INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY OPENS THE VAULT ONCE MORE FOR A BRAND NEW SEASON OF BARBARA WALTERS PRESENTS
(Silver Spring, Md.) – Pulling from the vault of one of the most legendary journalists of all time, BARBARA WALTERS PRESENTS returns for a second season, revealing exclusive interviews from scandals that captivated the nation. ID and ABC’s Lincoln Square Productions marry gripping interviews from the past and present as Walters leads viewers through three explosive stories: Michael Jackson, Leona Helmsley and Gary Hart. Just as fascinating as the stories themselves, are those that tell them. In all-new interviews, Walters speaks with Tito Jackson, Michael Jackson’s older brother and Jackson 5 bandmate, as well as TJ Jackson, Michael’s nephew and guardian of his children ; Rudy Giuliani, the prosecutor for Leona Helmsley’s “tax cheating;” and Donna Rice, the woman who’s alleged relationship with Gary Hart sparked his political downfall. They—and others—share their thoughts in BARBARA WALTERS PRESENTS premiering on Tuesday, December 6 at 9/8c on Investigation Discovery (ID).
Through careful analysis of the evolving landscape and growing influence of media coverage, BARBARA WALTERS PRESENTS draws conclusions as to why these three fell under public conviction in the height of their careers. Not common in true-crime, Walters examines those who were brought to trial by the press, blurring the line between what is rumor and what is fact. With an unparalleled talent to get to the heart of every story, each hour-long episode relies on Walters’ new and archived interviews as she unravels the humans within them.
Featuring brand new interviews from individuals and extended, new scenes from original interviews, episodes for the new season of BARBARA WALTERS PRESENTS include:
Gary Hart / Donna Rice: The Scandal that Changed History
Premieres Tuesday, December 6 at 9/8c
In 1987, handsome Senator Gary Hart seemed on the road to be President. With personal charisma, political savvy, good looks and the intelligence to match, it seemed like nothing could stop him. That is until the Miami Herald received an ‘all too good to be true’ tip: Hart, a married man, had been seen with a mysterious younger blonde woman. Intense media frenzy followed. The blonde, revealed as Donna Rice, was promptly dragged into the limelight of constant gossip tabloids. Within six days of the story breaking, Hart left the race—forever changing U.S. political coverage. In interviews with Donna Rice and other key figures, Barbara Walters discusses the historical repercussions of one single scandal.
Leona Helmsley: The Queen of the Palace
Premieres Tuesday, December 13 at 9/8c
In the heyday of the “greed-is-good” 1980s, Leona Helmsley reigned over a real estate empire. Her fabled parties included everyone from Frank Sinatra to Barbara Walters, and even a young Donald Trump. Her ad campaign for the luxurious Helmsley Palace Hotel made her a national celebrity, but it was her poor treatment of others and tax evasion that made her a national criminal. Barbara Walters sits down with the man who took Leona down, Rudy Giuliani; the woman who covered it all in the press, Cindy Adams; and Leona Helmsley herself with new interviews revealed from the past.
Michael Jackson: The Man in the Mirror
Premieres Tuesday, December 20 at 9/8c
Michael Jackson is one of pop culture’s greatest icons and noted philanthropists. But to the public over the years he was a mass of contradictions: a sensitive man who swaggered through his videos; a proud African-American who altered most of his identifiably black features; an innocent accused of stealing the innocence of others. Barbara Walters interviewed the Jackson family for years. Now, never before seen moments from Barbara’s past interviews with Michael and a revealing new interview with Tito Jackson, Michael Jackson’s older brother and Jackson 5 bandmate, as well as TJ Jackson, Michael’s nephew and guardian of his children. Tito and nephew TJ shed light on the myth behind the man. In this premiere episode, the people who knew Michael Jackson speak of a man—not a myth.
BARBARA WALTERS PRESENTS is produced for Investigation Discovery by Lincoln Square Productions with John R. Green serving as senior executive producer and Peri Muldofsky and David Perozzi as executive producers. For Investigation Discovery, Diana Sperrazza is senior executive producer, Sara Kozak is senior vice president of production, Kevin Bennett is general manager and Henry Schleiff is Group President, Investigation Discovery, American Heroes Channel, and Destination America.
About Barbara Walters:
ABC News correspondent, “The Barbara Walters Specials”; Creator and executive producer of ABC Daytime’s “The View,” Barbara Walters has arguably interviewed more statesmen and stars than any other journalist in history. She is so well known that her name and a brief biography are listed in the American Heritage Dictionary. In September 2004, after 25 years as co-host and chief correspondent of ABC News’ “20/20,” Ms. Walters left the show to begin a new phase in her career at the network. Through the years she has interviewed such world figures as Russia’s Boris Yeltsin, China’s President Jiang Zemin, Great Britain’s former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Libya’s Moammar Gaddafi and Iraq’s President Saddaam Hussein. She was also the first American journalist to interview Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and President and Mrs. Bush following the September 11 attacks. She has interviewed every American President and First Lady since Richard Nixon and has made journalism history by arranging the first joint interview with Egypt’s President Anwar Sadat and Israel’s Prime Minister Menachem Begin in November 1977. Ms. Walters joined ABC News in 1976 as the first woman to co-host the network news. She is also co-creator and co-executive producer of “The View.” Over the years, Ms. Walters has received national recognition for her work and has been the recipient of numerous prestigious honors and awards, including 11 Emmy Awards, and 2 Lifetime Achievement Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
About Lincoln Square Productions:
Lincoln Square Productions produces original content for broadcast, cable and digital distribution specializing in entertaining ways to tell fact based stories. Clients include ABC Television Group, Scripps Networks, Viacom, Discovery Communications, National Geographic Networks, and more. Lincoln Square Productions is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. The headquarters are located in New York City. Morgan Hertzan is Senior Vice President of Lincoln Square Productions.
About Investigation Discovery:
Investigation Discovery (ID) is the leading mystery-and-suspense network on television. From harrowing crimes and salacious scandals to the in-depth investigations and heart-breaking mysteries behind these “real people, real stories,” the always revealing network challenges our everyday understanding of culture, society and the human condition. One of our nation’s fastest growing cable networks, ID delivers the highest-quality programming to more than 86 million U.S. households and is available in both high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD). For more information, please visit InvestigationDiscovery.com, facebook.com/InvestigationDiscovery, or twitter.com/DiscoveryID. Investigation Discovery is part of Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world’s #1 pay-TV programmer reaching nearly 3 billion cumulative subscribers in 220 countries and territories.
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