Producer

by Wendy Walker

  MAHER: Well, I think I speak for a lot of people in America who say, I will miss you terribly at this hour. I mean, there is nobody who does what you do, because you had a minimalist style that is gone from television and you are taking it with you, Larry.

  The phones were lighting up. Everyone wanted to call in and talk to Larry. E-mails started flashing on the screen that read: “Diane Sawyer is trying to call into the control room.” “Regis is calling!” “So is Nancy Reagan!”

  NANCY REAGAN: I couldn’t let you do this without my calling you. You didn’t call and ask my permission.

  REGIS: Larry, I am totally surprised by this. For some reason, I feel very badly about it… There has always been a Larry King. All of a sudden, I can’t believe that we are not going to see you on during the week at night in the fall… I feel like leaving the same time you do at this point. But I think Bill Maher is totally responsible for this… I’m going to miss you terribly, Larry. Because, frankly, you are one of a kind.

  DIANE SAWYER: I just want to say, Larry, what a monument of vitality you have built for all of us. And I cannot wait to see your specials, because everybody in the world wants to talk to you and to see you do them in a concentrated way. When you choose to do them, it’s going to be a thrill… And again, we love you.

  Ryan Seacrest tweeted from his vacation, using Larry’s Twitter name: “You are a legend @kingsthings. One of a kind.”

  When Anderson Cooper did his usual nightly cut-in on our show to promote his show, Bill asked him, “Anderson, did you engineer this coup?”

  Big laugh!

  Anderson said, “I just heard the news that you are scaling back at CNN and hanging up your suspenders, as you said. I am stunned and I am sad.”

  The last thing Bill said on the show that night was, “Larry. Don’t go, Larry.”

  That’s why he was the perfect person to sit with Larry. A brilliant performer with a brilliant intellect, Bill really understands what Larry means to our culture. So thank you again, Bill, for making Larry’s tough night a celebration. In fact, when Larry left the set, he actually felt good. Mission accomplished!

  The e-mails came streaming in faster than I could read them.

  Sanjay Gupta: “Oh, boy…”

  Mark Geragos: “What does this mean for you, Wendy?”

  My answer: “That I won’t have to work as hard?”

  Jeff Zucker: “You doing okay?”

  Miko Brando, Marlon’s son, called producer Nancy Baker who told us, “Miko said to tell Larry that his dad would have been so proud of him and wish him the best.”

  My friend Sabih Masri, from Amman, Jordan: “What are you planning to do now?”

  Christiane Amanpour in London: “Larry is part of our common modern global history… Whenever I think of him my mind automatically free-associates with the first Gulf War. I always picture myself at the end of an ifb from Dhahran, listening to the real-time diplomacy being conducted on LKL between Washington, New York, Geneva, Moscow, the Middle East… trying to resolve Saddam’s aggression before it led to war. And of course the thousands of other important moments on his program. An era passes.”

  Haim Saban: “Call me. Just found out. I am surrounded by fifteen people in the board room.”

  Suze Orman: “I am here for you all, anytime you want.”

  Candy Crowley: “He carried it off with great style. You OK?”

  Chelsea Handler: “How are you?”

  Jeff Probst: “I hope you are OK with this news.”

  Lisa Ling: “I imagine it is chaos over there. I am in Colombia at the moment on a shoot but aware of the news. U OK?”

  Dr. Dean Ornish: “Please let me know if there is anything I can do to be supportive.”

  Ryan Seacrest: “I know today has been a hard and tough emotional day for you.”

  Ryan, a great friend of ours, had left for vacation that day. Larry had shared the news with him earlier, after his radio show, so he wouldn’t hear it on the air. I e-mailed Ryan back, “It has been tough but it went as well as could be expected. Larry keeps telling people when asked that you would be his pick for a successor. He said it on the air and to reporters.”

  “Suggesting me as successor is a great honor,” Ryan told me. But in order for him to ever seriously consider the suggestion, he would have to clone himself, since his workday already consists of twenty-five hours. I don’t know a busier guy!

