>> but remember what happens when the tables are turned and ralphie finds his mojo. >> hey! hey! ah! i'm calling my dad. hey! >> yep. that's farcus the bully you hear bawling there. to us he sounds a lot like julian assange whose tears landed him a place on our ridiculist. that does it for this edition of "360." thanks for watching. >> larry: tonight the woman behind the show. my senior executive producer wendy walk sir here with 30 years of stories from an extraordinary career in tv all told in in her new book.

>> like a history book. the show is like a history book. >> larry: politic, crime, and world alters veents. a front row seat and we'll go behind the scenes. witness what it takes to put this show together every night. kathy griffin reveal what's you don't see. >> how can you face me? >> larry: and suzanne somers tells why guests open up. >> if you want to clear things up you go on the "larry king live." >> larry: and some of of the media's iconic moments. the beatles reunion. everybody's going to feel all right >> larry: the marlon brando kiss. >> good-bye. >> larry: all next on "larry king live." >> larry: this is going to be

very interesting tonight, folks. wendy walker is the senior executive producer of this program. and the author of what i admit sat terrific new book "producer: lessons shared from 30 years in television." you hardly ever see her on this show and now you'll meet the person who's influence is all over this show. every night. 307 years in 30 years in the business. what was it like to write this? >> it was like going to the shrink i think. it was much harder than i thought. so many people, every time i would talk about our show, your show, people would say, you've got to write this down. eventually i decided to do it, and it took a lot more work that ein thought 2 was going to take. >> larry: you also write about the years before this show. were you a white house proub producer. what took you to this business? >> i need add job. when i graduated from college my father gave me $40, and i was in a school in virginia, and we drove to washington. it was girls' school, the closest city.

they said if you don't vat job in a week you have to come home. so i walked into brooks brothers, and got -- >> larry: the men's store? >> the men's store. >> got my first job right away and one of my customers was ethyl kennedy, and this was right wlt i was out of college. i would wait on her. waited on a lot of interesting people, but she was the most interesting. one of the friends of hers was the producer of abc. he was a white house producer. i thought, i'm never going to be able to do that. thoughts so neat and so cool. but i really liked the producing angle of it, and i thought, well, this is -- there's organization. it's interesting. and i just got the bug, and i walked into abc and applied for a job, and that was it. >> larry: the rest is history. >> uh-huh. >> larry: after our 25th anniversary week earlier this year i made a very difficult decision to not do a nightly show anymore. bittersweet day for both wendy and plea. let's take a look how we started off that show. june 29, 2010.

>> larry: i talked to the guys here at cnn and i told them i'd like to end "larry king live" the nightly show that this fall and cnn has graciously accepted to agree to, giving me more time for my wife and i to get to the kids' little league games. with that chapter closing i'm looking forward to the future. what my next chapter will bring. for now, for here, it's time to hang up the nightly suspenders. >> larry: what was that like for you? you were here. >> well -- i still -- it's still hard to even put that in words. i was so proud of you and i am so proud of you, and i considered it such an honor to be part of the show, and i think were you right, though i think there's a type, and i think after that we'll week, the 25th anniversary, lady gaba, lebron james, bill gates. michelle obama. it was probably time, but i think it's always better to

leave them wanting more, and i want more still. so it's probably the best way to go. >> larry: one of the thing wes do a lot of is helping people through the death of a public figure, which is a fascinating concept. often it's thrown together. right? >> yes. >> larry: the person does is not expected to die dies that day. let's look at memorable moments over the years of people wendsy produced, talking about losing loved ones. >> larry: is it hard to look at your dad? >>ham, sometimes it is. sometimes i have good days and bad days. sometimes it brings back memories and it's really nice and some days, i just cry straight off. >> larry: i think i had a harsh introduction to death early on and i kind of, it sort of start add whole sequence at that point. >> larry: what was special about him that maybe we don't know? >> i don't know. i think that his personality really came through. so -- in a way that there are maybe not particulars. >> larry: what you saw is what he was?

i. think so nap was special, too. >> larry: that had to be it's worst morning of your life? >> so much fun to be around. probably. >> a lot of families, larry when they have. >> larry: a loss. >> a loss they go apart and ours i think was closer together. >> some people say you know, you wouldn't, i don't see us as being any stronger than anybody else. >> everybody didn't know about it. >> larry: jay was sick. >> but they really didn't know how sick jay was and how serious his cancer was and how difficult it was. >> george, i got to see him. >> larry: oh, did you? a. short time before he died, and it was just the best, because we just -- we sat like this, if you don't mind bep sat and just stroking hands like this.

