THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, June 5, 1995 TAG: 9506030043
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
LARRY KING didn't have much time for a chat. Just hours ago, he was in Manhattan. Now he was back in the CNN studios in a building near the U.S. Capitol in Washington.
Busy, busy day.
And it was far from over.
A U.S. senator waits to be interviewed on the subject of Serbian aggression in the Balkans.
It was 30 minutes before he signed on with ``Larry King Live,'' the first TV talk show to go international.
They were waiting for him in makeup.
His suspenders needed adjusting.
Could he do the interview NOW with the clock ticking?
``Sure,'' said King. ``Fire away.''
It's your 10th anniversary with CNN. How much longer will you continue doing a talk show five nights a week plus ``The Larry King Weekend''?
``I'm signed up for the rest of the century.''
Sounds like a long time.
``Why not finish the decade on CNN? The job is a plum. My marriage with Turner Broadcasting has been a terrific one. I see no reason to leave.'' (King finally found a marriage that works. He's had six wives and at least two other engagements.)
You've interviewed presidents and prime ministers, heroes and villains, athletes and entertainers on the world stage that is CNN. Are you ever dazzled by it?
``Are you kidding? I pinch myself almost every day to see if this is real or if I'm living in a dream. Every so often, I ask myself how Larry Zeiger, the kid from Brooklyn, got here.''
You got where you are by sharpening your craft on radio. As an interviewer, you first made a name for yourself nationally on a late-night radio show for Mutual. Do you miss the late shift?
``I do. I really do miss being on the radio late at night. I tried a year of talk radio in the daytime, but didn't care for it. I'm not much of a fan of what talk radio has become today.''
On CNN 10 years ago, your first guest was Mario Cuomo. Then came Bette Davis, Frank Sinatra, Richard Nixon, George Burns and other guests on a list that fills four pages. Who made a lasting impression?
``Sinatra. Any way you want to look it, from the emotional side or the professional side, or judging it simply as an informative interview, the time with Sinatra was the best. I'd like to do it again.''
Some day, perhaps.
Until then, King will have to make do with Barbra Streisand on his Tuesday night show at 9. President Clinton is scheduled to appear live with King tonight from the Oval Office. It's appearance No. 4 for Clinton on ``Larry King Live.''
Other guests listed for ``Larry King Live 10th Anniversary Week'' include David Letterman on Friday night and Clint Eastwood at 9 p.m. Saturday. Throughout the week, King's producers will slip in clips from his 10 years on CNN.
The date was Oct. 7, 1994. King interviews Marlon Brando on his island retreat. Brando and King kiss!
``And the whole world saw it,'' said King.
The kid from Brooklyn who changed his name and went to work in radio in Miami when he was 18 is seen in 200 countries. ``He got me to tell the whole world I was engaged when I was desperately trying to keep it to myself,'' said Whoopi Goldberg.
What's the big deal about an engagement? People who seek great power over other people, who aspire to high office, let King in on it first. ``No doubt about it. The road to the White House these days runs right through Larry King's studio,'' said Sen. Bob Dole.
Letterman calls him the iron man of broadcasting.
The clock is ticking. It is almost 9 p.m. and the start of ``Larry King Live.''
Is there time for one more question?
Afraid not, says King. ``Gotta go.''
Maybe next time I'll get to ask how many pairs of suspenders he owns. by CNB