bill maher is the emmy nominated host of "real time with bill maher" on hbo, a stand-up comic, best-sellingcalled him today in view of this announcement tonight and asked him if he'd come as an old friend. bill will be performing at the new orleans showroom on the 17th and 18th in july and at the amer ameristar casino in kansas city on july 30th. thank you, bill. >> i'm honored you would ask me to take over the desk. i'm ready to step in at a moment's notice. >> larry: so you're making an announcement tonight, too? >> do you want to finish the hour or would you like me to take over right now, larry? >> larry: well, this was tough, bill. it was time. i was ready to do it. the cnn folks agreed to it. we sat down. i'm going to do specials and have more time with the family and i want to expand, do other things i haven't been able to do. >> i am reminded of my father, who was a broadcaster, the day mickey mantle retired. say it isn't so, he began the broadcast. >> larry: do you put knee that class? >> mickey mantle? you are the mickey mantle of broadcasters. mickey mantle played 18 seasons. you

plus, hillary clinton, bill maher, clean dion, laura bush, quinton tarantino, james cameron, lionel, anne hathaway, pam anderson, aretha franklin, quincy jones, bruce willis,

a lot of people watch bill maher. what i like about bill maher, he answer what's you ask him.e is totally honest. there is not a connect between here and here. he doesn't stand, he is -- he is above politics in that he is totally committed to what he is saying and he's funny. so that means if you ask him about anyone, he is irreverent. you love irreverent people he is one of my favorites. >> i agree. as he great guest. the kiss that made tv history. it's next when "larry king live" returns. ♪ got a date with an angel ♪ and i'm on my way to heaven ♪ people say i'm forgetful. maybe that's why we go to so many memorable places. love the road you're on. the subaru outback. motor trend's 2010 sport/utility of the year. >> larry: this should be a thrill for us but in this particular case, the guest is thrilled. you are really a fan. it's so nice to know that. >> so nice to might. so nice to be in the studio with you and spend some time with you. my favorite larry king memory was meeting with him. i was very nervous when i did his show for the first time. i remember rente telling me,

they would never say, "i just saw bill maher last night, and looks like he's gained some weight" or blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, you know? this, that, and the other. but i've gotten, "janeane garofalo looking like an unmade bed." and then one person put something like-- in an interview, that said, "let's hope her new year's resolution entails joining a gym." because our culture objectifies women and is dreadfully unfair to women on every level, i would say that there'd be a number of people who are watching it-- i bring it up only because there will be people out there watching it who will have comments on my physical appearance and also my strong opinions, and somehow the two will equal unlikability. do you know what i mean? whereas if you were addressing, right now, another male comic, that would never enter into it. like, "boy, i found that guy unattractive." i get frequently accused of just rolling out of bed, not being clean. someone wrote a letter to conan asking that i take a shower next time i come on. and-- and joan rivers attacked you. well, she attacks everybody. joan rivers

having links to a terror network moscow says they belong to the group led by infamous militant leader maher the arrest took place after the french police had been tipped off by the russian security services those suspects reportedly had firearms explosives and a map of moscow with mark locations of possible targets. of is one of the most wanted of russia's north caucasus militant leaders at a spot to be connected with a march who claimed responsibility for organizing the moscow metro blast a march is also blamed for many other attacks across the country in june the u.s. also put him on a wanted list of international terrorists. thousands of experts scientists and politicians from around the globe have gathered in vienna to discuss hiv aids prevention but as r.t. sarah firth reports the convention has also attracted skeptics who oppose mainstream beliefs surrounding the deadly virus. this day of the aids two thousand and ten conference in vienna people have been arriving all morning to register and to the global village which is going to be the center of much of the discussion over the comin