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Critic’s Notebook

It’s sign-off time for TV legend Barbara Walters

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  • Barbara Walters, now 84, is retiring from “The View” and her regular on-air work on Friday. After a career smashing through glass ceilings, including her stints in 1974 on “Today” as the first female news host and in 1976 as the first woman to co-anchor an evening newscast, Walters is unplugging her microphone.
    Heidi Gutman
    Barbara Walters, now 84, is retiring from “The View” and her regular on-air work on Friday. After a career smashing through glass ceilings, including her stints in 1974 on “Today” as the first female news host and in 1976 as the first woman to co-anchor an evening newscast, Walters is unplugging her microphone.
  • After a week of teary exaltation on ABC’s “The View” in honor of her retirement, the network will run a two-hour love-fest called “Barbara Walters: Her Story” on Friday night. From left: Meredith Vieira, Star Jones, Joy Behar, and Walters on the set of "The View" in 2003.
    ED BAILEY/Associated Press
    After a week of teary exaltation on ABC’s “The View” in honor of her retirement, the network will run a two-hour love-fest called “Barbara Walters: Her Story” on Friday night. From left: Meredith Vieira, Star Jones, Joy Behar, and Walters on the set of "The View" in 2003.
  • Last week, Walters paid a celebratory visit to “Saturday Night Live,” home of the late Gilda Radner’s ruthless impression of her, the one that launched “Baba Wawa” into our collective snark-speak.
    Dana Edelson/NBC via Associated Press
    Last week, Walters paid a celebratory visit to “Saturday Night Live,” home of the late Gilda Radner’s ruthless impression of her, the one that launched “Baba Wawa” into our collective snark-speak.
  • Walters has turned her camera and questions on tawdry figures such as accused murderer and actor Robert Blake and pop flashes such as Miley Cyrus (pictured), who was featured as part of ABC’s “Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2013.”
    Heidi Gutman
    Walters has turned her camera and questions on tawdry figures such as accused murderer and actor Robert Blake and pop flashes such as Miley Cyrus (pictured), who was featured as part of ABC’s “Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2013.”
  • The Boston-born Walters recently interviewed Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling's female companion, V. Stiviano.
    The Boston-born Walters recently interviewed Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling's female companion, V. Stiviano.
  • A massive 74 million people tuned in to Walters’s famous interview with Monica Lewinsky in 1999.
    VIRGINIA SHERWOOD
    A massive 74 million people tuned in to Walters’s famous interview with Monica Lewinsky in 1999.
  • Walters has been a prime mover behind a number of important and lucrative TV franchises, including her pre-Oscars specials, her annual “10 Most Fascinating People” show, “20/20,” and “The View.” Pictured: Hugh Downs and Walters on the set of “20/20” in 1993. The duo anchored the program together from 1979 until 1999 when Downs retired.
    STEVE FENN
    Walters has been a prime mover behind a number of important and lucrative TV franchises, including her pre-Oscars specials, her annual “10 Most Fascinating People” show, “20/20,” and “The View.” Pictured: Hugh Downs and Walters on the set of “20/20” in 1993. The duo anchored the program together from 1979 until 1999 when Downs retired.
  • Downs and Walters anchored “20/20” with correspondents (from left) Bob Brown, Tom Jarriel, Sylvia Chase, Geraldo Rivera, and John Stossel. Pictured: The team in 1983.
    STEVE FENN/ABC
    Downs and Walters anchored “20/20” with correspondents (from left) Bob Brown, Tom Jarriel, Sylvia Chase, Geraldo Rivera, and John Stossel. Pictured: The team in 1983.
  • Walters, who was once referred to by “Today” host Hugh Downs as “the new ‘Today’ girl,” eventually rose to the top. Pictured: Walters after her final live appearance on the “Today” show in 1975.
    Walters, who was once referred to by “Today” host Hugh Downs as “the new ‘Today’ girl,” eventually rose to the top. Pictured: Walters after her final live appearance on the “Today” show in 1975.
  • Walters co-anchored ABC News with Harry Reasoner in 1976, a disastrous, tension-filled pairing. Reasoner hated having to share his anchor responsibilities with her, and the ratings followed his lead.
    RAY STUBBLEBINE/Associated Press
    Walters co-anchored ABC News with Harry Reasoner in 1976, a disastrous, tension-filled pairing. Reasoner hated having to share his anchor responsibilities with her, and the ratings followed his lead.
  • Walters interviewed president-elect Jimmy Carter and Rosalyn Carter for her first special airing in 1976 on ABC.
    ABC PHOTO ARCHIVES
    Walters interviewed president-elect Jimmy Carter and Rosalyn Carter for her first special airing in 1976 on ABC.
  • The promise of some of her early reporting, including a historic joint talk with Egypt’s President Anwar Sadat and Israel’s Prime Minister Menachem Begin in 1977, developed into a concerted effort to get her subjects to share and make headlines.
    ABC PHOTO ARCHIVES
    The promise of some of her early reporting, including a historic joint talk with Egypt’s President Anwar Sadat and Israel’s Prime Minister Menachem Begin in 1977, developed into a concerted effort to get her subjects to share and make headlines.
  • Walters interviewed Cuban president Fidel Castro in 1977.
    ABC PHOTO ARCHIVES
    In 1977, Walters interviewed Cuban President Fidel Castro.
  • Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat (right) presented Walters with a handmade dress and mother-of-pearl box following an interview with him in Beirut in 1977.
    Harry Koundakjian/Associated Press
    Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat presented Walters with a handmade dress and mother-of-pearl box following an interview with him in Beirut in 1977.
  • In 1979, Walters interviewed the former Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, in his New York Hospital room.
    ABC News
    In 1979, Walters interviewed the former Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, in his New York Hospital room.
  • Comedian Richard Pryor was interviewed by Walters in the yard of his home in California in 1980.
    Associated Press
    Comedian Richard Pryor was interviewed by Walters in the yard of his home in California in 1980.
  • Eddie Murphy posed with Walters in 1983 for “The Barbara Walters Special.”
    ABC
    Eddie Murphy posed with Walters in 1983 for “The Barbara Walters Special.”
  • From left: President Ronald Regan with wife Nancy Regan, their dog, Rex, and Walters during an interview in 1986.
    UPI
    President Ronald Reagan with wife Nancy Reagan, their dog, Rex, and Walters during an interview in 1986.
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