Cable Gamers know better than to ever miss The Chicago Tribune's Phil Rosenthal, who reliably combines analysis and snarkiness in his required-reading TV column.
Phil started his latest (master)piece by noting that "Larry King Live" drew more than three million viewers--triple his normal haul. And yet here's some interesting drill-down analysis:
For all the hype -- which included coverage of Hilton's arrival and a countdown clock to the interview on CNN and Anderson Cooper's grudging post-interview attempt to bring depth to King's shallow exchange with analysis -- Fox News Channel edged CNN over the three hours of prime time, averaging 1.858 million viewers to CNN's 1.851 million in live viewing.
Next, comes Phil's snarkiness, which, of course, is entirely justified, considering the subject matter. Let's do a little play-by-play on Rosenthal's axing of the CNN show:
Imagine what the interview might have drawn had King defied expectations and asked even one question that wasn't as empty and vacuous as the jailbird heiress across from him.
Ultimately, having exhausted the damage-control answers Hilton's handlers had crafted for her, King was left to flail about for something -- anything -- to fill the hour. Hard to believe broadcast networks once were bidding for this.
That was harsh enough, but the Trib-man then bores in even harder:
The good news is King didn't botch Hilton's name. It was at least an even-money bet King might call her Zsa Zsa after he managed to bungle his interview the night before with surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr and the widows of John Lennon and George Harrison by referring to Ringo as George.
And Phil catches King in this bit of duplicity:
It's funny. Shortly after Hilton was sentenced to jail for violating her probation on alcohol-related reckless-driving King told The Associated Press: "I think it's sad. But there's no excuse for drunk driving. None. You can't give me one good reason to drunk drive. Inexcusable."
And sends this nastygram to the king, catching him on more duplicity:
But King is a man capable of setting aside his personal beliefs when he deems it expedient. He was quoted shilling "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" in ads with the quote: "Finally, a movie worth seeing over and over again!" He didn't disavow the quote, yet later told the Los Angeles Times: "I had no idea what was going on. I turned to my wife and said, 'What is this movie about? I don't get it!'"
In other words, the only way he would see it over and over again would be to try to make sense of it.
Which pretty much sums up "Larry King Live," when you think about it.
Ouch!
The Cable Gamer might observe on her own that Larry King has had a great career. But now, it's obviously time for him to retire, before he really embarrasses his remaining audience.
