Larry King

Interviewer


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

Larry King (1933-2021) says of his approach, "an interview is an interview. It's basically who, what, where, when and why. And while it is certainly kind of an exalted place to sit with the Prime Minister of Great Britain or the president of a country, it's still… 'why do you do what you do? How do you feel about what you do? What do you think about what's happening in the world?' It comes down to an interviewer is an interviewer. I never sat down with a President of the United States or a world leader or head of a country and thought, 'whew, this is the head of a country -- I have to be different!' I'm still every man. What would a guy in the street say to Chirac of France if you had a chance to talk to him?" 

In his three and a half-hour interview, Larry King talks about his early broadcasting career in radio and television from such stations as WPST-TV [WPLG-TV] and WIOD-Radio in Miami and his break into national television with The Larry King Show on radio and his long-running interview show Larry King Live on CNN, beginning in 1985. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview in three sessions on October 29, 2009, December 2, 2009, and February 16, 2010 in North Hollywood, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"Be yourself. Don't try to be Larry King. Don't be someone else. Be curious. Listen. Listening is more important than what you ask. Because you learn a lot by listening. My motto: I never learned a thing when I was talking." 

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Larry King on being parodied
01:15
Larry King on how he'd like to be remembered
02:01
Larry King on the future of the television medium
00:40
Larry King on playing himself in movies, television shows
01:25
Larry King on Larry King Live's legacy
01:15
Larry King on his trademark suspenders
02:11
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early years growing up in Brooklyn
On the beginning of his radio career
On his start in television (on Miami Undercover); on his association with Jackie Gleason and Frank Sinatra
On hosting his syndicated radio show

Chapter 2

On his approach to interviewing
On his legal troubles involving conspiracy in a later investigation of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy
On his transition from radio to television; on being considered for a CNN show at the network's 1980 launch

Chapter 3

On the genesis and production aspects of his show Larry King Live
On his trademark suspenders; on his interview style on Larry King Live
On some of the personalities he's interviewed over the years including Marlon Brando, Bette Davis, George Burns, Jerry Lewis, Bob Hope, Bill Cosby, Paul McCartney, Tammy Faye Bakker, Liz Taylor, Dan Rather, and Sharon Stone
On interviewing every U.S. President since Richard Nixon

Chapter 4

On his interviews with world leaders
On covering news and political events on Larry King Live

Chapter 5

On the tabloid nature of news; on how guests are chosen on Larry King Live
On the legacy of Larry King Live; on his advice to aspiring hosts; on his family; on how he'd like to be remembered
Shows

Larry King Live

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Larry King on his approach to interviewing
07:20
Larry King the production aspects hosting Larry King Live 
28:41
Larry King on some of his memorable interviewees
17:32
Larry King on interviewing world leaders
17:57
Larry King on covering major news stories on Larry King Live
34:33
Larry King on hosting the November 9, 1993 debate between Al Gore and Ross Perot
05:50
Larry King on the advent of tabloid and sensationalist news
05:05
Larry King on how long he forsees doing Larry King Live
03:46
Larry King on the legacy of Larry King Live, "we wrote our page in television" history. It is the longest-running show hosted by one person
01:16

Miami Undercover

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Larry King on hosting his first TV show, Miami Undercover
02:59

Simpsons, The

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Larry King on his guest-appearances on The Simpsons as himself
01:14
Topics

9/11

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Larry King on his experiences during 9/11
02:16

Barack Obama

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Larry King on the election of President Barack Obama
02:22

Bill Clinton

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Larry King on the Bill Clinton - Monica Lewinsky story
03:29

Characters & Catchphrases

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Larry King on his trademark suspenders
02:11

Creative Influences and Inspiration

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Larry King on his advice to anyone who wants to become an interviewer "you never learn a thing when you're talking"; on being interviewed
01:24

Fame and Celebrity

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Larry King on playing himself in movies, television shows
01:25

George W. Bush

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Larry King on President George W. Bush
01:19

JFK Assassination and Funeral

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Larry King on his legal troubles involving conspiracy in a later investigation of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy
11:46

Pop Culture

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Larry King on meeting Paul McCartney and on Arthur Fiedler's remarks about The Beatles
02:36
Larry King on his trademark suspenders
02:11
Larry King on his distaste for tabloid news
02:01
Larry King on the public's fascination with tabloid news; he prefers sports
02:10

Rock 'n' Roll on TV (1950s & '60s)

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Larry King on meeting Paul McCartney and on Arthur Fiedler's remarks about The Beatles
02:36

Technological Innovation

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Larry King on the future of the television medium
00:40

Television and the Presidency

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Larry King on interviewing U.S. Presidents
06:32
Genres

Talk Shows

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Larry King on his advice to anyone who wants to become an interviewer "you never learn a thing when you're talking"; on being interviewed
01:24
People

Al Gore

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Larry King on hosting the November 9, 1993 debate between Al Gore and Ross Perot
05:50

Arthur Fiedler

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Larry King on meeting Paul McCartney; on Arthur Fiedler's remarks about The Beatles
02:36

Barack Obama

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Larry King on the election of President Barack Obama
02:22

Bette Davis

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Larry King on Bette Davis
00:55

Bill Clinton

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Larry King on interviewing U.S. Presidents
06:32
Larry King on the Bill Clinton - Monica Lewinsky story
03:29

Bill Cosby

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Larry King on Bill Cosby
01:03

Bob Hope

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Larry King on Bob Hope
00:37

Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso)

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Larry King on interviewing the 14th Dalai Lama
01:03

Dan Rather

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Larry King on Dan Rather
01:03

Elizabeth Taylor

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Larry King on Elizabeth Taylor
00:44

Frank Sinatra

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Larry King on his relationship with Jackie Gleason
10:50

George Burns

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Larry King on George Burns
00:23

George W. Bush

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Larry King on President George W. Bush
01:19

Jackie Gleason

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Larry King on his relationship with Jackie Gleason
10:50

Jerry Lewis

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Larry King on Jerry Lewis
00:01

Marlon Brando

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Larry King on Marlon Brando (and the kiss on Larry King Live )
00:50

Mikhail Gorbachev

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Larry King on interviewing Mikhail Gorbachev
03:30

Nelson Mandela

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Larry King on interviewing Nelson Mandela
01:38

Paul McCartney

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Larry King on meeting Paul McCartney; on Arthur Fiedler's remarks about The Beatles
02:36

Red Barber

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Larry King on meeting his childhood idol, Red Barber
01:54

Richard M. Nixon

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Larry King on interviewing U.S. Presidents
06:32

Ross Perot

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Larry King on hosting the November 9, 1993 debate between Al Gore and Ross Perot
05:50

Sean Penn

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Larry King on Bette Davis
00:55

Sharon Stone

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Larry King on Sharon Stone
01:04

Tammy Faye Bakker Messner

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Larry King on Tammy Faye Bakker
00:56

Yasser Arafat

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Larry King on interviewing Yassir Arafat
00:53

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