August 2, 2010, by
Piers Morgan looks like a lock as Larry King's replacement on CNN.
The New York Times covers the behind-the-scenes maneuvering in detail. It appears only small details need to be ironed out and CNN may make it official as early as this week.
Morgan lobbied for the job and has been “practicing” in a sense with a British interview show called “Life Stories,” which has done well and impressed the CNN brass.
We in America know him as the winner of “Celebrity Apprentice” and a saucy judge on “America’s Got Talent.” I met him when he came to Atlanta a couple years ago for auditions for that NBC talent show. He was personable and friendly. He seems bright and quick on his feet. Naturally, given America’s image of him, it’s difficult to judge how well he’ll do on CNN this fall.
Here is a small segment of Morgan interviewing Simon Cowell on “Life Stories”:
CNN wanted Katie Couric and considered her if King had stepped down in 2011, when his contract was up. But clearly, King and CNN realized he had to leave sooner given the show's drooping ratings. So Couric's ability to get out of her CBS contract early was considered too complicated.
In Morgan’s case, NBC told critics Friday that the network will share him with CNN.
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