Piers Morgan to Host Larry King Live; Will He Interview Omarosa?

Piers Morgan is the official new host of Larry King Live, a show that has aired since 1985, as reported at The New York Times. The 45-year-old British journalist, best known for his role as a judge on America's Got Talent, a job he will retain, will air an interview style format, weekdays at 9 p.m., after the last show with Larry King on December 16. The new name for the show has not been announced.

Piers Morgan likes "rattling cages"

According to the New York Times, a British newspaper described Morgan as a "smiling James Bond-style assassin." If you've watched Morgan in various programs, such as Celebrity Apprentice, you might agree with that assessment.

Unlike the British Simon Cowell, who doesn't really smile much except for the occasional sneer, Piers Morgan will verbally tear you to pieces with a huge grin. One of the most exciting aspects of Celebrity Apprentice was tuning in every week to see how Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth would spar with Piers Morgan. Eventually, Morgan won Celebrity Apprentice and Omarosa, who was once considered reality TV's No. 1 bad girl, and who considers Piers Morgan a "revolting creature," received her pink slip.

In response to the James Bond description, Morgan says, "I think that's slightly overstating it, but I like finding things out about people. I like rattling cages." Piers Morgan will bring his own style to the format, and most would except he won't shy away from the hard questions, no matter how much a celebrity wants him to.

Can Piers Morgan on Larry King Live improve the ratings of the show?

Time will tell if Piers Morgan can revive the ratings for Larry King Live in a format where the interviewer remains relatively neutral. Can this format survive the rise of the Glenn Becks and Rachel Maddows, where the host has a clear agenda? "If I sat with you for a drink I'd have lots of opinions about lots of things. But when it comes to my TV interviews, I don't like to be part of them. I like to be journalistically rigorous and get the truth out of them, not force my opinions down the viewers' throat," says Morgan.

Sources:

James Hibberd and Matt Belloni, Piers Morgan: I won't be CNN's Glenn Beck, The Hollywood Reporter

Brian Stelter, CNN Makes It Official: Piers Morgan Will Replace Larry King, The New York Times

Omarosa Reveals 'Celebrity Apprentice' Fights With Piers Morgan Helped Lead Her To The Seminary, Access Hollywood

Daniel R. Coleridge, Omarosa, Come Up for Oxygen!, TV Guide