Larry King to lend a hand with Peterson benefit

CNN's Larry King will be the host of a comedy show in Modesto in October to raise money for a fund established by the mother of murder victim Laci Peterson.

"Laughing for Laci" will feature TV improv experts Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood and stand-up comic Wendy Liebman, according to a Web site run by Peterson's survivors.

"It will be my honor" to serve as host of the event, the talk show giant said last week on his show, "Larry King Live," while interviewing Peterson's mother, Sharon Rocha of Modesto. Her daughter was eight months pregnant when she disappeared on Christmas Eve 2002, touching off a massive search and media frenzy. Scott Peterson was convicted of murdering his wife and unborn son, Conner. In March 2005, he arrived on death row, where he awaits appeals.

Rocha has appeared on King's show several times and last week said she was outraged that Scott Peterson's family is posting his comments on a recently established blog.

"Laughing for Laci" is booked for Oct. 11 at the Gallo Center for the Arts, a spokeswoman confirmed Monday even though the event is not yet listed on the center's Web site. An annual event for bikers called the Laci & Conner Memorial Ride, usually held in October, will be postponed until spring, according to that fund- raiser's Web site.

For details, see lacipeterson.com and lacipetersonmemorial.com.