"The Beatles" on Larry King

And I thought Jay Leno was a lousy interviewer.

Larry King raised bad pop journalism to new heights on Tuesday when he presented an hour-length interview with the surviving Fabs, along with Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison. Ostensibly, the special was meant to honor the one-year anniversary of the Cirque du Soleil/Beatles hybrid "Love." That's all well and good. But King quickly turned the show into a fiasco, trotting out every Beatles-based cliche imaginable, calling Ringo Starr "George," and asking Yoko if she missed John.

Imagine you get a chance to interview this panel of four. Is your mouth watering yet? There is SO MUCH to talk about. Paul McCartney's new album is pretty close to a masterpiece. Starr's solo catalog is getting its digital-medium debut. The "Love" soundtrack features a bold and brave reimagining and recontextualization of Beatles music, remixed in 5.1 surround-sound audio by Beatles producer George Martin and his son Giles. (Starr kept trying to steer the conversation back toward this point, but uber-journalist King was having none of it.)

So what do you ask this dream panel of guests? Oh, how about, "Do you ever pinch yoursel and say, 'Wow, I'm a Beatle'"?

Good lord. Did he really ask that question? Yeah, and actually, that was one of the better ones. Later, he'd ask Olivia if hearing her husband's music was an emotional experience for her. Seriously.

McCartney looked simultaneosuly mortified and bored stiff. He tried to get something going, joking with Ringo, but in the end, fell back - with a quite noticeable sigh - on stock answers to questions he'd been asked thousands and thousands of times. What a waste of an opportunity! Nice going, Larry.

Anyone out there catch this train-wreck?   

Comments

[James H]

I was embarassed just watching. I liked McCartney's response to the question about dealing with his recent divorce - I deal with it by not talking about it, Larry.

And the breath-taking finale? No, there was no all starr jam, rather, trot them out in front of the audience for the 10 O'Clock show of "Love." Rah rah.

[Senrab]

You forgot when he said "when we come back, we'll have all 4 here - the widows and the living."

[Little Steven's Wig]

Larry King is horrible. I am sorry I missed it. But I have seen some real doozies from Larry over the years.

Our favorite is when Christopher Reeve's widow Dana passed away... "Dana Carvey. DEAD! ... Oh, Dana Reeve. DEAD!"

How he stays on the air, I don't know.

[brian demme]

Does Larry come up with thoughtful questions or does his bright and educated staff come up with these. You would think Larry might do or have his staff research the Beatles. You gotta wonder what ringo and paul were thinking thoughout this painful hour.

[Samantha]

I just can't bear to watch Larry King ... I prefer to read the transcripts. Although his stupidity shines brightly in print form, too, at least I don't have to look at him or listen to him!

[Mike]

I caught just enough of it to become violently ill....if I were Ringo, I would have pointed to Paul and said, "He's George, I'm John".
It actually reminded me of the old SNL skit where Chris Farley was interviewing Paul - "Remember when you were in the Beatles?"

I heard some of Larry's interview with Paris Hilton this morning....he managed to outdo himself by asking her about being strip-searched, with a thinly-veiled question about how thorough they are.

My 2 year-old asks more thought-provoking questions.

[Carleen Yarington]

I enjoy watching Larry King Live. It's because of the variety of guests throughout years and into another decade.
Larry King is a gentle journalist. His persona is calm cool & collect.
What I've been discovering is his style or choice of conduct when interviewing his guests.
What would benefit both Larry and his guests is to change his perspective. Research his subjects before going on air if possible.
Familiarize their subjects'contributions both in their personal and professional life.
The staff could benefit by this change by improving their interview techniques, it would improve the wealth of this fine show.

[Jim M]

Of all the questions(meaningful ones) that he could have asked, Larry King became the idiot-savant of the year! "Yoko, do you miss John?" Olivia, do you get sentimental when you hear Georges music?" Hey Larry, take Ringo's advice...when asked by Larry why they still make music, Ringo retorts back.."lets turn it around, why do YOU still do this?" Best question of the night.
I've seen the show in Vegas and no words can describe the way it was done. Next time, let Larry stick to Paris Hilton's hard luck story about prison!

[Mike K]

Did Larry OD on Welch's grape juice? Honestly. My question, when will the Beatles back catalog get the remaster treatment so we don't have to listen to something that sounds like it was recorded in a garbage can?

[Daisy]

What an embarrassment. The interview of a lifetime and he blew it. They would have been better off with Letterman.

[MrBellamy]

The best moment was when Larry Queen called George "George Hamilton."

2nd best moment was the priceless look on Paul's face when Larry brought up his upcoming Paris Hilton interview.

The man is unique, no doubt it! (Only Leno could have done worse.)

[Patrick]

It was gonna take an appearance from John Lennon himself to save the hour. What a wasted opportunity. King should've passed this one off to Anderson Cooper.

[Mouse]

The now retired Art Bell and George Norry both from Coast to Coast AM would both blow Larry King away as an interviewer. Sorry Larry, but please hang it up!

[Dave]

Art Bell can still be heard on Saturday and Sunday nights.

[joey]

Over the last year Larry King's senility has been questionable. Forgetting names, getting confused, getting impatient with guests and losing his temper... He did a bad job with this one, too. That whole "Do you pinch yourself" thing Jeff mentioned- sickening. Larry kept saying that the Beatles changed the world- it'd be nice if there was some substance behind that comment during that interview.

[BJ and The Bear]

I'll never forget Larry asking Julie Andrews: "why didn't you do more?"