>> for us, every day, every week was a supreme victory. so it wasn't like, oh, my gosh, could we make it to six months. it was, yeah! we made it. >> i was able to tell him i loved him, and i asked him to breathe. breathe, keep breathing. jesse. his first name was jesse, and he never liked that name, but he let me know it one time and i always called him jess. >> larry: when you finally went to bed on tuesday night, the end ever this harrowing day you find a note. >> saying -- i love you. when you read this i will be thinking of you, and i will be back -- i will be back friday. >> some people said did you get to say good by i feel like for 9 1/2 years, that was the conversation. that was the deathbed conversation. i think you have to live with the conversation, and i think we did. >> there are people who told me that it gets much easier. well, maybe for them. but not for me. i miss him more now than i ever did.

>> larry: the hardest to do. we've got take a break. but are they the hard toast produce? >> no. they're really not. i mean when somebody -- when these people want to cull ome on and share memory, it's just what they're saying is the -- there's no much to produce. >> larry: it's touching to relive it now. >> oh -- >> larry: you read a lot about it in this book. the book is "producer: lessons shared from 30 years in television." we're with wendy walker. a number of very high-profile guests sharing revelations about themselves and their careers on this show. we'll share them with you. suzanne somers coming up. don't go away.

>> larry: producers make a lot of friends over the years and wendy's made quite a few.

one is with us. suzanne somers the entertainer, entrepreneur and bet-selling author, also a cancer survivor. we've done more than 7,000 interviews on this show over the past 25 years and many had do with someone revealing a private or personal detail about their life. example, watch. >> larry: let's get right to the nitty grity. what's wrong with the kidney? >> gee, a very rough time for me, and i'd probably say like, hang in there. >> larry: a rough time? >> really a rough time. 12, 14 -- very rough time. >> larry: family rough. >> family rough. yeah. i was being sexually abused at the time. >> i was married at 18, but nick kind of got a kick out of beating the shit out of me. >> larry: nicky hilton? >> yeah. and i didn't. >> when i look at the police reports or hear about the police reports, i don't know what to

think. i just don't know what to think. it's just like, wow. >> larry: do you remember do doing it? >> no. >> larry: hepatitis c when diagnosed how do you deal with it? >> when i first was diagnosed i thought obviously i was dying. my doctor told me, you know this glitch in your blood work i have hepatitis c. i said, how do you get rid of it? he said, you can't. >> i'm prepared to accept some of of the things people have offered me, like stress or pressure or loneliness. that would be lovely to say that was the reason, but i think that would also be a bit, a bit false. you know? i think in the end you have to come clean and say it was disloyal and shabby and goatish. >> on the set of "serving sarah," the best way to describe it kind of a spiritual moment where for a split second you see everything kind of clearly. i can't really describe it because it's about stuff that's bigger than i can really put into words, but, it got to the

point where i was wondering if i was going to survive. >> i'm here to say that my contract is up for my radio show at the end of the year and i've made the decision not to do radio anymore. >> i walked over to her and said, this is how it feels when someone rubs you up and down. and maybe i shouldn't have, and i apologize. >> larry: what did you do? >> i'm sorry? >> larry: what do you do when you said, this is lew it feels? >> i did the same thing to her that she had done to me. >> i've never told anyone in the last year i've been battling and surviving breast cancer, and i was in that clinic and it all what do with my breast cancer, but i think the most shocking words i ever thought -- i nerve you are thought i'd ever in my life hear someone say to me that you have breast cancer. >> larry: first, when you make this call, or try to get her on, is that hard? >> yes, it is, but in this instance, suzanne was the one who made the call to me.

