Image Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty ImagesAs we learned earlier today, Piers Morgan has been chosen as the man who will be King. Larry King, that is. After months of speculation, CNN finally announced that Morgan will fill the void left by King when he retires this fall — hardly a surprise to anyone who kept up with the rumor mill. “It’s quite a relief that it’s all done and dusted and announced, definitely,” Morgan told EW. Just hours after the news broke, Morgan called up EW to chat about his new show — launching in January — which, as-of-now, remains unnamed. “I’ll be pretty upset if my name is not in there somewhere,” he says. “Everybody else at CNN seems to have their name. So if it turns out to be Larry King Barely Alive with a picture of me, I’m not going to be very happy.” Here are five things you should know about CNN’s newest prime-time interviewer:
- He’ll bring ch-ch-changes: Call Morgan CNN’s Frank Sinatra. “I want to do it my way,” he says. And Morgan’s way means a shake-up of the show — King himself told him to “Be yourself, do what you do” — but, sadly, Morgan is staying mum for the time being. “I’m not going to reveal my secret little goodies now,” he says.
- He’s not afraid to go after the big guys – and that includes American Idol: Says the America’s Got Talent star about the in-flux judging panel of TV’s other reality competition series: “I think Idol is in a bit of disarray at the moment. And, frankly, as one of the enemy shows, I’m quite happy to see that disarray. The more disarray, the better.”
- He shoots for the stars: Morgan says he’ll be aiming high when it comes to his show’s guest line-up. “I’m going to go for the biggest targets on the planet,” he says. “I want to get the biggest names, the biggest people, go after the biggest stories. There’s nothing I like more than breaking big stories with big interviews, and creating headlines. It’s what I do best.” So who is at the center of his bullseye? “Why don’t you come up with a list of the 20 biggest names in the world,” he says, “and I’ll confirm I’m definitely interested in talking to them. I wouldn’t rule anybody in, and anybody out. You can take your pick.”
- He’ll work a double shift: Morgan confirms he’ll continue work as a judge on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, regardless of the hectic schedule. “It will work,” he says. “I’m used to hard work. I’m used to criss-crossing across the country.”
- He might just surprise American audiences: More known in the U.S. for his work on reality shows like America’s Got Talent and The Celebrity Apprentice, Morgan expects some Americans might see a different, more journalistic side of him on CNN. “I just saw a tweet from Sylvester Stallone saying that I’m one of the best interviewers he’s ever had,” he says. “There are some who know about me and know what I’ve done, and others who probably aren’t aware of what I do.” Still, don’t expect to see a more timid side of the man who famously sparred with Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth on the first season of Celebrity Apprentice. “I don’t think I’m going to be softballing people,” he says, “but at the same time, I don’t think I’m going to be too brutal. I’m not going to basically kill the show by being so unpleasant that you can’t get any guests. I’m going to hopefully be quite charming to guests, and I think civilized.”
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Piers Morgan named as Larry King’s CNN replacement
“Enemy” show? Really? You can’t just say “competing”? It’s not about a healthy competition, it’s flat-out war? Good start to the whole “charming and civilized” plan there, Piers.
True, but I don’t even get why they’re “enemies”, “competition” or whatever…
“Idol” runs January – May, and “AGT” airs in the summer…they never directly compete and really have little to do with each other. (Other than the perception that Piers is a poor man’s Simon Cowell.)
Quite true. I mean, I think AGT was NBC’s answer to Idol, but the shows really don’t cover much of the same ground.
They’re “enemy shows” because American Idol belongs to Simon Fuller’s competition franchises, and the ‘Got Talents’ & ‘X Factor’ franchises are Syco’s (Simon Cowell’s production company) shows… when UK’s ‘Pop Idol’ died out and ‘X Factor’ was started, it was sued by Idol because it was deemed as a copied show… so they’re from rival families of shows.
Pansy.
WTF? him? holy heck?
Will he be able to continue with Britain’s Got Talent?
Read point five in the article. Why do people comment and ask questions about an article they have not had the interest to read.
Where does it say anything about BRITAIN’s GOT TALENT? Darclyte is asking about the British predecessor to America’s Got Talent. Which shoots and airs in the UK prior to the US version. He’s asking if Piers will be able to still apart of that show since it shoots in the UK. His question was valid as it was NOT covered in the points above. Way to be a complete ass…and wrong.
I have no interest in watching him do anything.
yet you have interest in commenting just to let us know you have no interest
Yep, some people despise him that much that they would break their usual internet silence to voice it. I am one too. Still, I stopped watching CNN a few years ago anyway.
Absolutely. I was interested in who would replace Larry King and I am disappointed that it is him. Makes perfect sense.
I will watch!!
I’m British, my reaction to the news of Piers Moron now being based predominantly in the US is best summed up in the words of Nelson Muntz…HAHA!
In the words of his fellow “AGT” judge Sharon Osbourne, Piers Morgan needs to “f*ck off home.”
What next, Ellen a judge on American Idol (oh wait she was wasn’t she).
He’s hot. Yummy.
I hope that’s sarcasm. Yuck!
My prediction: Pain!
This will be horrible! And it’s already an insult to the legacy of Larry King, who is great by the way. Piers can not hold a candle to Larry. The show will fail. Who wants to listen to Piers? Yuck.
Okay lets try this again, first one didn’t post. Whomever picked Piers Morgan to replace Larry King has holes in their head. Nothing against Brits, but really?? I pretty much gave up on CNN years ago, but I would pop into Larry’s show once in awhile. I thought frequent guest panelist Stephanie Miller would have been a perfect replacement. Guess I can quit CNN for good now.
Piers Morgan is an arrogant piece of cxap. He is such a “know it all”, I will never watch this show. CNN did a disservice to the public by choosing this loser.
Have you ever watched the Larry King show? I think the show will fit him like a glove!
Couldn’t agree more Beth. Larry King had class, but Piers is just a pompous jerk.
This man has always been to big for his britches. He’s way too arrogant!