Barbara Walters has had enough with the faux celebrities of today. You know who they are – the girls and boys from reality shows, the one-hit wonders, the actors who “make it” on one well-written role. Barbara allegedly told a friend, who told the National Enquirer, which was then picked up by Showbiz Spy, “I don’t want to be 80 and working the phones to land an interview with one of the nobodies who pass for celebrities today.” Meow, Babs!
Barbara Walters is planning to quit TV.
According to the National Enquirer, the veteran ABC personality has told close pals she will retire when her contract with the network expires shortly.
A source says, “Barbara’s thought long and hard over whether she wants to extend her contract when it expires with ABC this summer.”
“It’s left her with many sleepless nights. ABC sees her as one of its marquee female stars and would like to see her continue, but Barbara’s decided she’s ‘done it all – many times over’ and wants some time for herself.”
“Her career has spanned five decades. She told a pal, ‘I don’t want to be 80 and working the phones to land an interview with one of the nobodies who pass for celebrities today.'”
From Showbiz Spy via Gossip Rocks
Rumors of Barbara Walters imminent retirement have been whispered for years. Some rumors center around the dreaded “she’s too old” complaint. Some of the rumors may come from the woman herself, considering she’s literally been there and done that.
I know some will cry that it’s some sort of anti-feminist conspiracy, but I don’t really think the whole “retirement” issue is about Babara’s gender. She’s the female news equivalent of a Mike Wallace (from 60 Minutes), and people couldn’t wait for Wallace to retire. I really think it’s more about ageism than sexism. It’s more about who is “in touch” and who is “out of touch”, although I do give Barbara a lot of credit for remaining relevant for years beyond some of her male counterparts.
Barbara Walters is shown at the Bride Wars premiere with Cindy Adams on 1/5/09. Credit: Janet Mayer / PR Photos
I’m only 50 and I agree with Barbara — celebrity gossip was more interesting when it was about people who were famous for doing interesting acting roles, directing good movies, and writing good scripts.
Now it’s the Kardashian/Hilton/Lohan/Ritchie shopping for rehab wardrobe kinda news. To interview them MUST make someone of Barbara Walters’ stature and intelligence feel completely ridiculous.
Yes, but she makes a point of championing people like Paris Hilton–so really she has nothing to complain about. And her patronizing condescending attitude toward her audience is incredibly unappealing (and dated). Her recent big coups? A ridiculous daytime chat show, interviews with celebrities, and a decade-old interview with Lewinski. Hardly substantive.