King says he’s ending show after 25 years

New York — Larry King, who has interviewed statesmen and stars from a prime-time perch at CNN for 25 years but has seen his ratings sag recently, said Tuesday that he will step down this fall from his nightly show.

“It’s time to hang up my nightly suspenders,” King said in a message sent to fans via Twitter.

King said he will do occasional specials for CNN. He recently reached his 25-year anniversary and takes pride in a Guinness Book of World Records citation for hosting the longest-running show on the same network in the same time slot.

The long-time radio host was a pioneer in cable television, his desk considered a valued spot to sit for anyone interested in talking to the nation. King’s interview style was plain-spoken and critics would suggest occasionally ill-prepared, but he was good at making his guests feel comfortable and ready to talk.

King said he felt no pressure from CNN to leave. He said he began thinking about stepping down as his 25th anniversary week ended earlier this month, on the airplane home after interviewing basketball star LeBron James. During that week, he also spoke to Bill Gates, President Barack Obama and Lady Gaga — an apt example of the mix that he always sought on his show.

“I said, ‘I can’t top this,'” King said in an interview Tuesday.

Carell says he’s leaving ‘The Office’

Adios Michael Scott? Could it be true?

Steve Carell, who recently told BBC Radio that he’s leaving “The Office” after next season, confirmed the “decision” to E! News on Sunday night while he made the red carpet rounds at the premiere of “Despicable Me.”

“I just think it’s time,” the star of the NBC hit told E! Online. “I want to fulfill my contract. When I first signed on I had a contract for seven seasons, and this coming year is my seventh. I just thought it was time for my character to go.”

Of course, this could totally be a bargaining ploy. (Charlie Sheen, anyone?)

Carell thinks “The Office” can go on without him.

“It doesn’t certainly mean the end of the show,” he said. “I think it’s just a dynamic change to the show, which could be a good thing, actually. Add some new life and some new energy … I see it as a positive in general for the show.”

Hulu launches video subscription service

Los Angeles — Online video site Hulu, under pressure from its media company parents to generate a bigger profit, launched a subscription service Tuesday with complete access to back episodes of popular television shows.

For $9.99 a month, subscribers can get the entire current season of “Glee,” “The Office,” “House” and other shows from broadcasters ABC, Fox and NBC, as well as all the past seasons of several series. The popular, ad-supported website will continue to have a few recent episodes for free online.

In a surprise move, however, paying subscribers will get the same number of ads as users of the free website.

Hulu Chief Executive Jason Kilar said keeping ads was necessary to help keep the subscription price low.

“Certainly there was an opportunity for us to offer an ad-free service at a higher price,” Kilar told The Associated Press. “But we heard loud and clear from consumers that they would prefer to have a lower price in a way that advertising helps lower the cost.”

Sandra Bullock, Jesse James divorce finalized

Los Angeles — Sandra Bullock and Jesse James are divorced.

A court clerk in Austin, Texas, confirmed that the divorce between the Oscar-winning actress and celebrity biker was finalized Monday. Bullock filed to end the marriage in April after reports surfaced that James had been unfaithful.

Details of the settlement were sealed by the court, but Bullock’s initial filing cited “discord or conflict of personalities” as grounds for the divorce.

An attorney for Bullock did not immediately return calls to The Associated Press on Tuesday, but her publicist, Cheryl Maisel, confirmed the couple’s split was complete.

90-minute ‘Runway’ premieres July 29

Los Angeles — A bigger “Project Runway” is coming to a television near you.

Host Heidi Klum says each episode will be 90 minutes when the reality show returns July 29 on the Lifetime network. That’s 30 minutes more drama each week — and that’s just how Klum likes it.

“We did get always a few complaints from people that they wanted to see a little bit more, which we were obviously very excited about,” she said in a phone interview. “So now we have half an hour more.”

That means 30 minutes more drama each week, which this season is set to include ample tears and ambulance visits for three contestants who collapsed on the set.

Now in its eighth season, the show pits aspiring fashion designers against each other for a $100,000 cash prize to help them launch their own clothing line and a fashion spread in Marie Claire magazine.

Virginia label to reissue Sen. Byrd’s 1978 album

Charlottesville, Va. — A Virginia record label plans to reissue a bluegrass album recorded by the late U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd.

The West Virginia Democrat was the longest-serving member of the Senate. He died Monday at 92.

The 1978 “Mountain Fiddler” album features Byrd performing old-time and bluegrass songs on fiddle, along with Country Gentlemen band members Doyle Lawson on guitar, James Bailey on banjo, and Spider Gilliam on bass.

County Records owner Dave Freeman says the reissue project had been in the works for about 18 months. The CD will be available nationally July 27.