CNN Mulls Heir to King Throne

Believe it or not, American Idol host Ryan Seacrest is still the top choice to replace Larry King when his CNN contract expires in 2011—but thanks to Seacrest’s massive deal with Idol, he’s “unreachable,” a source tells the New York Post. Other possible replacements include Katie Couric, CNN’s John King, Joy Behar—or perhaps Larry himself, who expressed wariness about calling it quits when his contract expires.

The Post’s source predicts King—who has been interviewing celebrities since 1985—"will step down in 18 months." His spokesman, however, says “Larry has the full intention of continuing in the job he loves, and he's very confident about the future,” while King himself adds, “Retire to what? If I didn't work, I don't know what I'd do. I'll probably fall over right on the set one night."
(More Larry King stories.)