Famed broadcast journalist Connie Chung gushed about behind-the-scenes drama with several of her former colleagues, including Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters in a new podcast interview.
Chung, who anchored at a number of top retailers including ABC, CBC, CNN and NBC before his retirement in 2006, spilled a stash of secrets this week on Los Angeles Magazines’ podcast ‘The Originals’.
One of the most notable was her description of working with Sawyer and Walters at ABC, which she said was’ no different from what Tonya Harding did to Nancy Kerrigan.
The 74-year-old, who has been married to host Maury Povich since 1984, also revealed her flirty relationship with David Letterman, saying, “I had this thing before him, and he had a thing for me.”
Chung gushed about behind-the-scenes drama with several of her former colleagues, including Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters in a great new podcast interview
Chung (right) is pictured with Diane Sawyer (left) and Barbara Walters (second left) in 1998
Chung described her flirty relationship with David Letterman, saying, “I had this thing before him, and he had a thing for me.” She can be seen as a guest on Letterman’s 1989 show
Chung also described an icy exchange with Hugh Grant when she made a cameo on HBO’s The Undoing. ‘He wasn’t very friendly,’ Chung said of Grant (pictured on the show)
Chung began her career as a Washington correspondent for CBS Evening News at Walter Cronkite in the 1970s before becoming a morning news anchor for NBC news in 1984.
She returned to CBS five years later and joined Dan Rather to anchor the Evening News – an experience she mentioned in her podcast interview.
Chung described Rather as ‘very gentlemanly from Texas’ before comparing their partnership to a 1960s horror film, adding, ‘When I turned around I felt like I was in the shower in a scene from Psycho.’
Chung and Rather broke up in 1995, after which she went to ABC News for 20/20 as a reporter.
Chung can be seen with CBS News co-anchor Dan Rather in the 1990s. She described Rather as ‘very Texas gentlemanly’ before comparing their partnership to a 1960s horror film, adding, ‘When I turned around I felt like I would be in a scene from Psycho in the shower’
Chung spoke of the transition to podcast presenter Andrew Goldman, saying, “When I joined ABC News, I joined both Barbara Walters and Diane Sawyer there and I thought, ‘Oh, this is going to be great. get along. ”
But things didn’t go as well as she’d hoped.
“Diane and Barbara were in the same kind of arena getting these big interviews,” Chung said.
So when I tried to go after them, I was told I couldn’t. That Barbara and Diane were the only ones who could run for the interview and that I had to resign. And I said, “Really?” ‘
Chung seemed to compare Sawyer and Walter’s behavior to that of figure skater Tonya Harding, who was accused of planning an attack on her rival Nancy Kerrigan for the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer.
A representative for Walter responded to Chung’s comment in a statement to TMZ, saying, “ Barbara paved the way for every female journalist who came after her. She has been a huge supporter for all women. ‘
Chung and Walters laugh together at an American Women in Radio and Television event
Tonya Harding (left) was accused of planning an attack on her rival Nancy Kerrigan (right) for the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer
Chung had nicer things to say about Letterman, whose show she appeared several times.
“Out of the blue, it’s dark,” she said of the comedian. ‘He’s a dark, unhappy kind – I don’t mean he’s unhappy. He is anti-social is what he is. ‘
Chung recognized a chemistry between her and Letterman, calling it “inexplicable.”
“I like people with a sense of humor and who are charming, and he was when he was on the airwaves,” she said.
Chung has been married to presenter Maury Povich since 1984. The couple is pictured together in 2003
In more recent news, Chung lifted the cover of her cameo on the HBO drama The Undoing, revealing an unpleasant interaction with lead actor Hugh Grant.
“He wasn’t very friendly,” Chung said of Grant.
“I interviewed him for his next film shortly after” Four Weddings and a Funeral “. So when I saw him, I said, “Oh hi. I interviewed you … remember?” And he said, “No.” ‘
Chung said she hit a nerve with Grant and the director, Susanne Bier, when she tried to advise the actor on the set.
When Hugh Grant sat down, he looked completely disheveled. He’s one of those British crumpled guys, ”she said. ‘His tie was crooked and I’m very OCD. So I said, “Hugh, straighten your tie.” And he’s going to fix it.
And then there was a collar outside his suit. And I said, “Hugh, fix that.” And then he looked like Rodney Dangerfield. It should be on the back of – as in ‘Broadcast News’ – on the back of your jacket so it’s neat and tidy. ‘
Chung said she was about to tip Grant when he snapped, “Now what?” – as Bier gave her “an evil eye.”