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Barbara Walters' ABC television special The Most Fascinating People of 2011 included some predictable newsworthy profiles, including the Kardashians, Simon Cowell, Katy Perry and Derek Jeter. But the most surprising entry was the person who earned the number one spot on Walters' list.
The legendary interviewer selected the late Apple CEO Steve Jobs as the Most Fascinating Person of 2011. The pick was particularly shocking because Walters' rule has always been that her choices have to be living. She said she made the decision to include Jobs after he announced his retirement in August. And after he passed away, Walters decided to keep him on the list. "Rules were meant to be broken," she said. "And that's certainly how Steve Jobs lived his life."
But before her tribute to the technology entrepreneur, Walters had fun chatting with some of the year's biggest newsmakers. Walters interviewed Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe Kardashian as well as their mother Kris Jenner, who defended their fame as reality-show stars.
When Walters said they're "famous for being famous" and not having an actual talent, Kim responded: "I think it's more of a challenge for you to go on a reality show and get people to fall in love with you for being you. So, there's definitely a lot more pressure for being famous for being ourselves."
And as far as Khloe is concerned, the family knows they don't have an artistic talent to market. "None of us thinks we have talent, that we can act or sing or dance," she said. "I really believe with anything in life, whatever you do, you might think I've made mistakes in my life, for sure."
After the three sisters agreed that Kourtney's the most "book smart," Khloe has the most "street smarts," and Kim is the most "conceited," the sisters revealed that Kim is their mother Kris' favorite.
"It's Kim, just say it," Khloe told her mother. "Whoever gives her the most percentage points is her favorite."
Creator of the American reality show The X Factor, Cowell also joined Walters on the special, and he admitted (unsurprisingly) that he likes to be No. 1. "I like winning. If I play Monopoly with you, and you win, I'm not happy," he said.
Reportedly worth $320 million, the international reality-show mogul is nevertheless still a bachelor... and he's obsessed with having a healthy smoothies (his morning regimen consists of lemon tea, toast, and a few different vitamin-rich smoothies).
But his biggest fears? "Failure and being unhealthy," he said. "And you know what else? Being bored... and I'm claustrophobic."
He also admitted that he and his ever-bickering fellow judge on The X Factor, Paula Abdul, couldn't travel on the plane together for their first two years of American Idol because they fought so much. Insisting that "sexual tension" on Abdul's part was to blame, he revealed that he pondered hooking up with her. "I considered it, but then I thought, 'I don't think the after would be as good as the before.' I'd let her stay for a few hours, but then it would have to be goodnight," he joked.
Barbara Walters' Most Fascinating People of 2011 are:
1. Steve Jobs
2 The Kardashians
3. Modern Family's Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson
4. Amanda Knox
5. Herman Cain
6. Donald Trump
7. Katy Perry
8. Simon Cowell
9. Derek Jeter
10. Pippa Middleton
Watch Walters' tribute to Steve Jobs below:
