SHORT TAKES : Hewitt Sorry About Sawyer Snub

Don Hewitt, admitting he’s “ashamed” of his recent behavior toward former “60 Minutes” correspondent Diane Sawyer, says he has apologized to her and they’ve made a date for lunch.

Hewitt, the executive producer of “60 Minutes,” received some criticism after he apparently snubbed Sawyer as he and six others were inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame in Los Angeles Sunday.

Hewitt said press reports had it wrong. Yes, he did leave her name off a list of “60 Minutes” correspondents he saluted upon receiving the award but, he said Wednesday, he left out Dan Rather too. “What I did was restrict myself to the legends I’ve been privileged to work with over the years at CBS, Ed Murrow, Eric Sevareid, people like that, and to the people I’m working with right now, Ed and Morley and Mike and Harry.”

At the time, Sawyer was sitting right in front of Hewitt at the Academy gala waiting to present Hall of Fame nominee Joan Ganz Cooney with her award.

Hewitt said that the mischief-makers at the awards Sunday obviously did not see him and Diane embrace, “throw our arms around each other” and make a date to have lunch together earlier in the evening.