Downs Says No to Albert on ‘20/20’

Hugh Downs simply drew the line at Marv Albert.

In an exceedingly rare public protest by a top television personality, the veteran “20/20” anchor refused to appear on the ABC program Friday, disassociating himself from the interview with the fallen sportscaster by co-anchor Barbara Walters. Downs had declared on “Larry King Live” last month that he would not interview Albert and, what’s more, that “Barbara wouldn’t do it.”

“He didn’t feel like he could back down, so he has chosen to take the day off,” ABC spokeswoman Eileen Murphy said.

Victor Neufeld, executive producer of “20/20,” chose to accentuate the positive. “I don’t think it’s an embarrassment at all,” he said. “When you have 50 weeks of programs, 18 or 20 years of shows, it’s one of those things that happens in newsrooms . . . We’re not ‘Stepford Wives’ journalists, we’re not clones of each other. He’ll be back ready to go next week.”

Walters spoke with Albert, who pleaded guilty to assault in September, about biting women, three-way sex, his acquaintance with a transvestite and other seamy subjects.