  I e-mailed Bill, thanking him for a perfect show, and he wrote back, “I was happy to do it for Larry, you, and everyone at the show who has been so good to me. I’ve considered LKL a second home on television for a long time, and it was an honor to be chosen to hear Larry’s confession that I would not have missed for the world, so I thank you for asking.”

  After the show, Larry and I had dinner with a great friend, Haim Saban, a mega media mogul and worldwide leader in the entertainment industry. It was a terrific celebration and we relaxed as we went over the day’s events. Haim congratulated Larry on his body of work and said, “There’s only one of you, my friend.” He celebrated Larry’s brand and counted off many things that he could do with his name and reputation. Larry even had a few sips of red wine. (He’s never liked to drink.) At the end of the evening when we were all hugging good night, Larry took the written statement out of his pocket and gave it to Haim. “Here’s a souvenir for you.” Haim smiled and put it in his pocket.

  That night, the price of Larry’s suspenders went way up on eBay. With more than fifty thousand interviews in fifty-three years under his belt? Yes, I guess it was time.

  KNOW WHEN TO HANG UP YOUR NIGHTLY SUSPENDERS

  In life, you know when it is time—to speak up, to move on, to share, to go to ground, to live, and finally, to die. This was Larry’s time to hang up his nightly suspenders, a decision he made with grace, humility, and humor. When he announced his intention to end his nightly show, he was at the top of his game and he left everyone in his life and the entire world wanting more—including me.

  A FINAL THOUGHT: BE TRUE TO YOURSELF

  I’d like to leave you with a final lesson that lies beneath all that I’ve written before. No matter who you are, where you live, or what your gender, race, or religion, you know in your heart what is right and you know what is wrong. After all, you live with yourself every day. When you take a look in the mirror, you won’t see happiness looking back at you if you feel bad about the choices you’ve made.

  A wise friend of mine once told me a wonderful story that sums it all up. A single dad, the time came when he had to have the “sex talk” with his teenage daughter. Girls don’t want to hear about this, especially from their dads, but he sat her down and said, “There are only two things I want to say about sex. First, if you’re about to do it, make sure you’re doing it for you, not for the boy. Second, think about how you’ll feel five minutes after you do it.”

  When his daughter eventually married and had children of her own, she told her dad that she never forgot that talk. It was all about being true to herself, and she considers it one of his greatest gifts to her.

  We can apply this gift to any area of our life:

  • How will you feel after you hurt someone?

  • How will you feel if you don’t take the chance?

  • How will you feel five minutes after you tell someone that you love them?

  • How will you feel if you let a friendship drift away?

  • How will you feel if a friend died today? Do you have unfinished business?

  To me, being true to yourself is the only way to go. That is the best that anyone can ever do.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I could not have written this book had it not been for all the amazing experiences I’ve had in my life and all the good energy that has surrounded me. There are many people who are responsible for my happiness, so I’ll attempt to say thank you and how much I appreciate everything all of you have done for me.

  First, I would like to acknowledge and thank the staff of Larry Ki
ng Live. I honestly believe this is one of the most amazing and talented group of people in the television news industry. They know what it takes when we are asked to stay live for two more hours after we have planned for only one. They know what it takes to work around the clock during a breaking news story. They know what it takes to put on a telethon to raise money for a natural or national disaster, when that is not in our job description. Or just the everyday battle of changing the show five times before we go on the air. I am so proud of all of them and want them to know that this book would never have been written had it not been for them. Thank you so much, you are all the best.

  Thank you, Benjamin Alden, Nancy Baker, Andrea Beaumont, Barbara Berti, Erika Birkholm, Quinn Brown, Carol Buckland, Carmelina Castillo, Greg Christensen, Geoff Doner, Dave Dubiel, Lisa Durham, Liz Flynn, Avrielle Gallagher, John Gilmore, Chip Hirzel, Sarah Holbrooke, Amy Huggins, Hieu Huynh, Ryan Jimenez, Kyle Johnson, Michael Judge, Sean Kelly, Eleanor McManus, Katherine McQuade, Virginia Moubray, Brad Parks, Jason Ravou, Sonja Reitmeier, Stephen Salvador, Sarah Schnare, Rosy Stefanatos, David Theall, Lisa Thompson, Hunter Waters, Michael Watts, and Lindsay Geier. And a special recognition to Carrie Stevenson and Allison Marsh who work on the show around the clock and never ask me why I’m calling them in the middle of the night. I love you all, and thank you so much.

