CNN stages salute to Larry King
As Larry King marks his first half-century on the air, CNN will be saluting their King’s reign with a slate of special programmes.
King, who joined CNN in June 1985, will be joined on Monday’s show by Oprah Winfrey, and on Tuesday by Katie Couric. Former President Clinton is his guest Thursday. Then, on Friday, Bill Maher and more than 20 surprise guests drop in.
On Wednesday, a two-hour documentary, “Larry King: 50 Years of Pop Culture,” reaches all the way back to his earliest radio days in Miami. (All air times at 10 p.m.)
The Brooklyn-born King, now 73, began his broadcasting career in 1957 (after changing his surname from Zeiger) as a disc jockey at Miami’s WAHR-AM. The next year, he began a show originating live from a local restaurant, where he interviewed whatever notable folks happened by.
In the years to come, he would also work as a newspaper columnist, publicist for a racetrack and freelance broadcaster before he began “The Larry King Show”, a nationally syndicated late-night radio talk show, in 1978. Based in Washington, D.C., it continued until 1994.
By then, King was a fixture in CNN’s prime-time line-up, displaying his trademark suspenders and an “everyman” interviewing style designed to pose the sort of questions an ordinary viewer would ask.
“I ask short questions, I have no pretence at intellectuality, I don’t pretend to know it all. If I don’t understand something I’ll always say, ‘What do you mean?’”
That’s how King summed up his technique a dozen years ago. He hasn’t changed, and as he moves into his sixth decade at the microphone with no end in sight, it still seems to be working.
Other shows this week to look out for:
[bul] The new Fox action drama “Drive” is a high-velocity cross-country road race fuelled by lots of questions and life-or-death stakes. Its numerous rivals have many reasons for taking part, but this is no Sunday drive for any of them. Alex (Nathan Fillion) is trying to find his missing wife. New mother Wendy (Melanie Lynskey) is on the run from her abusive husband. John (Dylan Baker) is a nerdy scientist who views the race as his last chance to win back the respect of his rebellious 15-year-old daughter Violet (Emma Stone). Winston (Kevin Alejandro) hopes to leave his criminal past behind and bond with Sean (J.D. Pardo), the privileged half brother he has only just met. Although the race’s liaison, Mr. Bright (Charles Martin Smith), has informed them there are many other competitors, the group doesn’t know who they’re racing against, where the finish line is, or why the race is even happening. The only way to find out? Fasten your seat belts and tune in for the two-hour premiere of “Drive” tomorrow at 9 p.m. (Another episode airs in its regular time slot at 9 p.m. on Monday.)
[bul] In December, 2001, Kathleen Peterson, a leading citizen of Durham, North Carolina, tumbled down the steps of her home and died while her husband sat unawares, waiting for her out by their pool. At least, that was Michael’s version of events. But, instead, did he beat Kathleen to death and leave her bloody body at the foot of the stairs? This real-life case (and mystery) is dramatised in the Lifetime TV film, “The Staircase Murders”. Treat Williams plays Michael, a pipe-smoking Vietnam war veteran who had found success as a novelist. Kevin Pollak is the attorney whose job defending Michael gets steadily more difficult as one damaging secret after another emerges about Michael’s past. For instance, this supposedly devoted family man has a history of sexual trysts with other men. And, as indicated by the plural murders in the film’s title, Michael may have been involved in the death of someone besides his wife. “The Staircase Murders” premieres at 9 p.m. tomorrow.
[bul] With its yellow-gold eyes and pointed fangs, the wolf has sparked fear among humans through the ages. Adding to their eeriness, wolves are seldom seen up close and, in fact, are rarely encountered. But one man crosses the great divide into their mysterious world. Having found three abandoned wolf pups, he resolves to raise them by living with them ... as a fellow wolf.
“A Man Among Wolves” tells the story of Shaun Ellis, who dedicates himself to understanding the wolves’ every move by behaving like them: howling, snarling and even eating carcass meat like them. Devoted to the wolf pups’ care and education at a wildlife park in England, Ellis lives in their enclosure teaching them discipline, communication and hunting techniques. What do experts make of Ellis’ self-immersion into the wolf world? And will he gain sought-after knowledge about a creature that has long fascinated and frightened people? This one-hour documentary airs at 10 p.m. on Monday on National Geographic Channel.
