Larry King

Oksana Grigorieva told Larry King last night that Mel Gibson hit her, choked her, waved a gun at her and made her sincerely think she was going to die.

On "Jan. 6 [of this year] the beating took place," the actor's ex-girlfriend and the mother of his daughter, who also has a 12-year-old son by Timothy Dalton said. "Mel actually assaulted me while I was holding the baby in my arms."

"I ran into my son's bedroom and told him, 'Mel's crazy.'"

Grigorieva said that at that moment, her son, Alexander, hid behind the bed as Oksana stood with her daughter Lucia, "like a mother protecting her cubs."

News came out this week that Mel admitted slapping Oksana, but not punching her, in a hysterical moment during which he says he was protecting Lucia.

She says he did much worse, and recorded the Mel Gibson tapes as evidence of her murder, if that happened, but also to "help" crazy Mel if it did not.

Listen to a portion of her interview after the jump ...

It seems like only yesterday that Larry King and Shawn Southwick were on the cusp of divorcing amid rumors he was giving it to her sister Shannon Engemann.

It was mid-April. Both sides filed divorce papers separately then, and hope appeared lost ... until both filed petitions to dismiss their divorce papers yesterday.

The judge needs to sign the papers to dismiss the divorce petitions, but it's just a formality. The once-feuding pair look like they will stick this out long term.

A little surprising, as Shawn's overdose and possible suicide attempt in June seemed to cast doubt on whether the issues with King were able to be reconciled.

Larry King's eighth wife may be his last after all! Shawn Southwick has already past all his previous ones by making it to double digits. Great job you guys!

The couple, who have two children together, recently reconciled on a trial basis, not long after they filed their divorce papers, but had yet to formally call it off.

Now King, who just announced his retirement, has declared an end to the dissolution of his marriage as well. We're happy to see they're working things out!

After a quarter century on the air and amid some pretty significant personal controversy of late, Larry King will hang up the suspenders this fall.

The talk show host, 77, announced on Tuesday he will end his run on Larry King Live in the fall but will remain with CNN for occasional specials.

The decision to retire was made to "give me more time for my wife and I to get to the kids' little league games," the venerable newsman said.

Larry and wife Shawn Southwick have been embroiled in marital problems this year, both filing for divorce at one point before calling it off.

King was accused of an affair with Shannon Engemann, Shawn's sister, while she has been tied to their kids' little league coach of all people.

Hopefully Larry and Shawn can work things out.

In May, his wife, who has a history of painkiller addiction, was found with empty pill bottles strewn on her bed in a possible suicide attempt.

They have been married over a decade and have two young sons.

"Larry King defined the art of the TV interview," CNN said. "His candor, curiosity and compassion are legendary, and his ability to interview people from all walks of life – world leaders, celebrities and everyday people – has made him an icon."

"With this chapter closing I'm looking forward to the future and what my next chapter will bring," said a clearly emotional King.

We wish him the best with that.

A night after Justin Bieber entertained fans in his native country of Canada - watch his performance at the MuchMusic Video Awards NOW! - this 16-year old cutie will head down south.

Along with other celebrities such as Kathy Griffin, Ryan Seacrest and Chelsea Handler, Bieber will join Larry King for a special telethon this evening. Airing on CNN, the special will benefit citizens left in ruin by the BP oil spill in April.

Titled "Disaster in the Gulf: How You Can Help," the fundraiser will air at 8 p.m. EST and feature stars live and via satellite.

Also booked for the event: Randy Jackson, Ted Danson, Lenny Kravitz, Jenny McCarthy, Tim McGraw, Alyssa Milano, Robert Redford, Ian Somerhalder, Edward James Olmos, Pete Wentz and many others.

All money raised from the telethon will benefit the United Way, the National Wildlife Federation and the Nature Conservancy. All these organizations are dedicated to helping families and individuals whose lives have been profoundly affected by this man-made disaster.

Said King in a statement: "I understand bureaucracy and that some things take time, but when you're out of work, you don't need help tomorrow, you need help today."

Larry King and wife Shawn Southwick King split up in April amid rumors that he was nailing her sister Shannon Engemann, but reconciled soon after.

But the two have not withdrawn their dueling divorce petitions, and the rumored Shawn King suicide attempt in May indicates things are still amiss.

Will they or won't they split up?

It's anyone's guess, and rumor has it that the tipping point for whether Shawn becomes his eighth ex-wife is not his alleged infidelity, but money.

People familiar with the situation say nothing is going to happen as Shawn recovers from her overdose (which some suspect was a suicide attempt).

Larry King and Shawn Southwick married over a decade ago.

But before that crisis, one of Larry King's lawyers actually presented a proposal to Shawn's lawyer to undo an agreement he signed a few years ago.

Then, also amid speculation that he was railing Shannon Engemann, King signed over their houses to her. They are in Shawn Southwick's name only.

Recently, after the couple reconciled, or at least put the divorce on ice, one of Larry's lawyers submitted a proposal for a new division of property.

One that did not sit well with Shawn, as it turns out.

Whether or not the Kings, who have two young boys, remain married hinges, as a source puts it, on "striking a new deal on the money issues."

Larry King's wife Shawn Southwick reportedly overdosed on prescription drugs in what investigators are considering a suicide bid. Fortunately, Shawn failed.

It all went down May 28 when Shawn's dad called 911 from the Kings' home in Provo, Utah, telling the dispatcher Shawn was breathing but not responsive.

Shawn King left a handwritten note stating she OD'd on purpose and indicated where she wanted to be buried, according to police, who found a lot meds.

Larry King says their marriage is still intact, despite both of them filing for divorce in April. Later, they called it off and decided to make the marriage work.

