What To Know
- Cheri Oteri surprised Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper on CNN’s 250th U.S. anniversary countdown by reprising her famous Barbara Walters impersonation.
- Oteri, as Walters, delivered witty commentary about life in “heaven” with celebrities, causing Cohen and Cooper to burst into laughter.
- This comedic appearance follows Oteri’s previous portrayal of Walters on Saturday Night Live.
Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper were in stitches during a surprise visit from Cheri Oteri as Barbara Walters.
On Friday, July 3, Oteri joined Cohen and Cooper — while dressed as the late Walters, who died at 93 in 2022 — during CNN’s countdown to the 250th anniversary of the U.S. The actress and comedian repeatedly impersonated Walters on Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 2000.
“All right, we have a special treat now,” Cohen said during the Independence Day eve appearance on CNN. “Joining us to celebrate 250 years of America from heaven, it’s the one and only Barbara Walters.” He added, “Wow, Barbara, you are truly heaven-sent. I can’t believe you’re here.”
Oteri, as the late 20/20 anchor, then reported in her best Walters voice, “I didn’t think there was a way I’d be able to join you, either. Until my friend, Thug Life’s Tupac Shakur, said that there was.” She continued, “So here I am, finally in my perfect lighting, gracing you with my ethereal presence to celebrate America’s 25oth birthday. And needless to say, Lady Liberty has never needed a Kris Kardashian deep-plane facelift with upper and lower bleph more.”
At this point, Cooper was full-on giggling in the background as Cohen silently shook with laughter.
Anderson Cooper can’t keep it together as a heavenly Barbara Walters (Cheri Oteri) joins CNN’s summer ball drop. pic.twitter.com/AXQYbp7kY4
— LateNighter (@latenightercom) July 4, 2026
Oteri then pointed out, “I almost materialized into the traditional American Apple Pie White House Cage Match. But I said if I wanted to watch two b****es fighting, I would tune into your Bravo, Andrew. Excuse my language, gentleman, but I have been making pottery with George Carlin and Richard Pryor.”
Cooper lost it again at this point, while Cohen asked if Walters had been keeping up with news on Earth.
Oteri said she had been hanging out with Nipsey Hussle, “Russian life coach [Grigori] Rasputin,” Harry Reasoner, Nancy Reagan, and Siegfried & Roy, among others.
“We mused about Earth’s adversaries, such as Blake vs. Baldoni, Erin Brockovich vs. data centers, and Lindsey Graham vs. masculinity,” she said. “And Kanye vs. anyone with two ears and a conscience.”
Additionally, Walters said she and her “besties” also discussed “Earthly hot topics such as Taylor Swift and her Paul Bunyan fiancé’s low-key Madison Square Garden wedding, roadkill culinary expert RFK Jr.,” and more. Additionally, Oteri claimed she had run-ins with “insufferable suffragette Susan B. Anthony,” and “the last man American believed, Walter Cronkite,” and many other late celebrities.
Previously, Oteri joined Cooper and Cohen as Walters on New Year’s Eve in 2019.