Barbara’s big get
Barbara Walters is returning to “20/20” next Friday – to present her interview with President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. It’s the couple’s first joint interview since the November election – and the president’s “first in-depth television interview” since his reelection.
Walters is scheduled to travel to the White House next Wednesday to conduct the interview, airing Friday (10 p.m.).
Last, but not least:
* Ch. 4’s “Tsunami Relief Drive” raised over $10 million for UNICEF.
* The premiere of “Desperate Housewives” on England’s Channel 4 snared 4.4 million viewers and a 23 share – huge numbers by British TV standards.
* Usher’sonly televised concert will air live on Showtime March 5 from Puerto Rico – coincidentally during Showtime’s “free preview” weekend.
* Bruce Goldberg, late of WPLJ, has been named producer of the new Micky Dolenz show on WCBS FM, which starts Monday (6 a.m.).
* Sunday: NCAA president Myles Brand sits for an exclusive interview with CSTV’s Brian Curtis (9:30 p.m.).
* Just Precious: NBC’s “Passions” matched its highest women 18-49 rating in two years for the week of Dec. 22-31. And ABC’s Marianne Fleschman would be upset if I didn’t mention that “All My Children” delivered its highest ratings since 2002, among women 18-49, for the week Bianca reunited with her baby.
* “Jeopardy!” wants you – if you’re interested in possibly becoming a “Clue Crew” member. Go to jeopardy.com.
* Sunday: The National Geographic Channel presents animals at the Central Park Zoo with specially crafted “enrichment toys” made from this year’s Rock Center Christmas tree.
* Producer Gene Corman (“Golda”) has acquired John Tippey’s “This: A Blast of Triumph and Disaster.”
* Tony Danza, pal Peter Cincotti dining at Patsy’s.
* Congrats to “ET” publicist Kim Wilder-Lee and her husband, Brynley Lee, on the birth of son Morgan Myles.