Barbara Walters

"Do you like it when he's rough?"

With these words, and accompanying visuals, Barbara Walters made Elisabeth Hasselbeck crack up, viewers scratch their heads and Whoopi Goldberg's "eyes bleed."

The 82-year-old was yammering about sex this morning The View, inspired by the erotic novel series 50 Shades of Grey, in which a 20-something girl starts a relationship with an attractive, wealthy man who's into bondage and S&M.

Suffice to say, it was an awkward:

Barbara Walters-Elisabeth Hasselbeck Sex Talk

Hasselbeck, a married mother of three, sort of dodged the question by saying she's on a break right now ... but for Whoopi and others, the damage was done.

For a less disturbing discussion of this hot topic, follow this link to tell us who you think should play the leads in the upcoming 50 Shades of Grey movie.

Duchess Catherine's sister Pippa Middleton has given exactly no interviews since the Royal Wedding in April. Are Barbara Walters and Oprah angling to change that?

British tabloids are reporting that Walters and Oprah are engaged in a bidding war to book the 28-year-old party planner for a TV special - potentially for big bucks.

Walters, 82, denied on The View Monday. "It's not true," the journalist said.

"ABC News does not pay for interviews. I have no idea what Oprah does, but ABC does not pay. She's not a news program, so maybe they have a different policy."

That doesn't mean Walters wouldn't be up for interviewing Pippa Middleton, who was one of her most fascinating people of 2011, as unveiled in late December.

"To make it clear: Would I like to do the interview? Yes, I would like to I think she's a charming, beautiful girl," Walters said. "Will we pay to do the interview? No."

They could make a major donation to a charity of Kate Middleton's choice in exchange for an interview, though. That's not technically paying. Loopholes, people.

[Photos: WENN.com]

Barack and Michelle Obama will appear on ABC's 20/20 tonight.

Barbara Walters, who says she may retire in 2012, conducted the interview with the First Couple and aired a preview of it yesterday on The View (below).

In the sit-down, Michelle Obama talked about the importance of prioritizing herself, even while married to the U.S. President, and sending the right message to the couple's two young daughters. Clearly, the family dynamic works for them:

Michelle and Barack Obama on 20-20 (Preview)

This great exchange also happens at another juncture:

Walters: "What is your biggest peeve of each other?"
President Obama: "I don't have one."
Walters: "Aww."
Michelle Obama: "My list is too long."

Hey, at least the payroll tax cut extension passed.

Barbara Walters told President Barack Obama she's retiring next year, according to TMZ, which cites sources who heard Barbara say it to him personally.

The legendary TV figure (we can't say "journalist" after the Kim Kardashian sex tape footage she aired the other night) interviewed Obama on Thursday.

According to the source, during a break, Barbara leaned over to Obama and said, "I need one more interview with you because I'm retiring next year."

Steve Jobs: Most Fascinating Person of the Year

Walters' mic was on when she said it, and lots of people were listening ... but here's the thing. She's joked about retirement for years and years now.

Barbara still does specials for the network, in addition to The View. Her Most Fascinating People special generated enormous buzz as it always does.

Obama was not on the list, natch, while Steve Jobs (above) was #1.

Jeff Schneider, Sr. VP of ABC News, said "Barbara has joked that she is retiring every year" and "anyone who just did a day trip to Syria, 90-minute prime time special and an interview with the President and First Lady hardly sounds like someone retiring."

So, there you go. Walters, 82, is probably staying put.

Steve Jobs might have been the Most Fascinating Person of 2011, according to Barbara Walters on her ABC special last night, but the Kardashians were most definitely the subject of this journalist's most fascinating interview.

At one point, Walters aired a video that gave a bit of background on Kim and her family, focusing for awhile on the 2007 sex tape she starred in with Ray J. A long while. We counted. For some reason, the network aired 24 seconds worth of footage from this tape.

Forget illegal downloads, fellas. Just sit back and watch this ABC-sponsored content now:

Kim Kardashian Sex Tape Footage

Asked if she regretted the video, Kim gave her usual, cliched, mannequin-like answer about how she's made many "mistakes" in her life, only for Kris Jenner to of course jump in and say her daughter has learned from them.

It's true. She's learned how to market her breasts even more.

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No matter what you think of Katy Perry or her music, she had a year to remember, and she has the #1 singles to prove it. A lot of them. Five and counting, to be exact.

Unlike Pippa Middleton, who made Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People of 2011 list for almost no reason, Perry reached rarefied music air in the last 12 months.

