CNN president
Jeff Zucker has
decided to end television host
Piers Morgan's show after its ratings
plunged, sources at the television network said.
The former British tabloid editor
-- who irked conservative Americans after launching somewhat of a
crusade for greater gun control measures -- struggled after stepping
into the shoes of popular, down-to-earth host Larry King in the coveted
9:00 pm primetime slot.
King, an 80-year-old talk show
star who now hosts a show broadcasting on Hulu, Ora TV and Russia's RT
television, is known for his ability to connect immediately and easily
with ordinary Americans. He hosted "Larry King Live" on CNN from 1985 to
2010, wearing his trademark wide-rimmed glasses, shirt with rolled-up
sleeves and suspenders.
Morgan, in contrast, was
inherently British and not just in his accent. In particular, he made
repeated references to cricket, a sport with little US presence, and
professed his ignorance about American football and preference for the
round football, soccer.