their names were as he started referring to Ringo as “George” (as in now deceased George Harrison). After Larry did this three or four times, Paul finally spoke up making fun of Larry and his cluelessness. Then there was the time a few years back when Jerry Seinfeld was being interviewed on the show. Larry actually asked Jerry if it’s true that his show would be ending soon (referring to “Seinfeld” which had been off the air for more than a decade). Being the good natured comedian, Jerry had some fun and responded by asking Larry if this was indeed CNN and was he actually on The Larry King Show.
My PR World is now in mourning for losing Larry. In essence, he is/was a critically important crisis communications delivery vehicle when the calamity of the day had reached a breaking point. I think everyone who watches Larry recognizes that his show has become old, he looks tired and it’s time for him to ride off into the sunset. Although I’m sure Larry’s next career move will allow him to stay in the limelight in some fashion, there goes the easiest prime time interview on earth. Larry you will be missed.
Larry is an iconic figure who will always be remembered. This man found a unique way to straddle the fence between the lightest of light hearted broadcast journalism and pop culture/entertainment talk show reporting. You could always count on the fact that each evening Larry would be interviewing someone who was either front and center in the news, or simply was viewed as the latest political, business or cultural phenomena/superstar of the day. Love him or hate his style, the fact is that Larry’s show (up until recently) was unique because it reached millions of people who crossed a multitude of demographics across our society. This diverse viewership made Larry’s show incredibly appealing to my industry.
There’s no doubt that the public relations world will greatly miss Larry. Sure, many entertainment publicists loved to book their hot Hollywood clients on his show. But, that’s not what I’m getting at here. You see, “Larry King Live” was the dream interview for our clients who faced the deepest public crises of the moment. I can remember many times throughout my career when a client was being torn apart by national media for some controversial business or personal scandal and it was critical to find a way to “get our client’s real story out” through a kinder and gentler format. Larry was that desperate, much maligned client’s salvation.
You may not have ever noticed this, but in many cases Larry actually allows his guest to interview themselves. Sure, he’ll start the interview off with a few relevant questions about the crisis at hand. But, the beauty behind Larry’s style is that he then allows the interviewee to take over from there. I’ve watched former heads of state, indicted CEOs, accused murderers and others (who should be sitting on the hottest of hot seats) simply dance around that opening tough question and then spend the next 15-20 minutes offering up a one sided monologue, rebutting all the negatives that other tough journalists had properly written about before. There were even times when Larry was so lax in his questioning that it seemed like he (Larry, that is) was empathizing with the interviewee. Just think about how powerful this opportunity can be for someone who has basically been indicted and found guilty through the media. Larry King provides an on-air asylum that can influence millions like no one else.
Let’s not forget the other side of Larry. The man has this lackadaisical (mostly forgetful), folksy style that should have gotten Larry in deep trouble many moons ago. But, instead, after each embarrassing moment, he simply shook it off with little care and moved on. Larry committed some legendary blunders and some consider him a laughable joke because of these. For example, there was the time when he interviewed the two remaining Beatles a year ago (Ringo and Paul). Of course, Larry had no idea what their names were as he started referring to Ringo as “George” (as in now deceased George Harrison). After Larry did this three or four times, Paul finally spoke up making fun of Larry and his cluelessness. Then there was the time a few years back when Jerry Seinfeld was being interviewed on the show. Larry actually asked Jerry if it’s true that his show would be ending soon (referring to “Seinfeld” which had been off the air for more than a decade). Being the good natured comedian, Jerry had some fun and responded by asking Larry if this was indeed CNN and was he actually on The Larry King Show.
My PR World is now in mourning for losing Larry. In essence, he is/was a critically important crisis communications delivery vehicle when the calamity of the day had reached a breaking point. I think everyone who watches Larry recognizes that his show has become old, he looks tired and it’s time for him to ride off into the sunset. Although I’m sure Larry’s next career move will allow him to stay in the limelight in some fashion, there goes the easiest prime time interview on earth. Larry you will be missed.
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