Former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Cheri Oteri revealed her identity to late journalism icon Barbara Walters during CNN’s New Year’s Eve special on Saturday.
Oteri, who once interviewed Walters for a bit on “The View,” told co-hosts Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen that the reporter had a knack for creating newsworthy memories and described her as part of the fabric of his childhood.
Walters died on Friday at the age of 93, and tributes from across the media industry poured in to honor the iconic broadcaster.
“For every noteworthy memory, she was there,” Oteri said.
Oteri, who has done impersonations on CNN’s New Year’s Eve coverage for the past few years, later revealed what she initially thought was Walters trying her hand at “SNL.”
“I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is such a big responsibility,'” Oteri said.
“I didn’t want to do that, but then I said, ‘Wait a minute. It would be such an honor. So I studied her like I’ve never studied anyone before.”
She added, “So to have his blessing and to be on ‘The View,’ I was just blown away.” She broke every journalistic barrier for women, and here she is asking me: ‘Cheri, what are you doing to me?'”
Oteri recalled telling Walters that he noticed that when she was doing an interview, he usually gave her “three compliments and then [goes] for murder”.
You can watch Oteri’s rendition of Walters around the 1:48 mark in the video below.
Oteri isn’t the only “Saturday Night Live” alum who admires Walters.
Gilda Radner’s recurring character “Baba Wawa” helped define her time on the NBC sketch comedy from 1975 to 1980.
Radner’s portrayal, Walters said in an ABC interview, marked the first time a comedian had poked fun at a female news anchor.
“Gilda was the original, and of course I laughed at everyone until it was me,” Walters said.
“When Gilda started doing ‘Baba Wawa,’ I hated it. I didn’t like it… I don’t talk like that and I pronounce my Rs. Why did my parents have to call me Baba Walters?
Walters later recalled hugging Radner, who died in 1989, when he met her in France.
“It was wonderful and it was sweet. I loved her before and I’ve loved her ever since.”