>> larry: she called you? >> yes. the afternoon, already to go with another show and somebody said, suzanne somers is on the phone. picked it up. she told me what was going on. we cancelled the show and put her on. >> larry: why did you want on? >> the tabloids came out with a story i had liposuction. i had written all of these books. ip said to my husband, i have this connection with my constituency and now it seems like i'm cheating, and i think they need to know the truth that we had taken some fat from one breast and proved it to the other, and so that's when i came on. you know, if you want to clear things up, you go on the "larry king show". >> larry: why? >> because it's a global experience, because there's credibility. if you tell your story on the "larry king show" it gets a different kind of play than if you went on one of the nightly kind of shows.

this show -- this show -- is really, has really been incredible. for me as an author, and i wrote you a letter when you decided to step down to tell you, i was going to cry. it's just been so -- valuable having this friendship with you. with you, and how we've been friends over the years. you know, being friends with wendy, you end up doing a lot of benefits. i'm sure you knee. you knee. she's always getting you to sing or show up somewhere for somebody. >> larry: in three words, you don't want to hear from wendy, by the way -- >> exactly. or -- or breaking news. sorry. it's usually when you're in there all made up and they go, sorry. have to cancel. >> larry: is that the -- it's hard to bump a guest? >> oh, it's it's worst. >> larry: we almost bump ud tonight. >> we almost did. exactly. yes. >> larry: is that hard? >> it was great having it happen

to me so i know how it feels. >> i remember maybe 15 years or so ago, were you still in washington, d.c. i was doing a john waters film "serial mom" in baltimore. >> larry: funny movie. >> funny movie. i was in the car with makeup on and get a call from you. suzie -- >> larry: the book is "producer" author wendy walker. one of the reasons viewers relate to the guests on this show because they've overcome obstacles. like many of you. talking about our most inspiring moments with wendy and suzanne right after this.

>> larry: we're back with our senior executive producer wendy walker, author of eproducer." s with us a suzanne somers. over the past 25 years we've been inspire and awed by people who not only encountered adversity but thrived in spite of it. watch. >> larry: you never thought you'd be sitting on a worldwide television program saying you're a gay man? >> i never thought. trust me, larry, i said this many occasions, if i knew how good it was going it feel, i'd

have done it ten years ago. >> larry: what's wa it like when you were diagnosed? >> it was lard to describe it because i was so young. i was 29 years old. parkingson's is not something you expect to hear. >> it makes your arms and legs do stuff like that. >> larry: motor control. >> yeah. that's all i know. >> larry: is there pain involved? >> no. just embarrassing. you get very angry. >> when i was first diagnosed with a.l.s. i was given two years to live. now 45 years later, i'm doing pretty well. >> not do be dramatic, just to show people. >> larry: where is it? >> it sends just below the knee. this is to show people the quality if the leg that you can actually get. >> larry: it feels like a leg. >> yeah. >> unless i actually hit rock bottom i wasn't going to stop production. what i say is i wasn't going to stop until it stopped me. so i had that determination because it had been something i wauthtsed to do my whole life and wasn't about to pull off the

side of the road when things were going so well jut because of of my health. >> i don't believe in having a disabilities. i think everybody goes through life and everybody has challenges to face. mine are physically apparent. >> sometimes i say, why me? why have i had such a hard life? why have my siblings died? why does it not go away? and then i think again, why not me? >> larry: christopher reeve, i'm your director here tonight. move your finger. >> say go. >> larry: go. >> there you go. >> larry: whoa! >> say stop. >> larry: stop! . >> larry: now you've always been so upbeat. the feeling of god being with you. does that remain? >> that remains consistent. i talk to god every single day, and i say my life is in your hands, and i trust you with me.

