The passing of legendary television interviewer Larry King has me contemplating the passing of the television interview, too. King first achieved stardom in radio, where lengthy and enlightening interviews once were the norm, and at the invitation of Ted Turner brought his skill set in the early Eighties to CNN, then in its infancy. As CNN grew in stature, so too did King and his iconic program, Larry King Live.
Most people reading this undoubtedly remember King from his television career (or have heard their parents talk about him). He was one of those extraordinary media personalities who knew how to conduct interviews with just about anyone from any walk of life -- politics, sports, entertainment, science, business, fashion, etc. His guests were newsmakers of the past, present and, it sometimes seemed, future.
It sounds almost unfathomable today, but King could talk to a single guest for an entire hour (with commercial interruptions) and hold his audience throughout. By comparison, talk and interview shows today -- in daytime, primetime or late night -- generally allow a measly seven minutes per guest, maybe a few more if a guest is a great "get."
King is being remembered with such admiration, I believe, because he conducted his interviews without forcing his own opinions (or those of his corporate employers)