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I am Larry King, back again on reddit. AMAA.
Hi Reddit! I want you to ask me questions about my career, my life, the things I love, etc. I left television, but I really missed talking to people, so I'm back online with a new show, 'Larry King Now' (http://www.ora.tv/larrykingnow) & 'PoliticKING' (http://www.ora.tv/politicKING) on Hulu & Ora TV (http://www.ora.tv/) which I co-founded.
https://twitter.com/kingsthings/status/461131097749729280 https://twitter.com/OraTV/status/461178063359729665
Speaking of which, follow me on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/kingsthings) and if you prefer Facebook follow me there too (http://www.facebook.com/larryking) - And if you want to follow what my new network is doing, Ora TV follow them on twitter (http://www.twitter.com/OraTV) and Facebook (http//www.facebook.com/OraTV)
Victoria from reddit will be helping me out today, so let's do this!
https://twitter.com/kingsthings/status/461226924040155136
Thanks to everybody for the wonderful questions (except for the one about the ducks) and I really appreciate it, I look forward to doing it again! Thank you reddit fans, thank you!
ImLarryKing3279 karma
It was a Sunday morning, and I was a young disc jockey in Miami Beach. Me and 3 friends of mine were going to drive up to Palm Beach, in 1958, we rolled up to Palm Beach in a convertible, I was driving, and it was a beautiful Sunday morning. And I was looking up, looking at all the beautiful homes, and suddenly I bumped into a car stopped at a red light. I was only going about 10 miles an hour. The guy in the car jumped out, walked over to me, and said "how could you hit me!? there's nobody on the road, it's a beautiful day, how could you hit me?!" and I said "I'm sorry, we were looking up, I apologize, do you want my license." And he said "no, I'm Senator Kennedy, I'm going to run for President in 2 years, and I want the 4 of you to raise your hands and swear you'll vote for me."
Which we did. So that's the story.
ImLarryKing1861 karma
I'm happy that he used that. Anyone can copy me, it's a great flattery. But I will say, there's only one King.
And it's good to be the King.
Inclaudwetrust599 karma
Mr. King, Thank you for doing this AMA. One question:
Do you have a personal supplier of suspenders? Is there a specific brand you always wear?
ImLarryKing870 karma
Mostly Trafalgar. They're very good. But people send me suspenders. I actually have many more ties than I do suspenders. I have probably 100 or so suspenders, and 400 or so ties.
ImLarryKing1909 karma
Former undefeated heavyweight champion the late Rocky Marciano told me that when he was a kid there was a bully in the neighborhood that he was always afraid of. That he would go out of his way to avoid running into him. And then on the night he won the heavyweight championship, The childhood bully came to see him in his locker room and for a couple of seconds he was afraid.
Hotelcalie433 karma
What do you think about the Donald Sterling decision the commissioner just made?
ImLarryKing946 karma
I completely agree with what Adam Silver did today. He was outstanding. I am a Clipper fan, I wasn't going to let my children go to the game tonight, but now they will go. I know Donald Sterling, I'm embarrassed for him, I like his wife very much and she deserves better. This was a great decision. Great for the league, great for society. This is a historic day. Go Clippers!
thin_slice392 karma
What advice would you give people in their twenties if you could tell them one thing?
ImLarryKing944 karma
Always pursue your goal and never give up.
If someone can talk you out of what you want to be, then you don't to be it. A friend of mine's father, when I was 18, would walk down the street with me and say "What are you crazy?! You want to be Arthur Godfrey? What are you nuts!? Come work at my factory, I'll make you a foreman someday!"
And I never gave up.
thin_slice237 karma
That's really wonderful of you to put it that way. It's something that I'll keep in mind, thank you!
aztecprince366 karma
Hey Larry. How cool are you with Uncle Snoop Doggy Dogg? I watched your interview on GGN and it's one of my favorites thus far. Bless Up!!
ImLarryKing1220 karma
Snoop Dogg is one of my main men. You don't have to smoke pot to be in his presence. I love him, he's bright, he's fun, he's a good father, and a good man. Snoop is my man.
robinsky1350 karma
When you had your health scares, did it change your outlook on life afterward!
