Larry King ends CNN stint with nostalgia and family

LOS ANGELES | Fri Dec 17, 2010 12:30am EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Larry King, the gruff CNN personality whose nonconfrontational interviews were a hit with newsmakers and viewers for 25 years, signed off at the cable news channel on Thursday with a series of reminiscences from big names, old pals and family members.

"Good evening and welcome to the last 'Larry King Live,'" the 77-year-old broadcast icon said at the outset of his hour-long swan song. "It's hard to say that. I knew this day was coming. These words are not easy to say."

With comedian Bill Maher and "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest sitting across from him providing comic relief, King played the straight man professing to be surprised as the tributes rolled in.

In a pre-taped segment, President Barack Obama called King "one of the giants of broadcasting." Outgoing California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared Thursday "Larry King Day," giving King less than six hours to celebrate the honor.

King announced his retirement in June, saying he wanted to spend more time with his seventh wife, Shawn, and their two young sons. The couple earlier this year said they would divorce, but have since reconciled.

Besides returning to CNN for the occasional special, King has revealed aspirations to enter the bagel and standup comedy arenas. Sporting bold red suspenders, he vowed to keep wearing his trademark accoutrements in his retirement.

"Larry King Live" was an obligatory stop for politicians, moguls and celebrities since it launched when CNN was barely five years old. Earlier this month, the show generated worldwide headlines when Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin issued blistering threats against the United States and its Western allies.

Movie stars and rock stars on the promotional trail could be assured of a platform to hawk their wares without having to fend off any probing questions.

On Wednesday, King hosted Barbra Streisand for what the Los Angeles Time described as "a virtual ... infomercial" during which she aggressively promoted her new book, upcoming film and charitable efforts.

But both his show and CNN are regularly beaten in the ratings. CNN has lost viewers to right-leaning Fox News and left-leaning MSNBC. In September, the network's U.S. president Jon Klein was ousted after a six-year tenure.

Klein had just hired British journalist Piers Morgan as King's replacement, effective in January, and brought on former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer and columnist Kathleen Parker for a news show leading into "Larry King Live."

Morgan has said he will ask tougher questions than his predecessor, and will also be better prepared.

King proudly claimed that he never prepared for interviews, and it showed in 2007 when he manage to rankle unflappable comedian Jerry Seinfeld by suggesting that his top-rated sitcom had been canceled. On another occasion, he mistook former Beatle Ringo Starr for his late bandmate George Harrison.

Still, King appears to be beloved by his news-media peers.

"We are your groupies, your proteges, your Pips -- as Gladys would say," said ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer, referring to the soul combo Gladys Knight and Pips.

She was joined at a New York-based tribute by Barbara Walters -- whom King cut off mid-sentence -- and her rivals at NBC and CBS. Other guests included TV personality Regis Philbin, real estate investor Donald Trump, and former President Bill Clinton, who used the occasion to pitch Obama's tax cuts and discuss his own foundation's charitable efforts.

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Garth Brooks overwhelmed by demand for Nashville shows

By Vernell Hackett

NASHVILLE, Tennessee | Thu Dec 16, 2010 6:37pm EST

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) - Garth Brooks's offer to perform a benefit concert for Tennessee flood victims has become nine sold-out concerts beginning on Thursday night, and the music star said he was overwhelmed by the response.

Brooks, the all-time best-selling star in country music, will raise at least $4 million for the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee for the nine concerts over six days.

Merchandise sales could raise another $1 million.

Brooks announced in October that he would do one show in Nashville to benefit the foundation. When tickets went on sale November 3, he sold out nine shows in four hours.

"We just said we'll sell tickets as long as we have people wanting them," Brooks said at a preconcert news conference on Thursday.

"I'm very proud to be a part of this. You say things, not knowing what will really happen. Nashville is one of the hardest markets to sell concert tickets. I can't tell you how big this whole thing has gotten and how lucky I feel to be a part of it," he said.

Federal authorities have received 67,760 claims for individual assistance from people across central Tennessee after the devastating flooding last May. Much of downtown Nashville was under water, as was as the nearby Opryland complex and homes and businesses in the surrounding area.

Many families are still displaced while waiting for their homes to be rebuilt or while they seek new housing.

"Our mission was to make sure that people know that Nashville is up and running again; that the hotels and restaurants are open for business," Brooks said.

He promised a full-blown show each night with his band and special guests Karyn Rochelle, Brooks' wife, Trisha Yearwood, and guitar virtuoso and singer-songwriter Steve Wariner.

"Steve kept thanking me and I kept saying, 'No, I'm the one who should be thanking you,'" Brooks said.

"I have seen the very best of people show up to put on these shows," Brooks said.

"One show like we are doing here at Bridgestone Arena would cost $300,000 to $400,000. Nine shows any place would take three million (dollars) to put on. Everyone you see working these nine shows is doing it for free," he said.

