CNN looking for Larry King replacement

NEW YORK - American television and radio host Larry ing’s contract with CNN is set to expire in 18 months, and the able network’s chiefs are busy lining up his successor in case e retires.

King, 75, has been interviewing celebrities since 1985, and now ources say that CNN’s first choice to succeed him would be Ryan eacrest, but his massive deal with “American Idol” makes him too xpensive a choice.

Other contenders are CBS anchor Katie Couric, CNN “video wall uy” John King and Joy Behar, who is launching her own interview how on CNN’s Headline News.

“Larry will step down in 18 months. Ryan is the popular choice to ake over, but his deal with Fox makes him unreachable. John King s popular but is more at home on politics,” the New York Post uoted a source as predicting.

The CNN suits will be watching Behar to see how she does on eadline News.

“Diane Sawyer was looked at as a candidate for Larry’s show, but s out of the running now that she has ABC’s evening news,” the ource stated.

But King’s spokesman, Howard Rubenstein, said that the chat show host was looking forward to continuing his job.

“Larry has the full intention of continuing in the job he loves, nd he’s very confident about the future,” Rubenstein said.

A CNN rep added: “Larry is at the top of his game. He gets the est newsmakers of anyone on television, and his ratings lead ver MSNBC’s [Rachel] Maddow has never been wider.” (ANI)