ABC TO AIR BACK-TO-BACK BARBARA WALTERS SPECIALS ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9th

"A Barbara Walters Special: Oprah, The Next Chapter" To Air 9:00-10:00 pm ET

"Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2010" To Air 10:00-11:00 pm ET

As Oprah Winfrey prepares to close one door and embark on a new path in her illustrious career, she sits down with Barbara Walters to speak candidly about this momentous time in her life. The hour special will explore the past 25 years of both Oprah's personal and professional life, and will also examine her new network, OWN - just weeks before its January debut - with an exclusive preview of some of its programs. "A Barbara Walters Special: Oprah, The Next Chapter" airs THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9 (9:00 - 10:00 pm ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Barbara, who has interviewed Oprah at key points in her life and career, will spend time with Oprah in Chicago at both her home and at Harpo Studios. The hour will also include a look at the most memorable moments from "The Oprah Winfrey Show." The two women have known each other since the earliest days of Oprah's career.

Then at 10:00 pm, "Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2010," an hour-long ABC News special highlighting some of the year's most prominent names in entertainment, sports, politics and pop culture," will air.

Now in its 18th season, "Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People" has consistently been one of the highest rated specials of the year.

David Sloan is executive producer of "A Barbara Walters Special: Oprah, The Next Chapter."

"Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2010" is executive produced by Barbara Walters and Bill Geddie. Bill Geddie also directs the program.