After bailing out of wireless microphones and headsets for the day, 300 top media brass hit the Waldorf for the annual Broadcasters Foundation of
America Golden Mike Award Gala, where they heaped tribute on tube titan Anne Sweeney, president of Disney-ABC Television Group.

Among the prime-time bigs: ABC’s David Westin and Steve McPherson, Fox’s Dennis Swanson, ESPN’s Herb Granath, SFM Entertainment’s Stan Moger, and ABC News anchor Charles Gibson. Foundation prez Gordon Hastings hosted the gala, and Tom Bergeron (Dancing With the Stars) emceed—and was presented with a Golden Mike of his own.

Barbara Walters drew laughs when she recapped how Sweeney started as an ABC page back in 1981 and was told, “Never, ever, under any circumstance talk to Barbara Walters.” Sweeney’s daughter Rosemary exposed her mom’s daredevil side: The two rode dog sleds, swam with dolphins, and raced dune buggies.

Vanessa Williams slew the crowd with a stellar set, finishing with her signature “Save the Best for Last.” How does the Ugly Betty beauty fend off aging? Barbara Walters caught the scoop on her recent special:
“I certainly do Botox,” Williams confessed. “It’s a miracle drug!”
So are her pipes!