Jimmy Kimmel makes Barbara Walters squirm

“The View” is in the Southland this week, running the daytime chat show from Disneyland. And in a bit of intra-network promotion, Jimmy Kimmel appeared on the show, and Barbara Walters in turn appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” Walters has interviewed hundreds of people in her career, including every U.S. president since Nixon, but there was just one question Kimmel wanted the answer to: Which current or former co-host of “The View” was Walters’ least favorite?

Walters is heading toward retirement in May 2014, so she’s got no reason not to throw a few grenades at this point of her career. But she did her best to sidestep Kimmel’s question. Lucky for the at-home viewer, Kimmel decided to do a little Walters-style hardball in his interview tactics.

“I’ve narrowed it down,” Kimmel said, and then proceeded to read off a list of every woman who has appeared as a co-host on “The View” in its 17 seasons on the air. The list included Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Jenny McCarthy, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Sherri Shepherd, Meredith Viera, Star Jones, Debbie Matenopoulos, Lisa Ling and Rosie O’Donnell.

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“Some are more likely than others,” Kimmel said.

Walters attempted to drop a fake bombshell, responding, “I don’t like any of them.”

“I don’t believe that,” Kimmel replied. Then made things a little more uncomfortable.

“Not everyone likes each other and I’m not even saying you dislike these people,” he said. “I’m saying which was your least favorite? I’ve narrowed it down to Rosie O’Donnell and Star Jones.”

That’s when Walters began to squirm. You can almost see the wheels spinning behind her eyes, considering exactly what she should say and how she should say it.

“That would be -- I can’t imagine it,” Walters cried, covering her face. “I think that could be a most interesting show,” she finally responded as diplomatically as possible.

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“I happen to be fond of both of them, which you won’t believe,” Walters said.

“I’m sure when your foot kicked them right out the door...” Kimmel said.

“They are both very talented women,” Walters attempted.

“Yes. Yes. Well, one more than the other,” Kimmel said.

“I am not going there,” Walters responded in her most authoritative voice. And at that point, even Kimmel decided it was best to move on.

In the end, there’s no beating Barbara Walters at the interview game.

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