Barbara Walters Grows Tired of Celebrity Interviews

Barbara Walters says she is now tired of interviewing celebrities, particularly if the subject is a tabloid story.  Back in the day, Walters would interview presidents and other world leaders but, now, she’s been reduced to her soft-hitting, tear-filled interviews with people like Britney Spears.

"I am not going after the tabloid stuff, I don’t do it," she said in an interview…

She said her latest special [10 Most Fascinating People of 2007] did not consider Britney Spears or Paris Hilton, abandoning the "week in, week out, competition for getting the next name, the next person out of rehab."

Instead, expect to see former President Bill Clinton, Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, two founders of the Internet network "My Space," and controversial radio host Don Imus.

It seems that Barbara also finds it frustrating to cover celebrity news because there is so much competition.  Here are some of her notable remarks:

• "It seems to permeate most of the tabloids and the magazines and now you have six or seven entertainment programs," she said. "You didn’t used to have that.
• "It’s a different climate now and 20/20 and the other magazines are focused on the big celebrities. I didn’t want to keep doing that, I have been doing it for years."
• "We began to do more and more celebrities and we were criticized," she said. "And now … every program does it."
• "The world has changed and you watch every program now and there are even interviews with heads of state where there is more interest in their personality and their background," she said.
• "I have been doing it for so many years, and I keep my word," she said.

Well, Babs, there’s always retirement…

via Yahoo News