Studying Larry King (Part 1)
Notes From Larry King's memoir – My Remarkable Journey
I started reading Larry King’s autobiography – My Remarkable Journey – last night.
And it’s hard for me to put it down.
It’s a mix of incredible stories about people like Frank Sinatra, JFK, and Ted Turner combined with lessons for an up-and-coming broadcaster.
Here are my most important takeaways from the first half of the book:
Larry’s big break: Larry was a local radio host. Jackie Gleason loved Larry and ended up calling his friend, Frank Sinatra, to have him appear on the show for a special three-hour interview. Larry was a local radio host. Sinatra was the biggest star on the planet (who never did interviews). I tried to imagine what this would be like in modern terms. Maybe a relatively unknown podcaster getting The Rock on his podcast for a special three-hour conversation? Larry said that after Sinatra was on his show, almost anyone was willing to come on his show.
Not about him: Larry tried to stay away from the word “I” as best as he could. He served as a mirror for the person he was interviewing. He used his curiosity. He didn’t let the audience in on his beliefs or perspectives.
No prep: Larry rarely prepared. He noted that Barbara Walters did a fantastic job coming into an interview with scripted questions. But he could never do that. It was just about letting his curiosity run wild.
Different formats: Larry got his start in Miami at night radio. He could interview people for hours. Eventually, he switched over to more structured TV. He noted that he loved when his curiosity was able to run wild. But also that long radio interviews gave him the ability to ask the right question. Something tells me he would’ve enjoyed podcasts if he was just starting out these days.
The difference between radio vs. TV: The 1960 Kennedy-Nixon debate was the first one broadcast on TV. But Larry heard it on the radio. And from his perspective, it was an even debate. But to the television audience, Kennedy was the clear winner. He was better looking, his posture was up, and he looked more presidential. And, at that moment, Larry realized the power of TV.
Personal life vs. professional life: Larry had trouble with money and women. All the while, he succeeded in his professional life. We tend to think if someone is successful in their professional life, they will have equal success in their personal life. But it is not always that way.
CNN days: Larry is widely known for his 25+ year run on CNN. But it’s wild to think he started that journey when he was 52. A good reminder that you might not have even begun the thing you’re eventually known for.
My most important highlights from the second half of the book will come later this week.
For now, I highly recommend it to anyone interested in communication.