MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM OVER 20 YEARS OF BARBARA WALTERS'
ACADEMY AWARDS SPECIALS -- "25 STARS, 25 MOMENTS" --
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25 ON ABC NEWS' "20/20"
The annual Academy Awards (r) edition of "The Barbara Walters Special" has been a must-watch tradition on Oscar(r) night since 1981. Every year several of the hottest celebrities of the day have told their personal stories, and some have revealed their hopes and dreams, as well as the failures and agonies of making it in Hollywood. Hosted by Walters, "20/20" kicks off Academy Award weekend with a look back at some of the most memorable moments from over 20 years of the annual Barbara Walters Oscar specials. "25 Stars, 25 Moments" airs on "20/20," FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
The Dreams - Most of the celebrities Walters spoke with over the years were at the height of their careers. It was hard to imagine what they had come from and gone through to get there. One of the things many of them had in common was that, from an early age, they literally saw themselves as great and famous. Jim Carey, Oprah Winfrey, Celine Dion, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sarah Jessica Parker, Whoopi Goldberg -- all shared their dreams with Walters.
The Excesses - Private planes, manmade waterfalls, fantasy homes with multi-million dollar views... there are just some of the "simple" things some of the celebrities shared with Walters. Viewers get a glimpse of the life of the rich and famous, including John Travolta's personal 707 plane, Whoopi Goldberg's Malibu home, Barbara Mandrell's personal museum, Elton John's art collection and inside Celine Dion's lavish wedding.
The Dramas - Whether overcoming drug and alcohol abuse, dealing with the death of a parent, struggling with a learning disability or even contemplating suicide, some of the celebrities interviewed over the years have had their share of tough times and heartache. Halle Berry, Cher, Mike Myers, Anthony Hopkins, Elton John are just a few of the celebrities who have opened up about the drama in their lives.
The Pinnacle - Oscar night is a night when dreams are realized, especially for many who appeared in the "Barbara Walters Specials" over the years. Whoopi Goldberg, Lauren Bacall, Burt Reynolds, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones and Oprah Winfrey are a few who contemplate winning and losing on Oscar night.
The special also includes many funny moments from the years, including Eddie Murphy and Will Smith, as well as some of Walters' own favorite moments.
David Sloan is the executive producer of ABC News' "20/20."
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