The Brooklyn kid who became an international renowned interviewer of world leaders and cultural icons has died at the age of 87 from COVID-19. He started out on the radio and then, for a quarter of a century, on CNN. He was the original cable news star, at a time when cable news was actually about, you know, the news and not propaganda. His appeal was universal and non-controversial.
Larry King was not like Mike Wallace and his shows were not like 60 Minutes -- he wasn't there to nail his guests with "gotcha" questions, he was there to hold court and let them speak. In many ways, he was the original podcaster -- his interviews were more discussions than question and answer sessions. They might for light infotainment.
Some of his most memorable interviews are from the 1990s and include his very bizarre talk with Marlon Brando and the debate he moderated between then-Vice-President Al Gore and Texas billionaire Ross Perot about NAFTA. He also, one time, went on his radio show less than sober and rested and the results were interesting ...
RIP to a broadcasting and NYC legend.
And here's my tribute to Larry's newspaper feature ItsMy2Cents.
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