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PEOPLE & ARTS A29
Friday 30 October 2015
Barbara Walters revisits ‘American Scandals’ on new series
FRAZIER MOORE have they learned? And In this image released by ABC, John and Jan Ramsey pose with on niche-cable network
AP Television Writer what can we learn from Barbara Walters, right, for her “American Scandal” series for Investigation Discovery,
NEW YORK (AP) — Though them?” Discovery. Walters is revisiting some of her biggest news stories which affords her room for
the fog of time may have Fresh interviews supple- for “American Scandals,” a new 9-episode series that premieres weekly hour-long explora-
clouded certain details, a ment archival footage — on Investigation Discovery on Monday at 10 p.m. EST. tions.
parade of past scandals some never before aired “We don’t have a news-
that each seized the pub- — which, viewed from a Associated Press magazine anymore,” she
lic’s attention ring familiar distance of as much as 30 said, meaning ABC. “We
to this day. years, often takes on new Walters also takes a new, visits.” have ‘20/20,’ but — they’re
There’s Lyle and Erik significance. perhaps gratuitous, look Another enduring couple: gonna mind my saying
Menendez, privileged sons “Footage from the past at one of the era’s most Mary Kay Letourneau, the this — it’s changed,” hav-
who offed their parents in can look very different despised figures, Mark Da- former schoolteacher and ing narrowed the gener-
their Beverly Hills, Califor- when viewed in the pres- vid Chapman, who at age married mother of four who al-interest format Walters
nia, home in 1989. There’s ent,” Walters noted. 60 is remembered all too was twice jailed for her af- presided over. And major
Jean Harris, the girls’ school The series begins with well for gunning down the fair with a sixth-grade stu- interviews — whether Wal-
headmistress whose lover, the still-unsolved murder man who called for giving dent. Now 53, Letourneau ters’ or other correspon-
celebrity diet doctor Her- of 6-year-old JonBenet peace a chance in front of and Vili Fualaau, 32, have dents’ — are typically splin-
man Tarnower, was found Ramsey, whose lifeless his New York apartment in been married for a de- tered across the network’s
shot dead after she visited body was found in the 1980. Walters interviewed cade with two teenage portfolio of news programs,
him in 1980, landing her in basement of her Colo- John Lennon’s assassin in daughters of their own. she added.
prison with a murder con- rado home in 1996, plac- 1992, and now for “Scan- “My God, they’re still to- “What Investigation Dis-
viction. There’s televange- ing her parents, John and dals” has landed what she gether!” said Walters, who covery gives me is the
list Jim Bakker, who, with his Patsy, under instant sus- says is the first-ever inter- interviewed the pair a few opportunity to present a
wife Tammy Faye, built a picion. Walters now talks view with Chapman’s long- months ago. “They’re an whole interview, and bring
faith-based empire before with John, whose daughter time wife, Gloria. old married couple!” it up-to-date,” she said.
sexual and financial mis- would today be 25, about “I didn’t know he was still Though reigning for de- Other episodes include a
deeds wrecked their “PTL the lingering mystery and married,” Walters mar- cades as one of ABC News’ look at actor Robert Blake,
Club” money-machine scrutiny that have plagued veled. “He sees his wife biggest stars, Walters said who was tried and acquit-
and put him in the slam- him ever since and that twice a year for conjugal she’s glad to find a berth ted of the 2001 murder of
mer. haunted his wife to her his wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley.
Barbara Walters was there grave in 2006. And on yet another edition
to cover these and other In its second episode, she sits down with Kimberly
shocking events. “Scandals” revisits perhaps Mays, who was switched
Now the veteran news- the most galvanizing mur- at birth in 1978 at a Flori-
woman is bringing them der case of modern times da hospital with another
up-to-date on “American — those vicious 1994 stab- newborn, resulting in a no-
Scandals,” a nine-segment bings of Ron Goldman and torious custody battle be-
series that premieres on In- Nicole Simpson, the ex-wife tween her biological par-
vestigation Discovery on of O.J. Simpson, who would ents and Robert Mays, who
Monday (10 p.m. EST). stand trial as the world raised her. “We searched
“We had thousands of past watched, spellbound, dur- all over and found her liv-
ABC News ‘20/20’ stories ing months of TV coverage. ing in poverty in Clearwa-
to choose from, and we Walters interviews Simpson ter, Florida,” said Walters.
brought some of them up- houseguest Kato Kaelin, 56, That points to the effort re-
to-date by talking with sub- who now pronounces his quired to produce “Ameri-
jects we could get to, as host (acquitted in that trial can Scandals,” she added
well as the people around but currently serving time proudly. “They’re difficult
them,” Walters said recent- on an unrelated robbery to do. You can’t just pull
ly. “We’re exploring what conviction) guilty of the out an old interview and
is their life like now? What murders. throw it on the air.”q
Laura Bush and daughter Jenna
co-writing children’s book
HILLEL ITALIE national parks leads to her a statement issued through In this Sept. 27, 2008 file photo, first lady Laura Bush, right, and
AP National Writer “paying attention to the HarperCollins. “Jenna ac- her daughter Jenna Bush Hager read their book “Read All About
NEW YORK (AP) — Former majestic sights and spend- companied me on a float It!” during the National Book Festival in Washington.
first lady Laura Bush and ing less time looking at her trip through the Grand
daughter Jenna Bush Hag- screen.” The book is com- Canyon and rode a horse Associated Press
er are working on another ing out in May to coincide for the first time when she
children’s book. with the centennial of the was 3 near the Big Bend Hager said in a statement. eyes of a young girl, and I
HarperCollins Publishers National Park Service. Lau- National Park. I want all “Writing this book has al- have loved every minute.
told The Associated Press ra Bush and first lady Mi- children to go outside, lowed me to see our beau- It was even sweeter since
on Thursday that the Bushes chelle Obama are honor- play in nature, and explore tiful country through the I wrote it with my mom.”q
are collaborating with illus- ary co-chairwomen of the America’s magnificent sites
trator Jacqueline Rogers on park service’s anniversary with their families.”
“Our Great Big Backyard,” celebration. “Now that I have two little
a picture story about a girl “I’ve hiked with childhood girls of my own, I know how
named Jane whose family friends in the parks for important it is for kids to
road trip to the country’s years,” Laura Bush said in get outdoors,” Jenna Bush
