INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY PREMIERES BARBARA WALTERS PRESENTS AMERICAN SCANDALS
October 29, 2015
INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY PREMIERES BARBARA WALTERS PRESENTS AMERICAN SCANDALS
—Legendary Journalist Barbara Walters Takes Viewers Behind the Scenes of
America’s Most Captivating Crimes—
—Series Premieres Monday, November 2 at 10/9c, Exclusively on ID—
(Silver Spring, Md.) – Investigation Discovery (ID) and ABC’s Lincoln Square Productions premieres BARBARA WALTERS PRESENTS AMERICAN SCANDALS, an exclusive new nine-episode series hosted by iconic newswoman Barbara Walters. BARBARA WALTERS PRESENTS AMERICAN SCANDALS explores gripping true-crime stories that dominated national headlines and the exclusive interviews that defined these crimes, from the murder of JonBenét Ramsey to the trials of O.J. Simpson and the Menendez brothers. BARBARA WALTERS PRESENTS AMERICAN SCANDALS premieres worldwide on Monday, November 2 at 10/9c, only on Investigation Discovery.
In each 60-minute episode, Walters recounts some of her most famous one-on-one interviews, offering unprecedented access as she reveals new information from behind the scenes of her own personal thoughts for the first time ever. From the tragic murder of music legend John Lennon, to Jim Bakker’s sexual affair and imprisonment for fraud, to the most notorious teacher-student sex scandal in history that involved Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau, Walters delivers the never-before-seen scoop and conducts new interviews with key players involved in the original cases to put these history-making crimes in context years later.
Episodes of BARBARA WALTERS PRESENTS AMERICAN SCANDALS include:
JonBenét Ramsey: Inside the Mystery
Premieres Monday, November 2 at 10/9c
When 6-year old JonBenét Ramsey was murdered in her upscale Boulder, Colo., home in December 1996, her parents instantly fell under a cloud of suspicion. This year, JonBenét would have been 25-years-old. Barbara Walters sits down with JonBenét’s father, and we will also see how JonBenét’s older brother Burke, now 28, has moved on since the tragedy. Only nine at the time of the murders, he was questioned and completely cleared as a suspect by Boulder authorities, but grew up in the shadow of one of the most scrutinized murders in American history. John also discusses how he thinks law enforcement botched the investigation, and the untimely 2006 death of his wife Patsy from ovarian cancer. America will also meet John's new wife, Jan, and hear how she dealt with the controversy despite some people telling her that she was marrying a killer.
O.J. Simpson: Kato Speaks
Premieres Monday, November 9 at 10/9c
In one of the most famous murders of all time, Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman were stabbed to death in front of Nicole’s Brentwood, Calif., condo. The evidence pointed to her ex-husband O.J. Simpson as the murderer, but the jury in the criminal trial found him not guilty. Now, 20 years later, Barbara Walters talks again to houseguest Kato Kaelin who discusses what he recalls the night of the murder. Kato Kaelin, now 56-years-old, believes O.J. Simpson is the murderer. O.J. is currently serving time in a Nevada prison until at least 2017 on an unrelated robbery conviction.
Jean Harris: The Headmistress Murderer
Premieres Monday, November 16 at 10/9c
Celebrity diet doctor Herman Tarnower was discovered shot dead at his home within hours of a visit from his lover Jean Harris. What really happened that night? Broadcast legend Barbara Walters takes viewers behind the scenes of one of the most lurid murder stories she has ever covered. Walters unveils never-before-seen footage from her infamous interview with Harris and reveals surprising new details about the crime, including Harris’ drug use, life behind bars, and struggles to turn her life around. For the first time, Harris’ son, Jim Harris, sits down with Barbara Walters and shares what life was like with “mother.” And later, Walters shares personal commentary on why she grew close to Jean Harris and even risked her own reputation to save her.
Menendez Brothers: The Bad Sons
Premieres Monday, November 23 at 10/9c
Barbara Walters has a very unusual pen pal: a young man who killed his parents. Erik Menendez and his brother, Lyle, brutally shot their mother and father to death in their Beverly Hills mansion one evening. Was the family hiding a horrible secret? Barbara reveals chilling details about the crime, the trials, and her exclusive interview with the brothers. Walters interviews Erik Menendez’s wife, Tammi, and shares never-before-seen letters from Erik, describing his life in prison, his hopes, and regrets. Finally, Walters uncovers a stunning message from Erik’s childhood, a bombshell that could possibly grant the brothers a new trial.
Kimberly Mays: Switched at Birth
Premieres Monday, November 30 at 10/9c
Two baby girls born at the same Florida hospital were sent home with the wrong families. While one died tragically, the other became embroiled in a dramatic tug-of-war as both families fight for custody of the girl each believed to be their daughter. Who sent the babies home with the wrong families? Was it an accident or foul play? And what happened to Kimberly Mays, the young girl who survived? Barbara talks to both families and has an emotional reunion with Mays to find the truth behind a mystery that has taken more than 20 years to unravel.