>> larry: she died the next day. that was unbelievable. >> a memorable show. i got a call about that show actually, because what it was on, when it was on i got a call from somebody at cnn, and they said, why is she on? she looks -- she looks horrible. and i said, well, that's what cancer looks like. >> exactly. >> but i think it was -- it was so lard to see her like that, that that's the first reaction you get. >> but i think that is so much of what your talent is. you know what the public -- is interested in seeing, listening to. that was -- that was -- all of us saw ourselves in tammy faye, because that's a bullet nobody knows if it's coming at you. >> larry: the key to being a producer. >> finger on the pulse. that's your talent. >> larry: why do people come on and talk about -- >> you talk about things on

television so others can relate. so that -- but usually, i talk about something, i like to be on the other side of it. i like to fig ter out so that i have a solution. so that's not just, i have a problem. i always like to have a solution and then i usually have a book. >> larry: by the way a book, this is a terrific book. >> it's a terrific book. >> larry: a great book. was it not -- you took him -- >> heartbreaking little boy. he was prophet. this little child who's -- >> such an old soul. >> we up for an emmy, took him to new york. he was my date, and i wanted him to win so badly, but he was just -- we holding hands and we didn't win, but he was so happy to be there, but what a -- boy you think you have a bad day and then you look at christopher reeve or matty. >> exactly. maybe that's why. maybe that's why you tell the story. >> larry, would you go on to talk about something like this? >> larry: i don't know. >> you've never had to --

>> larry: part of me says yes and part ever me -- i talked about my heart. i went on phil donahue and arthur ashe and mike ditka to talk about heart disease. >> because you knew you could talk sports. >> larry: suzanne, a great friend on this show. you've guested 23 times over the years. >> wow. >> larry: she'll be coming back later with another guest that's coming. by the way, the o.j. chase. marlon brando's kishgs the mick jagger interview, just a few of the big moments we've experienced on this show, written about it in the book "producer." we've guvy give you some behind the scenes scoop, next.

we're back with wendy walker, the senior executive producer of "larry king live" and the author of "producer: lessons learned or shared from 30 years in television." we've had so many great moments on this show. nome following history, sometimes making history, too. let's watch a few along with our senior executive producer wendy walker, who is, as i said, this new book "producer" is something will you not put down. watch. >> okay. i'm going to have to interrupt this call. i understand we're going to go to a live pick color in los angeles. police believe that o.j. simpson is in that car.

>> i've been through a lot, and it was a pretty traumatic experience. something i really have grown from, and when i heard that, you asked knee be on the show i was excited. >> larry: what have the last two days been like? >> pretty overwhelming. >> larry, optioning your suspenders is part of the fund-raiser. start the bidding. >> rial start at $100. >> larry: $250. >> $250? >> at $400. >> larry: remember, bureaucracy is slow. we'll do our best to get there pronto. >> you must have conjured something in your head to call me a murderer of my child. i want to hear one through ten. when did i write this ransom note? were or after i -- >> you wroeft the -- >> you're theorizing. >> you were in the house that night. >> my opinion, very high. he was a great president.

he was a wonderful man. he was an extraordinary person. >> because this is the most incredible human being there will ever be. >> the world will never, ever forget michael jackson. >> -- very lucky. you always need a little luck, and i think they were in the right place at the right time. >> and begin again the work of remaking america. >> there's a real opportunity that we have with -- with the obamas in the white house. >> larry: and that's what got you mad to sort of fight back? >> well i stand by my ads. >> you guys never do anything but propaganda? >> isn't it your business -- >> would you even know the truth if you saw it. >> yes i -- let me ask awe question. >> please, let me finish. >> this isn't "cross fire" is it, lar ji may i finish. >> larry: no.

got a date with an angel and i'm on my way to heaven got an angel beside me got -- to tide me got a date with an angel and i'm on my way to heaven when the chapel bells ring out do amake them an offer they can't "fuse gone. good-bye. >> good-bye. >> the other big time i got in trouble, because after that was on, the president of cnn, tom johnson called me and said, why did you let them do it? i said what? he said, why did you let them kiss on the lips? i said, you know, i am so sorry. i just forgot to tole them, if you're having fun and you guys feel like kissing, just don't kiss on the lips. so that was -- >> larry: follows that in the book. when the entire crew has sipped champagne 2, was our turn, walk ober to larry and me to toast. quite a kiss, kiss my producer like you just kissed me. i stared at him for a moment, closed my eyes as marlon brando

