Barbara Walters honored ahead of Friday retirement

MIDTOWN (WABC) -- As we celebrate Barbara Walters this week, friends and colleagues are doing what they can to show their appreciation for the legendary TV journalist.

On Wednesday night, Disney CEO Bob Iger and former mayors Michael Bloomberg and Rudy Giuliani were among those who toasted Barbara at a reception in Midtown.

She is retiring Friday, the last day she will appear on "The View" as a co-host.

She will remain its executive producer.

On Thursday, all of the co-hosts throughout the 17 years of the show appeared together at the table for the first time ever.

And on Eyewitness News First at Four and 5 and 6 p.m. see Barbara Walters like you have not seen her before. Anchor Bill Ritter sits down with her for a revealing and emotional conversation.

Since the early 1960s, Walter has served as a journalistic throughline for her viewers, an arbiter connecting the dots during five decades of events, newsmakers and stars.

Walters announced her retirement more than a year ago, and emphasizes it was her choice, motivated because, well, it just seemed time.

"I feel great," she says. "I'm in perfect health. I've got a lot of energy."