Mark David Chapman: The Man Who Shot John Lennon
Premieres Monday, December 7 at 10/9c
On December 8, 1980, music legend John Lennon crossed paths with a lonely, suicidal fan in front of his New York City apartment. Hours later, Lennon was murdered in cold blood, shot in the back four times. Who would kill a pop culture icon beloved by millions? Barbara Walters shares her disturbing interview with Lennon’s murderer, Mark David Chapman, and traces his steps leading up to the crime. She uncovers chilling new details from the person who knew Chapman best, his wife Gloria, in her first-ever on-camera interview. Still married to Mark David Chapman, Gloria Chapman shares revealing details about her husband’s plot to kill Lennon and the couples’ life together after the murder.
Jim Bakker: Fall From Grace
Premieres Monday, December 14 at 10/9c
Jim Bakker had it all: fame, fortune, and respect as the world’s most successful televangelist. But a sexual tryst and financial troubles caused him to lose his ministry, his marriage, and ultimately landed him in prison. Barbara Walters takes a closer look at one of the ‘80s most colorful scandals, involving big money, big hair and the “prosperity” gospel. Her interviews with Bakker and his family reveal what life was really like for the family behind the “PTL Club.” What has Bakker been doing since he left prison? Has he moved on from Tammy Faye’s tragic death? Is he still preaching? Barbara uncovers the unbelievable truth about what happened to Jim Bakker and speaks exclusively to his son, Jay Bakker, who reveals intimate, new details about his parents’ marriage and a surprising “revelation” about what his father is doing today.
Mary Kay Letourneau: Forbidden Love
Premieres Monday, December 21 at 10/9c
Barbara Walters revisits the country’s most notorious teacher-student sex scandal. Mary Kay Letourneau, a popular and married sixth grade teacher, had an affair with her elementary school student, Vili Fualaau. While pregnant with Fualaau’s baby in jail, Letourneau was sentenced to prison for child rape. Upon her release, she shockingly becomes pregnant by Fualaau again and is forced to return to jail. Why would a woman risk her family and freedom for an affair with an underage boy? What has happened since her’s release? How are the couple’s two teenaged daughters doing today? Letourneau and Fualaau share exclusive details only with Barbara in a no-holds-barred interview.
Robert Blake: A Hollywood Hit
Premieres Monday, December 28 at 10/9c
Robert Blake shocked and captivated viewers in an aggressive prison interview with Barbara Walters as he sat in jail waiting for a court date for the murder of his wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley. Blake cried for his daughter Rosie. This explosive prison interview is one of Walters’ most compelling, as Blake ranted about the injustices he said he faced. Two weeks after the interview aired, Blake was freed on bail, and he credits Barbara Walters with saving his life. But did he get away with murder? Walters sits down with Bakley’s daughter, Holly Gawron, who tells us why she thinks Robert Blake killed her mother, and how she thinks he got away with it.
BARBARA WALTERS PRESENTS AMERICAN SCANDALS is produced for Investigation Discovery by Lincoln Square Productions with John R. Green serving as executive producer and David Perozzi as co-executive producer. For Investigation Discovery, Diana Sperrazza is senior executive producer, Sara Kozak is senior vice president of production, Kevin Bennett is general manager, and Henry Schleiff is Group President.
About Investigation Discovery:
Investigation Discovery (ID) is the leading mystery-and-suspense network on television and America’s favorite “guilty pleasure.” From harrowing crimes and salacious scandals to the in-depth investigations and heart-breaking mysteries that result, ID challenges our everyday understanding of culture, society and the human condition. One of our nation’s fastest growing cable networks, ID delivers the highest-quality programming to more than 86 million U.S. households and is available in both high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD). For more information, please visit InvestigationDiscovery.com, facebook.com/InvestigationDiscovery, or twitter.com/DiscoveryID. Investigation Discovery is part of Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world’s #1 pay-TV programmer reaching nearly 3 billion cumulative subscribers in 220 countries and territories.
About Barbara Walters:
ABC News correspondent; "The Barbara Walters Specials"; Creator and executive producer of ABC Daytime's "The View" Barbara Walters has arguably interviewed more statesmen and stars than any other journalist in history. She is so well known that her name and a brief biography are listed in the American Heritage Dictionary. In September 2004, after 25 years as co-host and chief correspondent of ABC News' "20/20," Ms. Walters left the show to begin a new phase in her career at the network. She remains an active member of the news division and network, substantially increasing the number of primetime ABC News specials, in addition to her "Barbara Walters Specials." Through the years she has interviewed such world figures as Russia's Boris Yeltsin, China's Premier Jiang Zemin, Great Britain's former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Libya's Moammar Qadaffi and Iraq's President Sadaam Hussein. She was also the first American journalist to interview Russia's President Vladimir Putin and the first interview with President and Mrs. Bush following September 11. She has interviewed every American President and First Lady since Richard Nixon and has made journalism history by arranging the first joint interview with Egypt's President Anwar Sadat and Israel's Prime Minister Menachem Begin in November 1977. Ms. Walters joined ABC News in 1976 as the first woman to co-host the network news. She is also creator and co-executive producer of "The View." Over the years, Ms. Walters has received national recognition for her work and has been the recipient of numerous prestigious honors and awards, including 11 Emmy Awards, and 2 Lifetime Achievement Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
About Lincoln Square Productions:
Lincoln Square Productions produces original content for broadcast, cable and digital distribution specializing in entertaining ways to tell fact based stories. Clients include ABC Television Group, Scripps Networks, Viacom, Discovery Communications, National Geographic Networks, and more. Lincoln Square Productions is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. The headquarters are located in New York City.
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