Brooks is the best-selling solo musician in U.S. history, having sold more than 128 million albums in his 21-year career. He retired from touring in 2001.

"When we announced the first concert, we told people if ever they were going to see a Garth Brooks show, this was the time to do it. It's very flattering to have people come in to hear our music, but it's more flattering to know they are traveling the miles to come to these shows because we asked them to," he said.

Tickets were sold to fans from across the United States and Canada. There will be two shows on Thursday night, with the other seven performances scheduled for December 17 and December 19 through 22, with two shows on each of the last two nights.

(Editing by Andrew Stern and Bob Tourtellotte)

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"King's Speech," "Fighter" lead SAG film nominees

By Bob Tourtellotte

LOS ANGELES | Thu Dec 16, 2010 10:52am EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Screen Actors Guild on Thursday nominated the performers in "The King's Speech" and "The Fighter" for four awards each, including best cast, boosting the films' chances in Hollywood's Oscar sweepstakes.

Joining those films among nominees for best ensemble cast, which is SAG's top film honor, are the actors in "Black Swan," "The Kids Are All Right" and "The Social Network.

The Screen Actors Guild represents film and television actors and actresses, and each year their awards are closely watched for tips as to which movies and performers may also compete for the Oscars, the film industry's top honors.

"The King's Speech," which tells of the stuttering problems of British King George VI on the eve of World War Two, also picked up SAG nods for Colin Firth as lead actor and Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush in the supporting actress and actor categories, respectively.

Likewise, boxing drama "The Fighter" scored nominations for Christian Bale in the supporting actor category and Amy Adams and Melissa Leo in the supporting actress group.

But in a snub, "Fighter" star Mark Wahlberg was left off the list of contenders for best actor after picking up a Golden Globe nomination earlier this week as a boxer who must overcome family and personal issues on his way to a championship.

Instead, SAG nominated five others for top actor, including Firth, Jeff Bridges in western "True Grit," Robert Duvall for independent film drama "Get Low," James Franco in adventure "127 Hours" and Jesse Eisenberg for "The Social Network."

After being named as 2010's best movie by several critics groups earlier this month, "Social Network," which tells of the rise of popular website Facebook, picked up just two SAG nominations -- for best ensemble cast and for Eisenberg.

'BLACK SWAN,' 'KIDS' EARN 3 NODS

Just behind "King's Speech" and "Fighter" among movies with the most nominations were ballet film "Black Swan" and lesbian family drama "The Kids Are All Right," each with three nods.

"Black Swan" stars Natalie Portman as a ballerina who grows into adulthood when she is given a leading role in "Swan Lake." Portman landed in the category for best actress and, playing her rival, Mila Kunis was placed in the supporting actress group.

"Kids" racked up nods for Annette Bening as best actress playing a mom whose kids locate their sperm donor dad, who is played by Mark Ruffalo. He earned a supporting actor SAG nod.

Joining Bening and Portman among best actress nominees were Nicole Kidman for drama "Rabbit Hole," Hilary Swank in legal film "Conviction," and newcomer Jennifer Lawrence for "Winter's Bone" -- a critical hit among independent films in 2010.

"Winter's Bone" also picked up a nomination for John Hawkes in the supporting actor group. Rounding out that category with Bale, Rush and Ruffalo was Jeremy Renner in "The Town."

The fifth nominee for best supporting actress was Hailee Steinfeld, who portrays a young girl in search of her father's killer in the remake, "True Grit."

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Piers Morgan "flying flag" for UK in King slot

LONDON | Thu Dec 16, 2010 8:57am EST

LONDON (Reuters) - Former newspaper editor Piers Morgan said he felt he was "flying the flag" for Britain as he prepared to take over from veteran talk-show host Larry King, who will take his final bow on Thursday evening.

CNN's "Larry King Live" has earned its place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running show with the same host in the same time slot, but the mantle will pass to Morgan in January.

"The whole of America will be waiting to see what I do with it. I don't want to let down Britain; I feel like I'm flying the flag a bit," said Morgan.

Talking on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme, Morgan said he hoped to put his own stamp on the show: "I'm a different kind of interviewer."

King is known for his gentle handling of guests, who have ranged from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Lady Gaga.

"I don't think anyone's ever accused me of being a softball interviewer," Morgan said, adding that he likes to prepare before interviews while King prefers to "wing it."

But he said he would honor King's legacy and his audience's expectations. "I'm not really after skewering people's flaws: I don't think that's what people want from a cable interview show at nine o'clock."

Questioned about the American public's reaction to a new face on such a popular program, Morgan pointed out he is already known in the United States as a judge on television show "America's Got Talent."

"They see me as they probably see Simon Cowell and Gordon Ramsay and the other British exports: as a tough-speaking, blunt Brit who has a bit of a sense of humor."

Asked who he would like to interview first, he said Barack Obama: "I always think you should start at the top."

(Reporting by Isabel Coles; Editing by Steve Addison)

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