Why hasn't Barbara Walters interviewed Madonna, or, phrased another way, why
hasn't Madonna allowed herself to be interviewed by Barbara Walters.

[aside] I once had a supervisor, in the form of a Lead Case Manager, who used
to say "That's a 'why' question...I don't do 'why' questions." As a researcher
myself, I can completely understand this, so I'll offer yet another form in
which to answer the question. [/aside]

When will Barbara Walters interview Madonna, or, when will Madonna allow herself
to be interviewed by Barbara Walters?

[aside] "Like that's any easier!", you rave..."What, you think we're a bunch of
psychics here?" [/aside]

No, of course not. Perish the thought. Just give me your best-informed thoughts,
ideations, constructions, imaginations, intuitions, etc.

Oh. And if you find a fact or two to back you up, all the better...  : )

Hi sublime1,

I reckon it'll never happen, and I'll explain why I think so.

Barbara Walters will be 72 in a few months.  (She was born September
25, 1931, as listed on numerous web sites.)  She seems to enjoy her
work, so let's assume that she'll be doing interviews for ten more
years.

Madonna has already had twenty years to do a Barbara Walters
interview, but has managed not to.  There were rumors -- fostered
primarily by Matt Drudge, who is better than your average rumor-maker
-- that Barbara Walters was set to interview Madonna on the pre-Oscar
special in 1995.  However, according to Druge, Madonna backed out of
the planned interview.  I haven't seen any subsequent rumors that
Madonna might do a Barbara Walters interview.

"will see cry for barbara?", thread in <alt.fan.madonna> (Dec 29, 1994
to Jan 2, 1995)
Google Groups
http://groups.google.com/groups?threadm=3dv2b3%246qq%40lainet2.lainet.com

"more on the oscar night interview", thread in <alt.fan.madonna> (Dec
29, 1994)
Google Groups
http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=3e07r8%249p7%40lainet2.lainet.com

"Barbara Walters and the Interview", thread in <alt.fan.madonna> (Jan
1-2, 1995)
Google Groups
http://groups.google.com/groups?threadm=3e4l2u%24qsf%40lainet2.lainet.com

"no on barbara walters!!", thread in <alt.fan.madonna> (Jan 29, 1995)
Google Groups
http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=3gfkls%243du%40lainet2.lainet.com

"MADONNA PULLS OUT", thread in <alt.fan.madonna> (Jan 29, 1995)
Google Groups
http://groups.google.com/groups?threadm=3gfkue%243f4%40lainet2.lainet.com

Some of these threads, as well as another thread from that time and a
later speculatory thread, suggest why Madonna might not want to do a
Barbara Walters interview.  Barbara Walters seems to have a
personality and an agenda that would clash with Madonna's.  She is
mainstream, brash, and tries to uncover the hidden sad side of her
interviewees.  Madonna is unconventional (even if simultaneously
mainstream), also brash, and not given to revealing her inner self
except on her own terms.

"The Barbara Walters Interview", thread in <alt.fan.madonna> (Jan 13,
1995)
Google Groups
http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=1995Jan13.130347%40yvax.byu.edu

"Has Madonna ever done ....", thread in <alt.fan.madonna> (Jul 16-19,
1998)
Google Groups
http://groups.google.com/groups?threadm=6ol22u%24st6%40mimas.brunel.ac.uk

As noted in one of the posts, Madonna did her infamous interview with
David Letterman in 1994.  By contrast to Barbara Walters, Letterman
would seem to have a much more compatible personality: interested in
the unconventional (even if a bit straightlaced, which made him a nice
target for Madonna), humorous, and someone who often takes his cues
from the interviewee.  I can imagine her watching his prior infamous
interview with Andy Kaufman, and thinking, "That's a show I have just
got to go on."

"David Letterman Interviews Madonna" [warning: uncensored language!]
Aether Lumina
http://www.aetherlumina.com/humor/madonna_vs_letterman.html

Madonna has gone more legit since 1994, but is still living life on
her own, fairly unconventional, terms, as evidenced by her recent
video controversies.  I don't think she'll be interested in giving up
control to Barbara Walters even for a short interview in the
foreseeable future.  If she figures she can outrage Baba Wawa, maybe
she'll do it.  But she probably knows that Walters will try very hard
to dictate the terms.  I can't imagine that she wants to put herself
in that situation.

- justaskscott


Search terms used on Google and Google Groups:

madonna "barbara walters"
madonna "barbara walters" interview
madonna "barbara walters interview"
madonna "barbara walters" oscar[s]
madonna letterman

Excellent. You confirmed my own intuition on the matter with regard to the 
personality differences between the two. Thanks bunches.

Maybe she didn't feel like it. Would that do as an answer? ;-)

Walters honored Madonna (and 99 other women) in a special:
http://womenshistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa050299.htm

Does that sort of count?  ;)