ImLarryKing1405 karma
I stopped smoking, I lost weight, I became very conscious of health. I became a good patient. My father died at age 46 of a heart attack. I had my heart attack at age 53, and now I'm 80. So I must be doing something right, even though I'm currently eating a pizza slice. If I drop off in the middle of this, goodbye to all.
Frajer289 karma
Do you still have no desire to eat a turnip? link: https://twitter.com/kingsthings/status/242480769870741504
ImLarryKing907 karma
I've never had a desire to eat a turnip, or an oyster, or to ride a motorcycle, or I never wanted to parachute. George H.W. Bush wanted me to jump out of a plane with him on his 80th birthday, we would have been in tandem, I would have done that, but my doctor wouldn't let me. I don't know what that has to do with a turnip, but there we are.
J_B_Grenouille280 karma
Hello Mr. King… Thank you for doing this AMA. What is your opinion on the current state of cable news? Also, what does Conan O’Brien Smell like?
ImLarryKing601 karma
I never smelled Conan O'Brien but I like him very much. He's a very good friend, he's been to my house for dinner, he has a wonderful sense of humor and he is very, very very bright.
It's a mix. A lot of it I find disturbing. They report on stories too quickly, they might pander to the audience. I still find that NBC, ABC and CBS give me my best news in a half-hour.
FreeWirry251 karma
Were you ever intimidated conducting an interview with any particular guest on your show?
ImLarryKing477 karma
The first minute with Frank Sinatra - Jackie Gleason had arranged the interview for me, I was nervous. It was the first time I was nervous. But I got over it in a minute. And Frank eventually became a friend.
HelenVonBiscuits249 karma
Larry, what's the craziest thing that happened on the set of Larry King Live?
ImLarryKing544 karma
Dr. Jan Adams walked off the show, Mel Brooks jumped on top of the desk and sang a song called "Dancing in the Dark" saying it was how old jews die, they jump on the desk, they can't hit the high note, and they die. Or when I asked Heather Mills to show me what an artificial leg looked like, and she took it off. That was a great moment.
ImLarryKing367 karma
Being always curious. I was a curious child with just about everything, I always wanted to know why, so I always wanted to be in broadcasting, never had any other goal, so I found the perfect venue for me, which is asking questions.
oh_io_94239 karma
Larry, what was, in your opinion, the biggest news story you ever covered?
mossman85227 karma
If you could interview one person from world history, who would it be and why?
ImLarryKing504 karma
Currently living it would be Fidel Castro. From World History, Christ, Lincoln, Hitler.
ImLarryKing1233 karma
I have hundreds of great jokes, I live for great jokes. Here's a current one.
Man goes to a doctor, and he says "I have bad news, and worse news."
The doctor says "The bad news is, you have cancer."
The patient says "That's terrible! What's the worst news?"
The doctor says "You also have Alzheimer's"
And the patient says "thank god I don't have cancer!"
spgreenwood201 karma
Larry, what's the most valuable skill / technique that you've learned in order to get people to discuss something that's very personal to them on the air?
ImLarryKing372 karma
I think it's a matter of approach. I think I'm very comfortable to be around. They know I'm sincerely interested in them. That I will listen completely to their answer, I make good eye contact, and I care about what they have to say.
ImLarryKing481 karma
And I don't use the word "I" because the interview subject is not me.
Dr_Kuh195 karma
How did you react when you heard that Craig Ferguson is stepping down from the Late Late Show? Will you be one of his final guests?
ImLarryKing267 karma
I love Craig Ferguson, I've been on his show numerous times. He told me it was time for him to go. I'm sure he will do terrific things ahead. He's a great alert.
ImLarryKing326 karma
If I had to pick out one, it would be the Perot / Gore debates in 1994 which attracted almost 20 million viewers.
davidhnorton179 karma
Hi! In November of 1988 you interviewed my grandfather, Holocaust survivor Leo Bretholz, on your radio show. I remember him telling me you held up his star and said something to the tune of "so if I were in Europe, I would have to wear one of these."
