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Ryan Seacrest rumored replacement for Larry King

BY VERNE GAY | verne.gay@newsday.com

May 8, 2008

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Now, the latest high-stakes reality game in TV: It's called, "Who Will Replace Larry King?"

A report on MSNBC.com yesterday said CNN was in discussions with Ryan Seacrest to replace King at the end of next year, or more than a year before King's new contract ends. Although the network declined to comment, a network executive said the report was not true.

Nevertheless, it follows a flurry of media speculation in recent weeks about the fate of King - 75 in November - and whether he'll ride out a recently completed contract that'll keep him at 9 p.m. or someplace else on the schedule. Katie Couric, who may leave "Evening News" after the presidential inauguration, is also believed to be a potential candidate to replace King.

How vulnerable is King? Not that much: "Larry King Live" remains a network fixture, and when asked, CNN regularly trots out a well-worn statement that says he'll remain in his role for years to come. But the MSNBC report also cited a King interview with The New York Times last year in which King seemed to anoint Seacrest as his successor: "He's the classic generalist. The only thing I don't know ... is how versed he is in politics, world affairs. Does he read the paper? Is he interested in Iraq? Because if he is, he's going to be very good." Seacrest has been a stand-in on the program.