took me in his arms playersed his lips on mine. dirty feet, coffee cups overweight bellis and perspiration. it was stanley kowalski, you name it, that man kissing me like i have never been kissed before. for weeks afterward larry walked around the set saying you know after i kissed marlon brando, i can't stop thinking about it. i silently nodded my head. he wasn't the only one. what was that really like? >> it was like that. ip had to close my eyes. whi closed my eye, he was -- back on the waterfront. >> larry: when were you there, when the kiss occurred, do you remember your reaction? >> oh, i was -- it was disbelief. i thought, that is a moment -- that's a television moment. i didn't think i was going to get call about it, but, yes, it was -- shocking. if you look at that again, you -- where did you come up with that? give me an offer you can't refuse. >> larry: from the godfather.

>> sounded like you rehearsed that. you two, you sgloe. >> larry: our guest, wendy walker. the book "producer" kathy griffin is here to help us through funny moments on larry king over the year. that's next.

i told us you, it's low to the floor i. just don't want to hurt you.

>> okay. bring it down. >> yee-ha. >> larry: what way to make a living. it is not a toupee's. not a combover. >> don't mess it up too much. >> and let this -- no. push this out -- [ laughter ] >> larry: i'll walk the street, i'll ride the car. >> gets out there and -- >> larry: i'll sell it. >> beverly hills. tell them about this movie. >> larry: "be"movie now playing. "bee" movie now playing. >> larry: kathy griffin is a comedienne and emmy winner and she's 50 years old. happy birthday. >> let's just start there. >> larry: appearing at caesar's palace in las vegas november 27th and the gibson amphitheater in los angeles on december 16th and 17th.

i might come see you november 27th. that's thanksgiving weekend. >> can you handful can? i mate mention you in the act. >> larry: i'll bring the wife and kids. >> i never met her. don't know where she lives or if she's an intern. >> larry: why are you here? >> it's a mystery. i thought suzanne somers fell out. let's talk about the first time i was booked and bumped. how can you face me? two words. kato kaelin. i will never forget that. larry made it. help was crying. hard to see him so emotional. kato kaelin is a bigger name than i am. that's what makes the show special. that after you get bumped several times, you get unbumped and then you're on the map. >> larry: did we help make your career? >> you made me and you can break me. you're like the gays. you made me and you can break me. and you've tried. got knows you've tried on this show. >> larry: wendy, why is she a good guest? >> oh, da! >> thank you.

exactly. >> larry: no, i mean, there's no one like her. >> no. she's special. >> considering it's her first week, i think she's doing a terrific job. she's dressed properly, appropriately. >> larry: you like the look? >> i do, and also the amount of screaming you must have heard from him in the commercial break is jarring. it's really -- >> no. you hear that wlarl are you doing? >> trying to ruin your image and your career. >> larry: we've had funny moments with some of the funniest people on the planet thanks to kathy and others. let's watch. >> larry: bill, throw to susan from under there. >> this is the funniest show on tv. >> come on, larry, just read the if copy for god's sakes. >> larry: you read this spot. >> yeah. hats why we do it. rooster, la, la. >> goes on and on and on. >> ruin rule the world so i can sleep with you? no. i rule the world so i can sleepy with you, you, you and you. >> on a good day? lipstick. >> jewish white man, brooklyn.

>> doesn't matter. >> larry: are you thinking about running for -- the big one? >> for -- god? >> larry: do you think god has a sense of humor. >> he better, or you and i are screwed. you know that. >> oh, my god. please tell me that that is not the capsule that they keep you in. >> larry, kiss me. just do it now. don't be afraid. hold me. i love you. nipples are hard. it's a cold room, we'll be right back. >> hey, kids yushgs funy. what's next? >> larry: is it tough to, when you're in a situation where you're expected to be funny? coming on a stage, when you're on a show like this that you're -- is that harder? >> it's a little nerve-racking because it's live, but what's great about this show is first of all, you're great at setting up comediennes so i want to thank you, because a lot of hosts will ask you about something and then for me it might be like an eight minute chunk of my act and i can't do it in a couple of seconds.