I was wondering if you had any memories or recollection at all of the interview. He passed away in March, so it has been great hearing so many people's stories about talking to him.
Of course I am very aware that you have interviewed literally thousands of people, so I obviously won't be surprised if you can't recall one interview you did in the eighties. I just wanted to try. Thanks a lot!
ImLarryKing246 karma
I've interviewed a number of Holocaust survivors, but they are people I have the most compassion for, the most respect for. What they lived through was unbearable, impossible to comprehend. I salute them for what they went through and what they endured. The one I remember in particular was one who was there for 5 years in a camp in Poland, I remember him vividly because he was the camp comic who could not stop laughing. We invited Don Rickles to come on, and sat him next to Don Rickles, and he never cracked a smile, so I have great compassion for you. Sorry for the loss of your grandfather.
grantboone166 karma
Rumor has it you're the roast host for my Uncle Pat's 80th birthday bash in Beverly Hills. True? If so, let me know and I'll give you a little "au jus" to pour on the roast. Thanks for always having him on your show. You guys are both legends.
PapaDyl138 karma
corned beef or pastrami? what deli meat do you think would would make a better pair of suspenders?
JustSomeStrangeGuy136 karma
What are your thoughts on Stephen Colbert taking over the Late Show?
ImLarryKing227 karma
I think he's a great pick. I guested with him when he was playing that O'Reilly character when he does it so well, he's a wonderful and humorous guy. I think he'll make a great host.
Alex_jaymin121 karma
What advice do you have for up-and-coming interviewers that want to be just like you but without suspenders?
ImLarryKing239 karma
Stay curious, always be involved in your guests, care about what your guest thinks, and leave your own opinions out of it. That's it.
Ollides119 karma
Larry, love your contribution to journalism. What was the most uncomfortable question you've had to ask an interviewee in your career?
ImLarryKing228 karma
Well, the toughest part is questioning the relatives of the victims of a death - a child who was murdered, and you have to talk to their parents, or children who are missing. Those kind of emotional things are always the hardest, you don't like doing them, you have to do it, and it's always, always hard.
ImLarryKing236 karma
Well, I read 2 books at once. I just started a biography of John Wayne and it's terrific. And I read every crime novel by Michael Connelly, who I think is the best. And a brilliant book I just finished was One Summer. It detailed life in America in 1927. It's an amazing read, One Summer.
ImLarryKing433 karma
On my 123rd birthday. When they tell me that the vacation resort I'm going to does not allow them.
buffalosabres103 karma
Hi Mr. King, thanks for doing this AMA! What are you currently most passionate about in your life?
ImLarryKing317 karma
I'm passionate about baseball, the Clippers, my children and their athletics (they both play baseball, I go to most if not all of their games). I'm passionate about Ora.TV and the success of this undertaking of which I am part-owner. I'm passionate about fighting discrimination, I hate people who are racist. I'm passionate about social issues, like gay marriage and pro-choice issues. I'm a passionate person.
shivan2199 karma
Is it hard to invent still new questions? What do you do when you can't think of any?
ImLarryKing349 karma
About once a week, I like a slice of pizza, if it's good pizza.
This is pretty good pizza. New York Pizza is the best. I like thin pizzas, crisp with a nice combination of cheese and tomato, I don't like all the extras. A food I HATE is eggs. I can't stand the look of them, the smell of them, I am anti-egg.
bitfiend91 karma
Hey Larry King, out of all the people you've interviewed who's your favorite?
ImLarryKing241 karma
I've interviewed almost 60,000 people. It's impossible to pick one out.
ImLarryKing341 karma
I've interviewed 7 Presidents, Marlon Brando, to Frank Sinatra, to Nelson Mandela, to Martin Luther King, it's impossible.
bitfiend60 karma
Thanks for replying Larry. One more question, what would you say was one of your favorite moments in your career?
ImLarryKing244 karma
Oh, I've had so many. Interviewing at the White House, doing a comedy tour and making people laugh, getting a lifetime achievement award, two Peabody Awards, I'm in 5 Halls of Fame, but my favorite moments have been being a father. Nothing comes close to being a father.
