Larry King retiring from CNN later this year

CNN talk show host Larry King says he’s retiring from his nightly “Larry King Live” gig in the fall in order to spend more time with his family. The seventy-six year old has been hosting the show for twenty-five years. According to a statement King released on cnn.com, his impending retirement was his idea and that he’s looking forward to being able to attend “the kids’ little league games.” He plans to continue appearing on CNN via specials and other one-off appearances.

Neither CNN nor Larry King have made any announcement in regards to who will take his place in the fall; several names have been bandied about of late.

King made the announcement via Twitter to his million-plus followers; neither Twitter nor the commercial internet itself existed when he began his CNN show.

Larry King’s full statement on the matter:

Before I start the show tonight, I want to share some personal news with you. 25 years ago, I sat across this table from New York Governor Mario Cuomo for the first broadcast of Larry King Live.

I’m incredibly proud that we recently made the Guinness Book of World Records for having the longest running show with the same host in the same time slot. With this chapter closing I’m looking forward to the future and what my next chapter will bring, but for now it’s time to hang up my nightly suspenders.