Ms. Walters Announces That This Year’s 2010 Oscar Special Will Be Her Last
Barbara Walters announced today on this morning’s broadcast of “The View” that this year’s annual Oscar® Night edition of “The Barbara Walters Special” will be her last. This year’s Special will feature Academy Award Best Actress nominee Sandra Bullock and Academy Award Best Supporting Actress nominee Mo’Nique, along with a comprehensive retrospective of the Special that has become a true Oscar tradition. The last installment of the Oscar Night edition of “The Barbara Walters Special” will air on Sunday March 7 at 7:00 p.m., ET and immediately following the Academy Awards on the west coast on the ABC Television Network. The Special has aired for the past 29 years on Oscar Night.
Discussing why she made this decision, Ms. Walters said: “ABC has asked me to keep doing these specials as they have been so successful – and I’m thrilled we have such great stars and have such a wonderful show for this last one – but to be honest, I feel like I’ve ‘been there, done that.'” Ms. Walters will continue to do her other annual ABC news special, “The 10 Most Fascinating People,” as well as “The View” and her other assignments.
Ms. Walters launched her Oscar Night Special in 1981 with interviews from Hollywood Superstar Brooke Shields and her mother, Teri, Country singer Loretta Lynn, “Dallas” actress Linda Gray, music icon Ringo Starr and model/actress Barbara Bach.
“When we first started this special, I don’t think any of us knew exactly how much of an Oscar Night staple it would become,” said Ms. Walters.
Since then, Ms. Walters has sat down with powerhouse stars including Catherine Zeta Jones, Sarah Jessica Parker, Tom Cruise, Ben Stiller, John Travolta, Mike Meyers, Michael Douglas, George Clooney, Mariah Carey, Faith Hill, Bette Davis, Elizabeth Taylor, Oprah Winfrey, Shirley MacLaine, Sophia Loren, Anthony Hopkins and Michelle Pfeiffer, to name just a few.
Ms. Walters has covered a scope of celebrities that no other journalist can rival: Academy Award nominees, hosts, winners and colossal talents have all sat down to discuss career highs, career lows, breakouts, always with some surprises, all for the annual Oscar Night edition of “The Barbara Walters Special.”
“This special has been a labor of love for 29 years. I will always remember when Hugh Jackman gave me a private lap dance, or sitting down with the legendary Bette Davis, or being taught to tango by Al Pacino,” said Ms. Walters. “It’s those priceless moments that have made this Special the Oscar tradition that it has become, but I truly feel enough is enough.”
Ms. Walters will revisit many of these special moments when she says goodbye in a complete look-back of her Oscar Night edition of “The Barbara Walters Special.” The retrospective will span interviews with the many superstars Ms. Walters has interviewed over the years, including Cher, Anthony Hopkins, Steven Spielberg, Halle Berry, Renee Zellweger, Diane Keaton, George Clooney, Sophia Loren, Helen Mirren, President & Mrs. Reagan and Kim Basinger.
The Oscar® Night edition of “The Barbara Walters Special” is a Barwall Production. The Special is produced and directed by Bill Geddie.
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