Even on his last show, with a gang of stars and Larry King Live regulars turned out to send him off, Larry King seemed to have an easier time talking about other people than talking about himself. Receiving tribute from former President Bill Clinton, he turned the conversation toward Clinton’s stint behind the White House podium with Barack Obama last week. A so-long from Suze Orman turned into speculation about the future of Oprah’s OWN network, launching January 1.

And even as King kicked off his final LKL, it came with one of his trademark whiplash transitions: “Welcome to the last Larry King Live. It’s hard to say that. I knew this day was coming, but these words are not easy to say—Bill Maher! Is the host of Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO!” Maher started to laugh, unsure whether King was saying that Maher’s own name was what was not easy to say.

“That’s Larry King, right?” King said. “Go right to it!”