February 3, 2004

LARRY KING TELLS MIKE WALLACE WHY HE WOULD CHOOSE TO INTERVIEW MICHAEL JACKSON INSTEAD OF SADDAM HUSSEIN -- WEDNESDAY, FEB. 4 ON "60 MINUTES II"

The man who may have conducted the most broadcast interviews and the man who practically invented the "tough" interview face off during a 60 MINUTES II report: Larry King reveals to correspondent Mike Wallace why he thinks Michael Jackson would be a better guest on his CNN show than Saddam Hussein. "I would take Jackson and I would beat you if we go head-to-head," King, the self-described political junkie tells Wallace. "Saddam Hussein tends to be boring..." In the wide-ranging interview, King also reflects on his first interview with Wallace 12 years ago, talks about his age, his health, his seventh marriage and what it's like to be the father of two small children at his age. The interview will be broadcast on 60 MINUTES II Wednesday, Feb. 4 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

The following excerpts must be credited to 60 MINUTES II:

King on Interviewing Michael Jackson and Saddam Hussein: King: "...Here's an interesting question: I'll get you Saddam Hussein tonight for an exclusive or Michael Jackson tonight for an exclusive. Both will talk about anything you want to talk about." Wallace: "Who will I take? No contest. Saddam Hussein." King: "I would take Jackson and I would beat you if we go head to head. Saddam Hussein tends to be boring. He's more predictable as to what he's going to say: 'Yes, my troops will carry on. They carry on in my name. The infidels came to my country.'" Wallace: "Wait a second. Wait a second. On 'Larry King.'" King: "Maybe I'll get him to say more." Wallace: "No, no, no."
King: "Are you asking me, would I personally rather..." Wallace: "You'd throw him softballs."
King [laughing]: "...You'll never be back in this house. You told me you'd be nice, Mike. You can't be nice, can you, Mike? You know, [it's] something in you, you just can't be [nice]. I would rather do Saddam Hussein, but who would cause the most interest and concern? Hands down, Michael Jackson."

King on His Wedding Day:
"It's my wedding day. Now, I'm lying in bed. There's a minister over there, people are gathering around the bed. The doctors are arguing. The guy from New York says he can get it out with angioplasty. I said, 'I'm going back to New York.' So, we got married right at the bed. Minister came over, performed the service. That night we flew a medivac plane to New York and did the angioplasty on Monday morning."

(More)
CBS Television...2

King on Being Mistaken for his Wife's Father: "I'm walking in New York, my hometown...me and the wife and the kids, and a guy walks by and he looks at me and says, 'Hey, Larry King, beautiful grandchildren, great-looking daughter.' That hurt...."

Jeff Fager is the executive producer of 60 MINUTES II and Barbara Dury is the producer of this report.

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Press Contact: Kelli Edwards 212/975-6795 kee@cbsnews.com

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