‘Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything’ Review: Hulu Doc Offers a Solid Overview, but Limited Depth, on the Television Pioneer

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As a devoted fan, it’s a recurring pattern: When a renowned figure passes away, each news network swiftly assembles (or completes) a heartfelt tribute show to address some fundamental questions – primarily “What made this individual significant?” – in an insightful manner that can be aired within just a few days of the demise.

Such tribute packages, while not strictly falling under the category of “documentaries,” indeed play a significant role in providing solace to mourning fans or those merely intrigued, by offering insights and remembrances of notable figures.

The issue with Jackie Jesko’s fresh documentary titled Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything, set to debut at Tribeca prior to its Hulu release, is that for a significant portion of its 95-minute duration, it seems very much like one of those retrospective summaries produced soon after someone’s death.

Initially, the series “Tell Me Everything” attempts to mirror a renowned TV journalist’s style, providing essential details and gradually tackling challenging queries or even controversial topics. However, it seldom delves beyond idolization.

The idea of allowing Walter’s interview techniques to guide this documentary is not necessarily flawed, but unfortunately, in this case, it doesn’t make for an engaging watch – a shame since Walter was indeed intriguing. The documentary demonstrates Walter’s unique approach, where she appears to ask simple questions initially, only to later slip in more direct or probing queries. However, as Jesko isn’t interacting with Walter directly, it’s unclear who she aims to put at ease and for what purpose.

The initial part of the documentary showcases Walters’ journey, from her early years right through to her initial reporting ventures, her stint at Today, and later at ABC Evening News. Jesko guides us through the sexism she encountered throughout this journey, with one arrogant male adversary following another, until ABC finally provided her the opportunity to conduct in-depth TV interviews that revolutionized the boundaries between celebrity and news reporting.

She conducted interviews with presidents, dictators, actors, and so on, and the video is impressive, though perhaps not entirely new. A scene shows Barbara Walters looking somewhat uncomfortable alongside Harry Reasoner at the ABC Evening News desk. However, she appears much more relaxed when speaking with Anwar al-Sadat and Menachem Begin. The interviews with figures such as Bette Midler and Clint Eastwood portray her in a friendly manner. Interviews with various producers/colleagues, along with Midler representing the group of stars Walters interacted with professionally, are well done. Yet, even two years after Barbara Walters’ passing, there’s nothing in this collection that suggests a deeper insight gained over time or from these specific commentators.

In the latter part of this documentary, things take an intriguing turn as I delve into the golden years of Walters’ career, backed by testimonies from trailblazers like Katie Couric, Oprah Winfrey, and Connie Chung – all who walked in Walters’ footsteps. We uncover fascinating tidbits about her legendary Rolodex, the cutthroat competition for interview bookings during the ’80s and ’90s, and a captivating segment on Walters’ iconic encounter with Monica Lewinsky. This segment includes recollections from Lewinsky herself, as well as Oprah Winfrey, who initially believed she would secure the interview only to find out that it was snatched away by none other than Walters. The documentary also spends a significant amount of time exploring the dynamics surrounding the rivalry between Walters and Diane Sawyer – a topic many others besides Diane Sawyer touch upon.

As Sawyer is MIA in this documentary, it’s no surprise that she’s often absent when tackling tough subjects. Jesko has got the stories to tell, but lacks the interviews to effectively convey them. The absence of Sawyer is significant since the doc values her dynamic involvement. Similarly, Jacqueline, Walters’ estranged daughter, is conspicuously missing, which holds weight given the film’s central theme that Walters prioritized her career over love and family.

The specifics of Barbara Walters’ personal life beyond her professional relationships are largely left to conjecture due to limited direct knowledge, leading to speculation about her relationship (or alleged relationship) with Roy Cohn and her multiple marriages to Merv Adelson, a figure who is rarely discussed. However, the documentary mainly relies on information from sources such as Cindy Adams, a renowned gossip columnist, and Lori Klein, a makeup artist who worked with Walters for 29 years (as revealed in press notes rather than the documentary itself).

In a slightly different wording, here’s how you can express that idea:

The most powerful moment in “Tell Me Everything” doesn’t originate from the documentary itself. Instead, it comes from the collection of female journalists who graced Barbara Walters’ final episode of “The View.” This moving tribute, without the need for narration or commentary, offers a succinct and compelling summary of Walters’ significant cultural influence that outshines anything presented in the documentary alone.

In my opinion, it’s quite appropriate for a documentary focusing on any diligent individual to address the question “Can you have it all? No. But here’s why that’s OK.” However, it’s hard to imagine a similar documentary about a male figure posing the same query. As for the documentary titled “Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything,”, does it thoroughly examine its own conclusions? Not extensively. It’s a straightforward and considerate film that, if released a month following Walters’ passing, would have made its point effectively. However, by taking a step back and utilizing the perspective granted by time for something more substantial, it unfortunately falls short.

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2025-06-13 04:24