  Walker, my son. I love you, you are my best friend. You give me more joy than you will ever know. Thank you for being my beautiful and loving son. And I know one day you will be a famous writer!

  Amaya, my daughter. I love you so much. You are a beautiful soul and a gifted singer. I cry every time I hear you sing. Thank you for being a teenager who actually loves her mama!

  Larry King. There is only one of you. Our humor is our glue, your talent is my inspiration. It is an honor to be your producer and your friend. Thank you for believing in me and trusting me. And my love always to Shawn.

  Randy Woods. Thank you for finally finding me and for being the nicest man I’ve ever known. Your support and kindness are gifts. And I can’t take my eyes off of you! Thank you for making me happy every day.

  Terry Brown, my sister. I love you. Thank you for always being there for me and teaching me how to be a good mother and decorator! To my mother and father, who I wish were still here but now are finally together. And my sisters, Peggy and Mary. Thank you for everything you have done for me.

  Mary Heckmann. You are my beautiful soul mate and friend. Thank you for sleeping with me all of those nights! And thank you for loving me as much as you do.

  Michelle Weinger, the twin sister that I never had! You are always there for everyone in your life, including me. Thank you for making me laugh and sharing your mom with me! And sharing your sweet husband, Duayne.

  Jenny Craig, my mama and my wonderful friend. Thank you for making me part of your family. I love having you in my life. You are such a role model for me, from your family to your work ethic to your kindness.

  To Ali, Tracy, James, Jennifer, Sammy, and Liam Fayed. You are truly my family. I love you all and have loved watching the boys grow from babies to amazing men. You have all meant so much to me in my life, and I will never forget all the priceless things you have done for me. Thank you for making me part of your life.

  Sabih and Hani Masri. You both are two of the most important people in my life. You have taught me so much about the world. But most of all, you have been steadfast and fantastic friends. Thank you for being in my life.

  To Suzanne Somers and Alan Hamel—being with you for a day seems like an hour. You are two of the lucky ones who have true love and you are soul mates forever. You are such good friends, and we love spending time laughing with you both. Thank you for our great friendship, your wisdom and the comfortable and good times we have together. We truly cherish our time with you both.

  Katie Couric. Little did we ever know when we were starting out that you would make history. But then, I knew it all along! Thank you for your friendship, your advice, your parents, and your love. We’ve had an amazing journey that isn’t over yet, Kats.

  Lisa Gregorisch, Sister Sledge. You are truly a gift in my life. I trust you with everything except my children, but actually, I even trust you with them! You are a huge force in this business. You are talented and honest. And such an amazing friend. Now if only I could get you to stay up long enough to go out to dinner, that would be nice.

  Cindy Vance, my beautiful friend whom I adore and love. Thank you for your endless advice and love.

  Trish McEvoy. Little did I know all those years ago that when you put my makeup on at Neiman Marcus that you would be such a part of my life. Not only do I love how you made your makeup brushes by cutting regular paintbrushes when you were first starting out, I am lucky to call you a friend. I am so proud of you and your accomplishments, sister, and I am loving you as my friend. Thank you so much for everything.

  To Deepak Chopra and Carolyn Rangle. I pinch myself when I think of how lucky I am to have you in my life. Thank you for your wisdom, your loving friendship, and for constantly educating me about myself and how I belong in this life.

  Thank you to Jan Miller, my agent. Jan, I have never seen you look anything but perfect. I want all of your bracelets! Thank you for believing in this project enough to introduce me to Hachette. And to Harry Helm, my editor at Hachette, I know you liked me because you could visit California in your shorts, but also I’m glad you took a chance on me. And a special thank you to Adlai Yeomans, the best editorial assistant in the business.