Katy's latest hit from her album Teenage Dream, "The One That Got Away," hits at #4 on the Billboard charts. The record's previous five singles all reached the #1 slot.

That and she's cute, quirky and fun. Put it all together and you've got someone worthy of sitting down for an interview at least. Here's Katy Perry's sit-down with Barbara:

Katy Perry Most Fascinating People Interview

Only she and Michael Jackson have achieved that many #1s from a single album, and only she, Janet Jackson and George Michael have six top five hits from one record.

Not a bad feat for a complete unknown just a few years back.

Even Bill O'Reilly will have a hard time arguing this one.

On Wednesday, Barbara Walters announced her annual 10 Most Fascinating People list, and overtaking big names like Simon Cowell, Pippa Middleton, Katy Perry and the Kardashians was one person whose impact and legacy transcend all of them combined:

The late Steve Jobs.

Steve Jobs: Most Fascinating Person of the Year

The co-founder of Apple and the man responsible for numerous technology innovations that shape our lives on a daily basis, Jobs passed away this fall at age 56.

First diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004, Jobs recovered, but it returned, and in 2009, he underwent a liver transplant. He resigned this summer as CEO.

At that point he became Walters' choice immediately, even though she never got to interview the man. Jobs is the first deceased Most Fascinating Person.

Truly a once-in-a-generation mind, Jobs was taken from us far too soon, but not before transforming technology - and modern life - in profound ways.

His fingerprints are on everything from the iTunes store to the iPod, iPhone, iPad, Pixar films and even the mouse. Yes, the mouse. In a word, he was awesome.

Steve Jobs: Good choice for Most Fascinating Person?

Great. Thanks a lot, Khloe, Kourtney and Kim Kardashian. You've forced us to side with Bill O'Reilly.

On his Fox News program last night, the host sat down with Barbara Walters and grilled her over her ridiculous Most Fascinating People of 2011 list, which includes Simon Cowell, Derek Jeter, Pippa Middleton... and the Kardashians.

Why are we "lionizing" that family, O'Reilly asked, arguing they represent "all that's wrong with America" because they have "no talent," they make millions and "all they do is sit around and whine." Anyone care to disagree? Watch the exchange now:

Bill O'Reilly Bashes the Kardashians

Near the end of every year, Barbara Walters airs her Most Fascinating People feature on ABC.

And every year the list is more and more ridiculous (in 2010, David Petraeus topped a group that included the Jersey Shore cast), simply a rundown of who has been in the news, as opposed to rankings of individuals who are actually interesting.

2011 is no different, as the journalist has revealed nine of her final 10, saving the number-one spot for viewers of her December 14 special. Let's take a look at the finalists, shall we?

Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney Kardashian: They marry, procreate and Tweet for money. Their total and complete lack of personality is kind of fascinating, we guess.

Simon Cowell: One of the world's most successful music executives. Wears tight t-shirts. Speaks his mind.

Derek Jeter: Perhaps the most boring, least fascinating athlete on the planet. He plays very hard, is respectful of the game and, by all accounts, is a very nice guy. Does any of that make him an especially interesting individual?

Donald Trump: Okay, his hair is pretty fascinating.

Katy Perry: She sings fun pop ballads and wears weird outfits. Is anyone fascinated by the artist herself? Or do you just wanna bop around to "Last Friday Night?"

Pippa Middleton: Acceptable. The public is clearly fascinated by her and for good reason. Total cutie alert!

Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson: They are actors who portray a gay couple. How fascinating, right?!? Think it's a coincidence they also star on an ABC show?

So... who will be number-one? Our vote is for Lady Gaga. How about yours?

Barbara Walters is looking to score the interview of the year.

Why else would she have dinner with Casey Anthony's attorney, Jose Baez, on Sunday night. Maybe he's delightful company, but there's no way that wasn't the motive.

According to TMZ, Baez, his wife, Walters and actor Frank Langella (they had just gone to see his play) all dined together as she looked to woo his most infamous client.

They all dined at Orso in Manhattan for Jose's birthday, and while photographers tried to get details about am asking price for the interview, no one was talking.

According to our sources, Casey Anthony is laying low and isn't ready to tell her side of the story just yet. But when she does, Babwa is totes trying to call dibs.

Interestingly, when everyone said their goodbyes, Jose went to hug Barbara but was shooed away, with Walters urging him, "No, no, no. Don't do it."

She's shameless, but apparently not that shameless.