Larry King Closes Curtain on 'Larry King Live'
On the last episode of "Larry King Live," the newsman welcomed a slew of guests.
Dec. 16, 2010 — -- Larry King went out with a bang.
Tonight, on the final episode of "Larry King Live," the veteran newsman, 77, welcomed a slew of guests, including Bill Maher, Ryan Seacrest, Donald Trump, Regis Philbin, Dr. Phil McGraw, Suze Orman and Tony Bennett.
Ryan Seacrest gave King his first two surprises of the night by introducing California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who proclaimed Thursday "Larry King Day," followed by President Barack Obama, who congratulated King on opening America's eyes beyond their living rooms.
Comedian Fred Armisen dressed as King to "grill" the host, and was followed by news anchors Barbara Walters, Katie Couric, Brian Williams and Diane Sawyer, who presented King with goodbye suspenders.
Former President Bill Clinton -- who has been a guest on "Larry King Live" 28 times -- appeared live from Little Rock, Ark., to wish King a fond farewell.
King noted that although he was leaving his nightly CNN show, he would continue to do specials for CNN and other projects on radio and television.
"You're not going to see me go away," said a teary-eyed King during his final address. "Instead of goodbye, how about so long."
It's the end of an era, especially for King's celebrity guests. For 25 years, his studio has served as a star stomping ground, one of the premier places to tell all after your prison stint, cheating scandal or drug bust.
While many of his star interviews produced news, controversy, even tears, some of the most memorable ones earned their status for producing little but laughs -- sometimes because of the celebrity, sometimes because of King, sometimes because the whole scene was just plain strange. ("Larry King's eating chicken and waffles with Snoop Dogg? What?!")
Below, five of the funniest celebrity interviews from "Larry King Live."
Marlon Brando, 1994.
An oldie but a goodie: King visited the late, much-lauded but not-so-loquacious actor Marlon Brando at his Los Angeles home in 1994. While King is usually the one who holds court, Brando took control in this interview. He interrupted King's questions, pinched his nose, and, after starting a duet, leaned in for an on-the-lips kiss. In August, 16 years after the fact, King admitted that he "can't stop thinking about it." (After seeing that clip, neither will anyone else.)
CLICK HERE to watch a montage of Larry King's funniest moments.
Paris Hilton, 2007.
A far different breed of celebrity than Brando, Paris Hilton came to "Larry King Live" in 2007 to open up after her DUI lock-up. Among the claims she made: "I was writing a lot while I was there," "The food was horrible," "I suffer from claustrophobia," and "I want to help raise money for kids and for breast cancer, multiple sclerosis." But the most memorable quote of the interview came when King asked Hilton what many people have been wondering all her life: Why does everyone follow her? Her answer: "I have no idea."
Snoop Dogg, 2008.
Cocktails with television execs? Of course. Dinner with fellow news makers? Okay -- all that seems fairly routine. But over the past few years, King has formed an unlikely friendship, one with the rapper Snoop Dogg.
In 2008, King launched an exploration into territory he never knew: Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles, where he dined on, yes, chicken and waffles with the hip-hop impresario. While King ordered an Arnold Palmer -- a blend of lemonade and iced tea -- Snoop (real name: Cordozar Calvin Broadus) concocted a new beverage -- The Tiger Woods, or lemonade and water. (Surely The Tiger Woods would consist of something slightly less innocuous now.) In March, the duo reunited to bounce down the block in Snoop's "low to the floor" 1967 Pontiac Parisienne.
Jerry Seinfeld, 2007.
King's celebrity interviews aren't always all fun and games. In 2007, Jerry Seinfeld showed a rare serious side when he blasted the newsman for asking if NBC canceled his hit '90s sitcom, "Seinfeld."
"You think I got canceled?" he barked. "Are you under the impression that I got canceled? I thought that was pretty well documented. Is this still CNN?" Seinfeld went on, "It was the No. 1 show on television, Larry. Do you know who I am?" King shot back, "Jewish guy, Brooklyn," proving at least a base level of knowledge about one of the most successful comedians of all time.
Liza Minnelli, 2010.
Sometimes the most entertaining moments of King's celebrity interviews come without prompting, as if the stars just couldn't help themselves. That seemed to be what happened when screen and stage legend Liza Minnelli burst into song on "Larry King Live" in October, contorting her face as she serenaded the newsman, ushering him off the airwaves (drumroll, please) on a high note.
CLICK HERE to watch a montage of Larry King's funniest moments.