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Oprah, ABC Team for Oscar Special

Post by: Sal

Oprah Winfrey is horning in on Barbara Walters' pre-Oscar interview racket.

While Walters will still do her traditional Oscar-night special on Feb. 25, Winfrey will present her own special, titled, appropriately enough, "The Oprah Winfrey Oscar Special." It will air Thursday, Feb. 22 on ABC, three days before the Oscar telecast (also on ABC).

Rather than interview celebrities herself, Winfrey will cede the interrogation duties to the stars themselves. Hence, Julia Roberts will chat with her "Ocean's Eleven" and "Twelve" co-star George Clooney, Nicole Kidman will sit down with fellow Aussie Russell Crowe and Jamie Foxx will interview one of his idols, Sidney Poitier.

Winfrey will executive produce the show, but ABC's announcement makes no mention of whether she'll appear on camera. It will get a plumb spot following "Grey's Anatomy" on Feb. 22, with the network hoping for a ratings bounce in sweeps.

ABC and Winfrey have a long-standing relationship; she has produced a number of TV movies for the network, and late last year her company, Harpo Productions, sold two unscripted series to ABC.

The lineup for Walters' Oscar-night special hasn't been announced yet.