ImLarryKing279 karma
I don't know if it's underrated, but Chipotle. My kids love it, and the few times I've had to taste the food, it's pretty good. I find the food always tasty, and my kids love it. Chipotle is their favorite.
ImLarryKing225 karma
I get up around 6:15, my 15 year old gets driven to his school (he goes to Notre Dame in the Valley) and I drive my 14 year old to his school which is closer to the house. Then I go and have breakfast with my friends at the bagel shop. Then I go read my newspapers, I read 5 a day. I usually have a lunch with friends or business associates. And in the afternoon, I watch an hour of ESPN, usually pick up one of the boys from school, have dinner at home or with friends, half the time at home or half the time out, watch mostly sports on TV, and get to bed around 11-11:30. Kind of boring huh?
ImLarryKing126 karma
I tape 4 days a week, it takes 1/2 hour each day and I usually do it late morning or early afternoon, sometimes we do multiple shows. And I'll be in New York next week, and we'll be taping shows there.
IAmTheZeke67 karma
Hello Larry, Thanks for doing this AMA!
Where did your love for asking questions come from? Did your family encourage creativity and learning? I know I'm pushing three questions here, but if you will humor me - but what is your favorite question?
Thank you
ImLarryKing184 karma
I don't know. I remember when I was 9 years old, I would ask the bus driver why he wanted to drive the bus. We would go to Dodgers Games in Brooklyn, and my friends would want autographs, and I would want to ask questions. My 15 year old inherited that gene from me, he is constantly asking questions. I don't know where that gene came from.
That's one of the products of the Jewish faith, encouraging learning. I did not go to college, I only went to high school, but emphasis on learning and being creative.
My favorite question is: Why?
ArreoTheCynic67 karma
What is the worst or most uncomfortable interview that you've ever done?
What was the most enjoyable?
ImLarryKing160 karma
I can't pick the most enjoyable, there are too many. The toughest I had was with Robert Mitchum, the late great actor, and he was in a bad mood that night and kept giving me one word answers. And it was tough because I liked him so much as an actor.
eztarget89663 karma
What will you make of the 2016 Presidential election and who do you think are the top candidates of each party?
ImLarryKing179 karma
I think Hillary Clinton will run. I think the best race would be if Jeb Bush ran. It would be someone to the left of center, someone to the right of center, I know them both, they're both outstanding candidates. Bush versus Clinton.
yodaman9258 karma
Did you see the segment that John Oliver did on the Indian elections in his pilot of Last Week Tonight? What would you say to the American media who, according to Oliver, have systematically ignored them so far?
ImLarryKing96 karma
I think John Oliver is hysterical, I thought the show was great. I thought the segment on India was hysterical, and that show will last a long time. I think we should cover other countries elections, but the lowest-rated shows are when you talk about things in foreign countries unless it involves American troops. Sadly, even though India is 1/5 of the world population, it's really hard to charge them up.
ChelleBelle978952 karma
Hi Larry, what was the best advice you've ever received about working in show business?
shivan2152 karma
Do you watch Game of Thrones? With which character would you want to make an interview most?
ImLarryKing127 karma
I've never seen Game of Thrones. I played one of the characters on Jimmy Kimmel, but I didn't even know what I was playing.
IASTATE50 karma
Larry, In your lifetime you have seen a lot of change, what is the one thing you wish would have never changed.
ImLarryKing159 karma
The loss of the typewriter. I loved my typewriter, I loved typing my columns. Second to that, I miss letters. I miss getting mail by people who actually write letters. I like mail. I like putting a stamp on an envelope and sending it in a box. I like transmission, but I don't need to know things immediately.
ImLarryKing107 karma
I always enjoyed them. I love radio, I still do radio on Cumulus radio and I'm on AARP every day - I tape shows every week, one minute comments, like a modern-day Paul Harvey. Radio is the most intimate media of all, and as long as there are automobiles, there will always be radio.
