Barbara Walters - Bitten and Bound

Barbara Walters’ Daughter Jackie Arrested for DUI in Florida

Barbara Walters, Celebrities, Celebrity Arrest No Responses »

May 212013

Jacqueline Danforth, the adopted daughter of Barbara Walters, was arrested at 1:24 a.m. Sunday in Naples, Florida and charged with DUI.

The 44-year-old was driving a Hondo Pilot SUV without headlights when she was pulled over by local police.

According to a report filed by the arresting officer, Jackie Danforth and her male passenger were “heavily intoxicated.” The policeman noted in his report, “I was afraid that the suspect may run into traffic on the highway, so she was taken to the ground due to her unpredictable behavior, then secured in handcuffs.”

A breathalyzer test revealed a blood alcohol level of .218 — close to three times the legal limit.

Danforth was booked and photographed before being released from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office shortly after posting a $1,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear in court on June 12th.

In 2003 journalist Jane Pauley conducted an NBC interview with Barbara and Jackie, during which mother and daughter acknowledged that things were rocky at times during the teenage years. Danforth admits she ran away on a number of occasions, once for over a month.

Barbara claims, “Another parent would call the police. I didn’t want the headlines. It’s not that I didn’t want the headlines for myself. I didn’t want the headlines for her. I thought, “I don’t know what she’ll do.”

When Pauley shot back, “What do you mean, you didn’t know what she would do?”

Walters explained, “Well, if suddenly she’d read, ‘Everybody’s looking for Barbara Walters’ daughter,’ it might have made things worse.”

The 83-year-old recently announced she will retire next year after a career spanning six decades.

Photos: Twitter-Barbara Walters, Video Screen Grab-Oprah interview, Collier County Sheriff’s Booking Photo

ABC and Barbara Walters Make it Official

Barbara Walters, Celebrities No Responses »

May 132013

ABC announced last night that Barbara Walters would officially announce her 2014 retirement on ‘The View’ Monday.

She tweeted this teaser that was linked to an ABC banner headline:

Walters led Monday’s show with a video detailing her long and illustrious career. While wiping away tears, she declared her intention to leave television a year from now after 50 years on the air.

Until next summer Walters, 83, will continue to anchor and report for the network, appear in specials, and continue in her role as executive producer and panelist on ‘The View.’

She said, “I am very happy with my decision and look forward to a wonderful and special year ahead.”

Regarding her future plans, she stated emphatically, “I do not want to appear on another program or climb another mountain. I want instead to sit on a sunny field and admire the very gifted women — and, OK, some men, too — who will be taking my place.”

ABC News President Ben Sherwood said, “There is only one Barbara Walters. We look forward to making her final year on television remarkable, path-breaking and news-making as Barbara herself. We look forward to a year befitting her brilliant career, filled with exclusive interviews, great adventures and indelible memories.”

She ended her announcement by saying, “My cup runneth over. I thank you, I thank you, I thank you.”

A network executive who was seated in the audience for the big announcement, suggested that she might want to consider a stint on ABC’s ‘Dancing with the Stars.’ Bring it on Barbara!

Photos: WENN, Twitter-Barbara Walters

Barbara Walters Set to Reveal 2014 Retirement

Barbara Walters, Celebrities, The View No Responses »

Mar 292013

After nearly 60 years in television, veteran journalist and morning talk show co-host Barbara Walters, 83, is set to announce that she will retire in May 2014.

The decision comes on the heels of similar news by her colleague Joy Behar, who will exit ‘The View’ later this year.

It has been a rough 2013 for Walters, who fell during a pre-inaugural party in Washington D.C. in January. She suffered a concussion and ended up with a case of chicken pox that kept her away from the show for six weeks. In 2010 she underwent open heart surgery to replace a faulty aortic valve.

Barbara is expected to make an official announcement on Monday’s show. Her departure will be commemorated by a series of specials celebrating her nearly six decades spent on ‘ABC News,’ ‘Today Show,’ ’20/20′ and ‘The View.’

The newswoman became the first female co-anchor when she was teamed with Harry Reasoner on the ‘ABC Evening News’ from 1976-78, earning the enormous sum of $1 million a year.

She gained a reputation for reducing celebrities to tears during one-on-one interviews for 20/20 and in recent years hosted the popular ‘Barbara Walters’ 10 Most Fascinating People’ special.

Photo: WENN

Barbara Walters has Chicken Pox

Barbara Walters, Celebrities No Responses »

Jan 282013

Just over a week after falling and cutting her head during inauguration weekend, Barbara Walters is in the hospital with chicken pox.

This morning on “The View,” Whoopie Goldberg updated the audience on Barbara’s condition. “You all know that she fell and cut her head 10 days ago, and then was running a temperature, but it turns out it is all the result of a delayed childhood. Barbara has the chicken pox. She’d never had it as a child. So now she’s been told to rest, she’s not allowed any visitors. and we’re telling you, Barbara, no scratching.”

Walters, 83, was transferred to a New York hospital late last week. Prior to that, she was hospitalized in Washington after tripping on the stairs of the British ambassador’s residence, preventing her from covering the inauguration festivities.

photo: Rob Rich/WENN

Barbara Walters Hospitalized After Falling at Inaugural Bash in Washington D.C.

Barbara Walters, Celebrities No Responses »

Jan 202013

Veteran journalist and television personality Barbara Walters fell last night at a Washington D.C. pre-inaugural party at the residence of Britain’s ambassador to the United States, Peter Westmacott.

The 83-year-old co-host of ‘The View’ fell on a step and cut her forehead last night while enjoying one of the many weekend parties in the nation’s capitol leading up to President Barack Obama‘s second term inauguration slated for Monday.

This morning ABC News spokesman Jeffrey Schneider released this statement, “Out of an abundance of caution, she went to the hospital to have her cut tended to, have a full examination and remains there for observation.”

Schneider reported that Walters is alert “and telling everyone what to do, which we all take as a very positive sign.”

Developing story…

Photo: WENN

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