Apparently things went south between then and May 28, though.

Shawn King with Larry and their two sons.

Among the medications found at the home, Subutex is used to treat narcotic addiction, while Cymbalta is an anti-depressant and Lyrica a seizure treatment.

Klonopin and Clonazepam are anti-anxiety meds. Bottles of those two, along with Ambien, were empty and had been filled within 10 days of the incident.

Sources close to Shawn Southwick say she battles depression, which started, continued and never stopped over Larry King's alleged affair with her sister.

Shawn has been "extremely depressed" for more than five years, and the trigger is believed to be Larry's long-term involvement with Shannon Engemann.

If you've been following this story, you may recall that several years ago, this all blew up in Larry's face, and he made a peace offering to Shawn King.

Nothing says rekindling a romance like divorce papers.

Yup, Larry King and Shawn Southwick are going to work it out. He's just checked out of the Beverly Hills hotel where he was staying and moved back home.

As of right now, Larry is back inside the home he shares with the wife and their two kids, and she's apparently thrilled to have the man of the house back.

Larry King and Shawn Southwick said in a statement:

"We love our children, each other, and being a family. That is all that matters. We owe it to ourselves and our children to continue being dedicated to each other. We want to thank our friends for their loyal love and support, for being there for us."

If you say so, guys.

Larry King and eighth wife Shawn Southwick are making it work!

The formerly estranged couple filed dueling divorce petitions April 14, following reports that Larry King had been nailing Shawn's sister Shannon Engemann.

Shawn was also romantically linked to Hector Penate, the kids' little league coach. This was pretty scandalous stuff and a reconciliation seemed unlikely.

But a few days later announced they were suspending the proceedings for two weeks, and attending counseling and attempting to smooth things over.

Looks like it worked out. For the time being, anyway.

Shannon Engemann, sister of Larry King's wife Shawn Southwick, would consider being the eighth Mrs. Larry King and bearing the fruits of his seed.

Yes, we just said "Larry King" and "seed" in the same sentence.

Larry King and his sister-in-law talked about having a baby during the affair that left him on the verge of divorcing Shawn Southwick, a source says.

Insiders say Larry and Shannon not only discussed marriage but talked about having a child should he and Shawn separate. Has that time come?

Larry and Shawn have both filed for divorce against each other, although the pair has instituted a two-week break in their divorce proceedings.

Shannon Engemann, left, is the younger sister of Shawn Southwick, seen on the right with Larry King. Man, that CNN fossil can really score some ratings hotties!

Accused of her cheating with Hector Penate, Shawn thinks Larry and her sis were boinking - and may still be. Is Shannon waiting in the wings?

“If Shawn divorces Larry then Shannon would like to become his next wife," a source says. “Although she has denied having sex with him, she does admit that they have flirted heavily with one another for years."

“She knew that Larry had very strong feelings for her.”

In the early part of their relationship they discussed marriage and having a baby, the source said. She would represent King's ninth marriage and eighth wife.

Yep, one lucky lady had the honor of two honeymoons with Larry King.

As a man who spends every night in front of CNN cameras, Larry King knows a thing or two about the power of the media and controlling stories.

But can he use that experience to control his own scandal?

The veteran journalist and talk show host is, as you know, about to divorce Shawn Southwick, who he's accused of cheating on (and vice versa).

With rumors about reconciliation and who's sleeping with who running wild, King put the kibosh on celebrity gossip - at least from Team Larry:

"Out of respect for the parties to discuss several ongoing issues including but certainly not limited to the welfare of the children, no one from the Larry King side is going to make any comment to the press for two weeks about anything."

Larry King's statement comes amid the most salacious report yet.

Yesterday, actor and Beverly Hills Little League coach Hector Penate pulled a Michelle McGee and blatantly bragged about alleged sex romps with Shawn Southwick.

Hector Penate went into real detail about nailing Southwick in Larry's bed, how she slept with him as retaliation for Larry doing her sister Shannon Engemann, etc.

She has denied the affair.

While truth and more gossip will come out (give or take 14 days' time), King's no-comment comment comes as he temporarily halts divorce proceedings.

The two are trying to "resolve some lingering issues," probably involving their two young sons. Or figuring out who exactly has been sleeping with who here.

Hector Penate admits he totally had an affair Shawn Southwick in the home of her husband Larry King - so often, he says, he felt like it was his own house.

Moreover, the actor and baseball coach says he nailed Larry King's wife right before her divorce filing last week and says she mused about Larry's demise.

In an interview airing tonight on ET, he leaves little doubt over whether he slept with Shawn Southwick, responding to the question with: "Yes I did."

Hector Penate, 31, said Shawn, 50, often spoke to him of her desire to divorce Larry, 76, and wistfully told him, "'Don't worry, he's gonna die soon.'"

That sound you hear is of it being ON at his lawyer's office.

Hector Penate says he first bedded Shawn Southwick-King in 2007.

"We got back in the car and we kind of locked eyes and just started kissing," Penate recalls of the first time he passionately bedded Shawn Southwick.

King and Southwick filed divorce papers minutes apart last week after a fight over Shawn's claim King is having an affair with Shannon Engemann.

That would be her younger sister.

Southwick has denied having an affair with Penate, but he says they so had one, and not only that, it was motivated by King's affair with Engemann.

This is really twisted stuff... and the fact that involves Larry King is hilarious. "I really think she had the affair [with me] because of him," he said.

Not that the young hunk minded ... or it was a one-shot deal by any means.

"We had sex in Larry's bed a lot," he said. "I felt like it was my house."

Larry and Shawn Southwick-King had an interesting marriage.