October 30, 2008

CableFAX Program Awards, Hall of Fame: Larry King Live!, CNN

We’ll take the heat for choosing Larry King Live! to be inducted into the Hall. We know the critics say King’s a softball interviewer. That he doesn’t belong on CNN, a news network. But responding to King’s soft tosses tend to induce guests to make news on his show, so.... And, look, you’re inducted into the Hall because you’ve delivered numbers, buzz and legitimacy to cable programming. Can you argue that the 75-year-old Lawrence Zeiger has failed on any of these benchmarks? Legitimacy? King’s an icon; ditto his raspy voice, laugh, multiple marriages and colorful suspenders. Since his began the show in ’85, King’s been making ratings — CNN’s best, in fact. Before ESPN’s Monday Night Football game in October ’06 between the Giants and Cowboys, basic cable’s ratings crown sat for years atop King’s head. Any more objections?

Return to 2008 CableFAX Program Awards table of contents.