TOM CRUISE SURPRISE'S BARBARA WALTERS

Hollywood star Tom Cruise made an surprise appearance on television show The View yesterday, to pay a video tribute to it's host Barbara Walters. Walters, 78, is currently celebrating 50 years as a TV personality with a new revealing autobiography. In 1976 she famously became the first woman to co-anchor the evening news in America.Wednesday’s The View cut to a clip taped by Cruise. As an emotional Walters looked on, he said, "First I want to congratulate you for 50 years as a leading force for women. Not only in the newsroom, but the world at large."Do you realize, that on October 4th 1976 when you became the first woman to anchor the evening news, that that moment would forever empower other women to reach their goals."

BARBARA WALTERS AFFAIR WITH SENATOR

ABC Newswoman Barbara Walters has stunned everyone by confessing she enjoyed a lengthy affair with a married senator in the 1970s.In a interview with Oprah Winfrey, which will air on next week, Walters revealed she romanced Republican Edward Brooke, the first African-American to be popularly elected to the Senate, from the late 1960s.Walters confessed she was "infatuated" by the Massachusetts politician, adding, "He was exciting. He was brilliant. It was exciting times in Washington." But she refused to go public with the affair, insisting, "Had this come out, it would have ruined my career and his."

MILEY CYRUS SENDS VIEW HOST TOILET

Teenage pop superstar Miley Cyrus has sent The View Television host Barbara Walters a golden toilet bowl as a quirky gift.The toilet at the Cyrus home overflowed after one of Walters’ crew members used it during an interview taped for the TV host’s Oscar night special last month. Walters felt terrible about the incident, telling The Huffington Post blog, "When one overflowed, the whole plumbing system went wrong in the house, and all the toilets overflowed." And, just to prove there are no hard feelings, the Cyrus family have sent Walters a golden toilet figurine with the note, "So you’ll always remember the Cyrus family."

Photo By: Juan Silva/BuzzFoto

KATHY GRIFFIN DROPPED FROM THE VIEW

Kathy Griffin

Reality show star Kathy Griffin has been dropped from "The View" once again for the second time, after she was "mean" to co-host Barbara Walters. The star was due to appear on the Television talk show on Tuesday, to coincide with the final night of her sold out show in New York City, but she was left fuming after being scrapped at the last minute. She tells the New York Post's gossip column Page Six, "I was supposed to be on 'The View' (today). But then I get a call from (producer) Bill Geddie, and he says, 'You were too mean to Barbara on your last special, so you can't come on.' Can you believe it? I've been banned before but never re-banned!" Griffin co-hosted "The View" on a number of occasions following the departure of Rosie O'Donnell, but rumors say that Walters and Griffin don't get along.

BRITNEY SPEARS FRIEND CALLS BARBARA WALTERS AND SAYS BOYFRIEND IS DUMPED

Television Icon Barbara Walters

Mental and toxic Britney Spears friend, Sam Lutfi , has finally revealed the troubled singer is seeking treatment for a series of mental issues. Lutfi called television newswoman Barbara Walters over the weekend in a bid to clear up reports about the party girls health. And when Walters asked him if she could talk about their conversation during her morning gig at The View today, Lutfi agreed. She told viewers about their chat, stating Lutfi referred to himself as Spears’ manager. She revealed, "I can’t vouch for this; he seemed to be very knowledgeable and he certainly was very nice."He said that Britney is suffering from what he describes as mental issues which are treatable."He said that she has been to a psychiatrist… she has been having mood swings, she’s been having trouble sleeping… Whatever has been happening, she’s now sleeping." Lutfi also told Walters that Spears has reconciled with her mother Lynne after a period of estrangement.Walters said, "She is in touch with her mother… and her mother has been very supportive." The View co-host Whoopi Goldberg admitted to Walters she wasn’t surprised by Lutfi’s comments, adding, "I said I thought there was something emotionally wrong. I think this girl has worked and worked… and she’s burned out." Walters then revealed Spears had dumped her paparazzi boyfriend Adnan Ghalib, who went public with romantic details and taped messages the singer had left him on entertainment shows last week. The TV host added, "I’m not an authority… but I believe she has moved away from this boyfriend."

ROSIE O'DONNELL LEAVING 'THE VIEW'

Rosie O'Donnell on The View

Talk show queen Rosie O'Donnell said on Wednesday she will end her rein as wold co-host of ABC's "The View" in June when her contract expires, ending a nine-month run that saw her do battle with Donald Trump and other celebrities. O'Donnell, 45, said she and the Walt Disney Co.-owned network failed to come to terms on a contract renewal deal, but she would return to the show next season for special segments and as a recurring guest host. She said one unresolved issue in her talks with ABC had been the length of her contract, with the network seeking a three-year extension while she held out for just one year."It just didn't work, and that's showbiz. But it's not sad, because I've loved it here, and I love you guys, and I'm not going away. I'm just not going to be here everyday," O'Donnell said on the show, drawing applause. Barbara Walters, the daytime talk show's creator, co-executive producer and fellow co-host, said she was "sad" over O'Donnell's impending departure and that she was not involved in the negotiations between ABC and O'Donnell."I knew you were coming for one year, I hoped it would be more," Walters said after O'Donnell spoke. The weekday program, averaging 3.5 millions viewers in its 10th season, has seen the size of its overall audience grow 17 percent since O'Donnell joined the show in September. The actress-comedian, an activist for gay adoption and other social causes, has drawn frequent headlines for her brand of commentary. She has often skewered such powerful men as real estate baron Trump and Fox News Channel host Bill O'Reilly from her seat on "The View," a panel hosted by four women discussing news and gossip.