MONKSFTW42 karma
Hey Larry King,
What is something you'll never forget about your career in Hollywood?
Thank you for taking time out of your day for this AMA
ImLarryKing115 karma
My whole career was 20 years in Miami, 20 in Washington, and 17 years in LA. And the highlight of LA was just being in LA. LA is my favorite city in the world. I love the weather, I love the people, I love my home, I love Beverly Hills. I don't even mind the traffic sometimes!
robjaws100038 karma
Tell the truth, are you a robot? If not, you look fantastic what is your secret, but if so, what oil do you use in your joints?
ImLarryKing122 karma
I take a lot of vitamins. I take heart medications. And I take HGH, I've been taking that for years in pill form, I know it's banned in baseball but my doctor credits it for my vitality. I know i feel young, I don't get jet-lagged when I fly. So chalk it up to HGH.
Franklo35 karma
Do you have any good stories with the late Roger Ebert? You two share a similar space in my mind as widely accepted yet authoritative voices in your respective fields.
ImLarryKing52 karma
I loved Roger Ebert. I interviewed him a number of times, read his books, his last book was terrific. He was a great critic. I just always enjoyed his stuff and I loved him as a guest.
rsfnebraska34 karma
I also want to know how I can get one of your coffee cups that you use on the show Larry King Now.
ImLarryKing54 karma
It's a picture of me and my wife and my little boys when they were 3 and 4.
DCorNothing33 karma
Larry, I'm an aspiring journalist and want to thank you for doing this. How do you stay on the top of your game when it comes to interviews and the like?
ImLarryKing47 karma
Well, I'm always curious, so I'm always trying to be at the top of the game. I don't think about yesterday, and i don't think about tomorrow, I'm always totally involved with whom I'm interviewing right now, and that really engages my curiosity.
674540832 karma
Thanks for doing this again, Mr. King. After several shows about UFOs over the years, do up believe in extraterrestrial life?
ImLarryKing110 karma
I don't discount UFOs. I don't discount anything. It would be logical to think that there's more than this planet, and more than this universe. It is all so enormous to me, that I'm always amazed that there are people who know the answer, whether there is a god or isn't a god. The truth is, I don't know, and I'm always amazed at people who know. I don't know if there are UFOs, or if there aren't UFOs. I just hope I'm around long enough to know both answers.
And if you can book them on my show, great!
Lol_jk_Omg32 karma
Are you doing Norm MacDonald Live again? Any thoughts of doing more standup and how do you like it?
ImLarryKing43 karma
I loved doing it, it's one of my favorite things to do. I'd love to do more with it, had a wonderful time touring. I'd like to do something on Broadway. One of the biggest thrills I get is making people laugh.
tractortractor32 karma
How will Larry King Now and PoliticKING be the same or different from Larry King Live?
ImLarryKing76 karma
Well, because they deliberately focus on politics. On LKL we did a lot of stuff that was a bit more tabloid, who was sleeping with whom. I wish we did more politics.
orangejulius31 karma
How do you like the online format compared to your show on CNN? What's better and what's worse about it?
What's your perspective on the US response to Russia taking Crimea? Is there anything you reported on that you feel like is a good analogy for what's happening now?
ImLarryKing54 karma
What's better is it's totally relaxed. A wonderful crew. Nice set, easy to do. I miss live television, though, and I miss live TV. And I like the immediacy of CNN. But I'm very happy doing what I'm doing.
Kknowsbest29 karma
If they made a movie about your life, who would play you (other than yourself)?
ImLarryKing60 karma
Warren Beatty. Because I like to think I'm that good looking, and I like him a lot and he's a great actor.
Plankfan27 karma
Has transitioning from television to the web influenced the way you view technology?
ImLarryKing64 karma
No. What I do is the same thing I've done for 57 years. I sit, ask questions, and communicate. The method of delivery is different, but basically what I'm doing is what I've always done.
Franklo26 karma
Are there any unsung heroes of American journalism that you believe deserved more recognition?
ImLarryKing36 karma
I'll have to think about that. Most great broadcasters are known. If you're good in the game of broadcasting, people know you. I can't think of anyone off the top of my head who are not known.
