Watch out, women of New York: Larry King wants to move back from Los Angeles and could be a free agent. The Brooklyn-born lothario has told friends he wants to put the drama over his marriage to Shawn Southwick behind him and escape LA.
CNN sources tell us King’s contract for his 9 p.m. nightly show is up next May, and network bosses, fearing the fallout from his marriage could be a further turn-off for viewers, plan to let it expire.
In a possible sign that ratings-challenged CNN is trying to find a new direction, King’s show last Thursday was replaced with an investigative report by Soledad O’Brien.
A source close to the chat-show king told Page Six, “Larry says he’s had enough of LA, the paparazzi attention and the scrutiny over his marriage. When he comes to New York he can walk around and people don’t bother him . . . While he insists his marriage is still intact, that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s a mess.”
CNN sources say King’s contract may not be renewed in light of his falling ratings and reports that he allegedly had an affair with his own wife’s sister. A source told us, “CNN has been a huge supporter of King and was going to let him sit in that chair for as long as he wanted. But things seem to have changed . . . he is in trouble.”
We revealed Friday how embattled CNN was looking to sign British journalist and TV star Piers Morgan to host a panel show in the hour leading up to King’s show. Morgan — who has a hit interview show in the UK — could become heir to King’s crown.
But a spokesman for King said, “He is not leaving LA, he loves LA and his kids are deeply embedded there. As for his contract, CNN has assured him they want him to stay. On Thursday night, his show was pre-empted by a special, but he will be back on the air as usual tonight [Friday].”
A CNN rep said: “Larry has been part of CNN’s past and will be part of CNN’s future,” but declined to comment further, saying, “We never discuss contracts.”