you'll actually lead me into something and then move on. i realize it's because i bore you. and -- let's talk about how she's trying to produce the show and the guy in your ear is also doing it. there's a lot of in-fighting that happens at this show, when i enjoy the most. >> larry: i don't get to hear. i don't hear her talk to the guy in my ear. >> i don't think you'd listen to her for years. >> he really doesn't. but that's another story. >> larry: does the producer have to be a control freak. >> she looked at me, shut my mouth a. control -- >> larry: freak is a bad word. have to be a controlling personality? >> i think there is to be a -- able to handle a lot of things at once and try not to -- >> ding dong, it's kato kaelin. i'm sorry. i'm over it. >> larry: you've never gotten over it. >> it's different. a lot of comediennes, us a know, i like this. a lot of comediennes aren't good guests. you are -- >> a super fan of the show. you know i've watched literally every show.

it is fascinating to me and you get a comedienne and they're very, very funny. i can see your face going, okay. here we go. i love to watch you switch gears. see we see him switching 2. now we're going to goof around. oh, being very serious. that's part of the fun. >> there are a lot of comediennes, comedians that aren't funny in real life. >> or as pretty. >> or as pretty. >> larry: we've been to some incredible places. as we go to break, some of the incredible and powerful people we've iran viewed on this show. >> old politicians sometimes die, but they seldom fade away. >> i don't want to hear anyone tell me what the political ramifications are. >> he should never give in, never give up. >> larry: say maybe i was wrong? >> mitchells -- >> racism is a dying feature of

south africa. we must fight it. years ago. well that's great. you haven't seen him... my other can is ringing. progresso. hey can you tell my wife to relax and enjoy the view? (announcer) progresso. you gotta taste this soup.

"larry king live". >> larry:has gone around the world for special shows and the book "producer" takes to you a lot of them. some of our favorite locations around the world the past 25 years.

>> larry: let's go. >> hello larry king . >> looking at some of the people i guess getting ready to come across in the evening. >> larry: they're come ago cross for the evening? >> they could be just for the evening. probably stay here a while. railroad we're back in the world's most famous box. two guys from book flynn a box but he stayed in here 44 days. >> larry: what house are we in? >> my mother. my late mother's house. >> larry: what was it like to grow up here in much lesser circumstances than here? you have this? >> first of all, this is humbling, because i know where i come from. >> once there. >> i would imagine. >> larry: we're walking an.

>> you can't call this an act of god. this was man-made failures. this shouldn't have happened. >> larry: what's that behind us? >> condemned row. >> larry: who's in there? >> people that's condemned. death row. >> larry: there is a window here. you're not allowed to be with a prisoner. that's any prisoner. >> larry: it's turned into a beautiful evening in normandy on this incredible end of an incredible day. >> looks like a construction site. no big deal, but there's,000 people 6,000 people. that's the horror. >> larry: this says 23 tear koss build a stairway and memory as lane i'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. >> larry: i lost it on that show at the fire station. do you like when we go places? >> oh, yeah. it's so cool. >> larry: harder, though? >> yeah. it is harder, but also this set -- this set is so recognizable

and people feel so comfortable here, i think it's been nice to go out and go to these places, but it's always great to do people here. the really good interviews, i think -- >> did you want to bring this to lebron james' house? that almost was your second male kiss. you really looked like had you a crush on him. more than a crush. >> larry: the first time you were on this show, were you nervous? >> first of all, this isn't in my act. clearly you've never watched my emmy nominated specials. what i'm fascinated by is your temperament. >> larry: what are you talking about? >> you know what i'm talking about. >> larry: i don't know what you're talking about. >> that it. got kla. >> larry: it's flots in the book. >> yes it is. no, just kidding. >> larry: i read the book. >> fired the whole staff during the commercial, i'm shaking saying, am i next. then i thought kit oh ato kaelin would be right behind me. his is like the first night with kato. is they the hall? i'm nervous kato's going to rush in. >> larry: do you still have a

crush on ryan seacrest. >> look, i don't talk about her publicly. oh, fire that guy. >> larry: do you have a face rit place we've gone? >> i have to say graceland nap was just so fun, because it was supposed to be a mansion and it's kind of like a colonial with shag carpet. but we were aloud to actually walk around. >> food on the carpet? >> a can opener in the kitchen. the old-fashioned can other. kept it the same way it was. it was really funny. >> pills inside. or dolls as they called them then. >> larry: were you a presley fan? >> of course. gorgeous and one ever greats, but i still make fun of him. the greats i make fun of them. studying him up when i put him in my act. i adore you and sometimes you come up in my act. >> larry: can i bring children to your act. >> no. you can barely come yourself. barely. >> larry: okay.