ImLarryKing46 karma
No, years and years ago a friend of mine got contacts when they first came out, and his eyes were always tearing, and he was always losing, and they were not comfortable. And having glasses in broadcasting became part of my look. And my 15 year old inherited my eyes, and so he wears glasses, and he's much handsomer than I am.
ThomasCohen_24 karma
I remembered that you interviewed Mark David Chapman, John Lennon's murderer on Larry King live in around 1992 i think it was, how did you feel interviewing him?
ImLarryKing49 karma
That was a strange day. He was in prison, so we did it via remote of course. They show it now in specials on Lennon. He was a strange bird. He had his demon, and I don't know if I felt sorry for him, or compassion for him, but I tried to reach a level of understanding with him.
thitmeo14 karma
Larry, there have been a lot of charicatures and spoofs of you on various comedy programs. Which one's been your favorite, if any?
ImLarryKing25 karma
A lot of people have had a lot of fun with me, but Saturday Night Live has done some great work on me over the years, and so did the cartoon shows I've been on, the Simpsons - but I did the voice. But I would say SNL.
IAmTheZeke12 karma
Thank you for doing another AMA!
What is your opinion of the rising popularity of Podcasts such as the Nerdist? Do you favor interviews with a camera over an hour of Audio?
ImLarryKing22 karma
I like being interviewed, doesn't matter where. Podcasts are part of the future, and my wife and I have been offered the chance to do a podcast, and we're considering it. It might be fun once a week.
AnotherGayInMyBraces12 karma
Hi Larry, would you rather fight one hundred duck sized horses or one horse sized duck?
ImLarryKing68 karma
That's probably the stupidest question I've ever heard. But my answer would be: that's the dumbest question I've ever heard. Give me 100 little duck-sized horses.
ImLarryKing18 karma
There are so many people that come over to me and want to do business deals. Carlos (one of the richest men in the world) is my partner at Ora.TV and 10 people come to me to be introduced to him every day, and i don't take advantage of that friendship. Or being an older parent - I can't run around with them like I used to, and I'd like to be around to see them make it to play baseball. I figure if I make it to 103, 103 is the new 90 if 80 is the new 65.
drocks2710 karma
Mr. King thanks for doing this AMA. When you do you think you will truley retire and what keeps you so passionate about the work you do?
ImLarryKing16 karma
I don't know, I tried to retire but I couldn't. Milton Berle once told me when I told him "Would he retire" he answered by saying "Retire to what?" I love what I do, so I think they'll probably have to carry me out.
KnewZealander9 karma
Dear Larry, you and Kathy Griffin seem to have a great relationship. Is she as funny as she thinks she is?
ImLarryKing11 karma
She is funny. She's a funny lady, she's a good girl, she has a nice mother, she has a nice young boyfriend who's half her age, she's a lot of fun.
ImLarryKing7 karma
I like taking long walks, I like being with friends. I like dinner with friends.
ImLarryKing7 karma
My wife is currently filming a movie in Bulgaria called "Stuck" about people stuck in an elevator. And next week, I'll be on Howard Stern AND the Today Show and on Seth Meyers and Good Day New York and Regis' new show, and I'm going to host Olbermann on ESPN next Tuesday night at 6!
Jux_7 karma
Larry, what was the process that got you involved with Buck 22 and Billy Ray Cyrus' Achy Breaky 2?
ImLarryKing9 karma
Billy Ray called me and asked me if I would do it. I never saw the video, but I like Billy Ray a lot.
ImLarryKing8 karma
I'm not a great fan of travel, but I do have to do it a lot. I went to Moscow last year, got an honorary degree in Kazakhstan, have been to Israel, Mexico, Azerbaijan, South Korea. I like it when I'm there, but I don't like airplanes or airports.
Wheresthewind6 karma
What is the coolest story you know about someone you interviewed that hasn't made it to air?
ronson19111322 karma
Larry, I read that you once crashed your car into John F. Kennedy before he was president. What's the story behind this?
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