SCENIAC: Barbara goes Hollywood

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Walters points down to her star. (Mel Melcon / LAT)

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Walters autographs a sign for Anthony Solis. (Mel Melcon / LAT)

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Walters and her star, with Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge; Johnny Grant, honorary mayor of Hollywood; Robert Iger, Walt Disney Company president; Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles City Council president, and Leron Gubler, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce president. (Mel Melcon / LAT)

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The star, close up. (Mel Melcon / LAT)

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Walters poses with ‘Superman’ Christopher Dennis. (Mel Melcon / LAT)

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Walters with ‘The View’ co-hosts Elisabeth Hasselbeck (left) and Joy Behar. (Mel Melcon / LAT)

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Barbara Walters and her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Damian Dovarganes / AP)

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Kathy Hilton and Nicky Hilton (Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)

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Elisabeth Hasselbeck hosts “The View” as the festivities begin (Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)

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Nicky Hilton (Damian Dovarganes / AP)

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Elisabeth Hasselbeck (Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)

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Robert Iger takes to the stage as Barbara Walters, left, and Nicky Hilton look on. (Damian Dovarganes / AP)

By Deborah Netburn

June 14, 2007 12 AM PT

Times Staff Writer

“Nicky! Look over your shoulder. Nicky!”

It was 11:30 in the morning and the paparazzi firing squad was lined up in front of the Kodak Theater on Hollywood and Highland.

Technically this was Barbara Walters’ hour in the hot, bright, Hollywood sun -- the 77-year-old news legend was honored with a star on the walk of fame. Except that Kathy and Nicky Hilton were in attendance, so once again the day was usurped by the specter of Paris Hilton. Even locked in jail that girl seems to be everywhere.

The Hiltons, both wearing large dark sunglasses, were on hand as a thank you to Barbara Walters for helping Paris begin her redemption tour from behind bars. On Sunday, Walters conducted a “surprise” interview with the heiress by telephone.

Calling Walters collect from prison, Hilton said she had become much more spiritual and that she was through with acting dumb. Walters dutifully carried her message to the world.

On Thursday Walters was dressed in a bright red power suit that looked awesomely 1980s and stood for her photo op next to Disney chief Bob Iger, honorary mayor of Hollywood Johnny Grant, City Councilman Eric Garcetti, and chief of police William Bratton- who all praised her work in journalism before her star was unveiled.

Her hair, for those who are wondering, does not appear to be a wig--it was too thin on top for that.

It was hard to hear anything over the din of Hollywood Boulevard and the squawk of the security guards’ walkie talkies, so I only caught a few snippets of Walters speech.

“My producers are very happy I’m getting this star because finally they can walk all over me,” she said. Then she told a story about winning the award for “Most improved actor” as a young girl at summer camp.

“It was the biggest honor of my childhood, and this award is the biggest honor of my adulthood,” she said.

(Over her 30-plus year career Walters has interviewed Hillary Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, George and Laura Bush, Saddam Hussein, Fidel Castro, Moammar Qadaffi and most of the world’s most powerful people, so it’s hard to believe she could really be so honored by this star which is usually paid for by a fanclub or a network or studio, but it’s nice that she said so).

Then the security guards started barking at anyone looking to loiter. “Keep it moving people,” they said. “You can’t stand there ma’am,” It became too hard to hear anything again, so the press and the crowd began talking among themselves.

Even Walters’ colleagues from “The View,” Joy Behar and Elizabeth Hasselback (Rosie did not show up) started chatting again.