Award Show 2007

Academy Awards

Feb. 23, 2007 | 03:00 PM EST

Oprah: Baba, Watch Your Back!

Photo by: JUDIE BURSTEIN / GLOBE

That slapping sound you heard on TV last night was Oprah Winfrey throwing down the gauntlet: Yes,Barbara Walters now has some serious competition when it comes to Oscar specials, as Winfrey trotted out A-listers Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Jamie Foxx and the legendary Sydney Poiter for her own pre-Oscar spectacle on ABC. Unlike Walters, Oprah didn't even ask anyone what kind of tree they'd like to be – she stepped out of the way and let them probe each other, with the kind of insanely personal questions that would get Billy Bush slapped. Here's a rundown of what you missed:

• Roberts met Clooney in his Hollywood Hills mansion, and proceeded to get stuck in his bathroom (because, like any good bachelor pad, the door handle was broken). Roberts badgered him about his girlfriends – or lack thereof. Clooney flipped burgers on the grill for the pregnant Roberts. And just when you thought it couldn't get better...brrring, brrring! Brad Pitt calls!

• Not to be outdone, Crowe and Kidman's Aussie chat time at the Beverly Hilton Hotel's presidential suite was capped off with Crowe telling Kidman he'd like to see her "barefoot and pregnant."

• Foxx played "Amen" for Winfrey and Poitier on the very stage where Poitier won an Oscar for his role in Lilies of the Field 44 years ago.

Now it's time for Barbara Walters to bring it. In Wawa's ring: The news vet goes one-on-one with Ellen DeGeneres (this year's Academy Awards host), Helen Mirren, Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy – this year's top Oscar contenders. With 25 years under her belt (and a knack for making stars cry on national TV), we're betting Walters will pull out some tricks of her own.

Don't forget! After the Oscars visit People.com for photos of the best dressed, the biggest parties and all the backstage action you couldn't see on TV!