Larry King
”Katie Couric's Inevitable Comeback
Katie Couric hit rock bottom this month, starting with talk about an early exit from the CBS Evening News, continuing through to a lost debate-hosting opportunity and the worst ratings week in her show's history, and ending with Larry King's contract renewal for a show Couric had coveted at CNN. Now, at last, the news cycle seems to be turning in Couric's favor. Newsday reports Couric may be able to nab King's time slot: More »Poor Katie
So. Katie Couric's debate was canceled, and her ratings are the lowest ever, and also now Larry King has signed a contract extension with CNN. Through 2010, when he will be 77. That was supposed to be Katie's post-election job! Oh no!Katie Couric Leaving: Report
After barely 18 months on the job, Katie Couric is reported to be on the verge of leaving CBS. The Evening News anchor is costing her network $15 million per year, and she is likely to exit CBS well before her contract expires in 2011, possibly early next year, the Wall Street Journal is reporting. A parting of ways will mark the embarrassing end to CBS' big bet that viewers wanted to move beyond staid news anchors to sunnier fare, like Couric's fireside interviews and lighthearted banter. More »Jenny McCarthy Calls "Bullshit" On Your "Medical Science"
Larry King had noted medical expert/softcore video star Jenny McCarthy on the program last night to talk about AUTISM. Specifically, how it's caused by VACCINATING YOUR CHILDREN. This is patent conspiratorial nonsense, but it's very popular conspiratorial nonsense. Of course, in a battle between concerned, credulous parents and medical experts, the media will generally frame it as, say, Debate Rages Anew on Vaccine-Autism Link. Faced with a panel of three trained pediatricians, Ms. McCarthy shouted "BULLSHIT" twice. Then Larry put it to an internet poll. Clip after the jump! More »
jason itzler
Meet Ashley Dupre's Supposed Pimp
Remember Jason Itzler, the barely-repentant former pimp who explained to a stunned Anderson Cooper why some people pay $5,000 an hour for a hooker? Now he's claiming that, as he was taping the Anderson session, he realized that Eliot Spitzer's hooker Ashley Dupre used to work for him! He didn't say anything to Cooper at the time because he wasn't sure, and in fact he told the anchor of Dupre, "she is not a serious fashion model ... I don't know if her boobs are real or not." But when he got home and looked up Dupre's MySpace profile, Itzler realized he was right, and quickly finagled himself an appearance the next day on top-rated CNN show Larry King Live, where all of a sudden he could not say enough nice things about Dupre. Even credulous King looked like he didn't believe the guy, but if it turns out Itzler is lying and Dupre denies everything, he'll end up with a third day of free publicity for his matchmaking service, DNA Diamonds. Video after the jump. More »
bizarre
Snoop And Larry King's Fried Chicken Date Surprisingly Charming
Larry King, the friendly bumbling TV interviewer, goes for grits and chicken wings with rapper Snoop Dogg and schools him on the specifics of an "Arnold Palmer" (no gin but a little juice). Instead of being weird/awkward, it ends up being sort of weird/awesome. Also, Snoop invents a new mocktail. More »
heath ledger
Who The Hell Is 'Keith' Ledger? Ask Ben 'Witticombe'
Not surprisingly, the phrase "Heath Ledger" was Google's fastest-rising search term yesterday. The second most buzzy? "Keith Ledger." Who is maybe a video game designer but definitely not a dead leading man. Even HuffPo couldn't get it straight, tagging many of their Ledger posts, including Bonnie Fuller's, with "Keith" instead of "Heath." The blunders weren't limited to the web. On Larry King last night, Daily News gossip columnist and Aussie (Just like Heath! Book him stat!) Ben Widdicombe was identified as "Ben Witticombe," much to his chagrin, we're quite sure. Notice any other bloopers from yesterday's frantic coverage of the actor's death? Let us know.'Times' Bill Carter Has Dimples, Amnesia
As we mentioned earlier, Fox News anchor Shephard Smith is raking it in, to the tune of $7 million per year in a recently-inked deal with his network. According to today's story from New York Times media reporter Bill Carter, "Mr. Smith would be making more than anyone at CNN—if reports of $5 million for Anderson Cooper and $6 million for Lou Dobbs are accurate." Did Carter forget that in 2002, the Timesran a piece in 2002 about CNN talkshow host Larry King's potential $14 million salary? Perhaps. Harder to believe is that he forgot the piece the Times did way back in 1998 about King's earnings, which the paper reported at $7 million. He wrote it himself!
CNN Aims For Cutting-Edge, Misses By Several Dimensions
CNN is opening up a new bureau! And a j-school! Larry King will teach! Weekly news meetings will be run by CNN staffers! Oh, except, all of these things will be happening in alleged virtual world Second Life. Beginning next week, says MediaWeek, CNN will open up shop in the 3-D virtual world, allowing its residents to submit i-Reports on "news" happening in Second Life, learn tricks of the trade from leading CNN personalities, and get their news from virtual newsstands throughout the network. "I love that we don't have to take things from the real world and force them in," Susan Grant, executive VP of CNN News Services, told MediaWeek. We love the total insanity of that rationale.The Gays Forgive Isaiah Washington
"Isaiah Washington was a lot of things on Larry King—personable, cool, self-pitying, non-committal, shiny-haired," writes blogger Rich Juzwiak:
At the end of the interview, he said what he learned from this entire debacle is to keep his mouth shut. When the infuriatingly closeted Anderson Cooper came on just moments after, it was clear that Isaiah understands gay community, or at least one segment of it, far too well.It's a good point—the boringification of America is because everyone gets shamed one way or another into keeping his mouth shut. In other news, as the CNN crawl noted, Scooter Libby: still pardoned!
I Kinda Like Him Now [Fourfour]
Paris Hilton On Larry King
In HER FIRST TV INTERVIEW SINCE SHE GOT OUT OF JAIL, hotel heiress Paris Hilton sat down with CNN's Larry King for a very special Larry King Live last night. The articulate, multi-talented businesswoman appeared contrite, well-prepared, and — ah, who are we kidding, it's Paris Hilton. Larry King nailed her on a Bible question. Here are some highlights.