we're going to take you behind the scenes of "larry king live." how decisions are made. what people think about being on the show and advice for upcoming guests. stick around.

we're back with the dolly sisters. wendy walker, author and producer, lessons shared from 30 years in television. suzanne somers returns and kathy griffin. you remember your first time on the show? >> it was a long, long time ago. >> larry: 23 times you've been on. >> you were in washington, d.c. >> larry: your first time you said you were nervous. >> i was very nervous. absolutely. and i demanded the whole hour. >> but when i first went on -- >> i still do. get up girls. i know the necklace is $19.95. i get it somers. >> $39.95. >> i'll take it. i'll take four if i can just get there in time. sorry. go ahead. >> larry: you were in washington. >> you were in washington and you were cable and it wasn't at that time as prestigious to guest on cable shows.

do you recall that moment in time? >> this isn't really going your way. >> yes it is. >> and what you turned it into is the most prestigious of all. >> larry: here are some of the incredible musicians we've had on this show. watch. ♪ see the water lie on the ground, and where the heavens open ♪ ♪ you are only sweet 16 everybody going to dance tonight, everybody going to feel ♪ ♪ all right there's nothing i fear and i know that my heart will go on ♪ >> larry: the book and our producer, what has this show meant to you personally?

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>> larry: the book and our

producer, what has this show meant to you personally? it's been a big part of your life. >> it has. 17 years. it's -- i think of events, and i think of events in my life, so it's -- they've been kind of interwoven. but i think the thing i'm going to miss the most are the people. it's definitely not me and not just you. we have an amazing, amazing staff. >> larry: we have staff all over the country. washington, new york, los angeles. >> atlanta. >> larry: atlanta. and they've all gotten close to you. >> we're very close. >> larry: you kind of marry them in a sense. they're family. >> you go through their ups and downs and because you have to. if you're close, and who isn't when they're working in a group like that? >> larry: what's the worst part of the job? >> i don't have -- i love my -- >> larry: what about letting someone go? >> well, that's hard, but usually, no, that's always hard. but it's been -- it's been

amazing. i can't believe it's been 17 years. i mean, it doesn't seem like it. >> larry: doesn't seem like it at all. do you pinch yourself sometimes? you've been a part of -- this is history. >> yeah, i do. i think of the 30 years at cnn and it has been -- it's like a history book, this show is like a history book. >> larry: what's it like to get a show ready and on? can you briefly say what happens? what do you do in the morning? you have a staff meeting, right? >> we talk all day long. i mean, i've always -- you'd be surprised, because it would drive you crazy. but we start early, 5:30 west coast, 8:30 on the east, and we're just, you know, just looking at everything that's going on in the world. we read papers, looking at the other morning shows, deciding if we need to change what we've already decided to do. usually we have something decided the night before. so we decide if we have to change it. but then that goes on all day

long. we can be ready for a show, as you know, ready five minutes in and we have to change it for breaking news. >> larry: breaking news always holds precedent. >> absolutely. >> larry: because we're first a news network. >> and that's, as you know, that's kind of the easy part. because then people are coming in, calling on the phone, and you're just trying to get the information and there's just an energy that goes with that. >> larry: by the way, we're not leaving because wendy's going to exec produce specials, right? that's got to be different. because when you say something's special. >> it better be a special. >> larry: wendy, you've got a great book. you're a doll. >> thank you. >> larry: love working with you. >> thank you. >> larry: and continue working. producer, lessons shared from 30 years in television, wendy walker walker. tonight skpefr night, it's the best staff in the business. they know what they mean to me, and now i want you to know. for one of the few times on "larry king live" we're showing you the names of my friends who put it all together. thank you, everyone, we will now roll the credits.