  And to Andrea Cagan, my collaborator and writer, thank you for all those nights when we sat by the fire while I told you all these stories. It was like going to a shrink, but a lot more fun! You are so talented and such a beautiful woman, inside and out. It was a privilege to work with you on this book. And to Rick Davis, my friend and colleague at CNN, who had to edit this book as well, thank you for having my back and being my friend at CNN for thirty years.

  To Char Margolis, whom I met before she really knew me. You are such a good friend, and I adore you. My life is more full because you are in it.

  Nathan Turner, my brother, who has the same taste as I do! I love the time we carve out for each other. Whenever I am with you and the kids and our dogs, I am home. Thank you for choosing me to be your friend.

  JZ Knight. I am so lucky to have you in my life. There are only a few people I’ve met who are so incredibly unique and fascinating. You are clearly one of those people. Your energy has been a blessing to me. Thank you for everything you continue to do as my friend and loving guide.

  To Rosa Garcia, thank you for making our home so warm and happy. And I wish everyone who reads this book could try your tortilla soup! I love every flower you have planted!

  To my hometown and oldest friends whom I still see! Jennifer Kersten, Nancy Packard Rosen, Jane Riley Murray, Martha Fuerste Henry, and Mary Eby Smith. We never got caught burning the sofa in high school!

  To Mary T. Browne. I know I saw you at least once at Roshek’s. It’s great when good friends come to you later in life, and I am blessed you came into mine. You are the best, Mare.

  James Van Praagh. Not only do you see dead people, but I’m glad I have you in this life to keep me focused and laughing.

  To my beautiful college friends. I always feel so close to you all, even though we don’t see each other every day, and even though we were a lot cuter thirty-some years ago! To Cynthia Guill, we will always be connected to each other in a very special way. To Torrey Shuford, Dolly Horner, Sara Simpson, Susan Bance, Connie Moore, Debbie McChesney, Karin Chriss, Candy Lloyd, and Cissy Benedict.

  To my Rancho Santa Fe posse! A great group of wonderful friends that I am so lucky to have. Kathy Connor, Deborah and Ron Greenspan, Martha and John Eggemeyer, Joy and Hugh Bancroft, Cathy and Brad Geier, Chrissy and Rick Nicholas, Chris Penrod, Connie and Bill McNally, Art and Catherine Nicholas, Ron and Georgia Spogli, Shelby and Bill Strong, Joani and Chuck Wafer, Marty and Pam Wygod, and Carol Thompson. An
d to Robin and Gerry Parsky, thank you for insisting that I stay in the Ranch to hang with this wonderful group of people. You have been terrific friends. And Gerry, thank you for my new best friend, Jerry Weintraub!

  To Sheila and Bunny Pourhosseini and Tom and Jen DeLonge. Thank you for making life more interesting, by bringing music and makeup to my everyday life and the lives of my children. You guys sure make our times together unpredictable and filled with love.

  To George Pratt, John Assaraf, and Ken Druck. I am so blessed with knowing you and learning from you. Thank you.

  Dr. Sanjay Gupta. You are an amazing man. I don’t know how you do it all. I’m so glad to call you a friend. And it’s nice to have a neurosurgeon on call!

  To Caryn and Jeff Zucker. Thank you for always being there for me no matter what. I love you both.

  Ryan Seacrest—I wish I was thirty-five again just so I could try to do everything you do in a day. You are a joy in my life and I just love your energy. I love spending time with you.

  Jeff Probst—I’m so glad your agent made me let you host the show. You are so talented and driven. It has been a joy working with you and becoming your friend.

  To Roy Bank. Roysers, he’s so hot right now. Besides our love for Zoolander, you are one creative, interesting man. Here’s to all the ideas we have had and will continue to have! Roysers!

  To Lisa Betyar. I know that all accountants are not like you. You are a lot prettier than most, and the things that you have done for me do not fit any job description! Thank you!

  To Chelsea Handler, I want to be you…

  Suzy Kelly, thank you for being such a steadfast friend for over thirty years. Love you.

  Heather Mills, I will never forget how you helped me through a very rough time. Here’s to happy memories with our kids and more future adventures.

  Gary Foster, some things never change in life, and your friendship is one that picks right up every time. Thank you for being my friend, creep.