Get ready for a big dose of shocking disclosures… from doctors and hairdressers and even burglars, the people in your neighborhood reveal some surprising secrets of their trade.  “True Confessions” airs on “20/20″ on FRIDAY, MAY 3 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.   Anchored by Elizabeth Vargas and David Muir, reports include:

Burglars:  How does a house burglar pick which home to rob?  What’s their preferred method for getting in and out?  Which is the more effective deterrent – an alarm system or a German Shepherd? And what should you do if you’re unlucky enough to stumble upon a thief while he’s robbing your home? Chris Patterson of Minneapolis, convicted four times of burglary, reveals all.   Deborah Roberts reports.

Hairdressers:  A popular Santa Monica hair stylist shares secrets of her trade, from the ridiculous markups on the hair products stylists are too often told to push to the outrageous prices for some haircuts to the methodical way some stylists share the deep personal secrets with which their clients trust them.  Also, “20/20″ hits the streets to see if a panel of men can tell which women got a cheap cut and who got the $600 trim.  Cecillia Vega reports.

Doctors:  Dr. Michael Makary of Johns Hopkins tears the curtain back on the secrets of the medical profession from the big stuff including botched surgeries, unnecessary procedures, and substance abuse, to why patients wait in an ER.  Elizabeth Vargas reports.  

Moms: Some lie, scream, hold grudges, and play favorites with their own kids! They are the moms who post their darkest secrets on Jill Smokler’s Scary Mommy blog.  Elizabeth Vargas explores the lives of women who post on Smokler’s “Confess a Mommy Sin” board, and asks them what prompts them to go public with their secrets. She also follows up with a family profiled on “20/20,” in which a mother candidly admitted she preferred one kid over another to see how that turned out.

Window Washers:  High above the city streets, scaling the sides of skyscraper office buildings and high rise condos, some window washers are not just washing, they are watching… and you can just imagine the things they’ve seen!  Matt Gutman goes up against the glass with a crew of Florida high-rise guys who video tape their adventures on helmet-cam.

David Sloan is the executive producer of “20/20.”

– ABC –

“20/20″ pulls the blinds back on the nastiest neighbors around.  “20/20 SATURDAY” airs Saturday, May 4 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.   Anchored by Barbara Walters, reports include:

When Neighbors Strike Back:  It seems everyone has a nasty neighbor story, but Kim and Greg Hoffman say theirs takes the cake as their neighbor Lori Christensen, a 49-year-old single mother and former Girl Scouts leader, made it her mission to ruin the Hoffmans’ lives.  Her brand of terror was wide ranging – from verbal harassment, berating Kim in front of her children for being a recovering alcoholic, to incessant videotaping as the family comes and goes; from unwarranted calls to police and housing inspection authorities, to covering her garage door with bizarre and degrading signs – one that read: “I Saw Mommy Kissing a Breathalyzer.” But why?   (OAD: 9/14/12)

Nasty Neighbors Story:  A quiet, tree-lined road in Huffman, Texas, not far from Houston, is the scene of a neighborhood falling over the edge – one man’s anger over a noisy karaoke birthday party explodes into mayhem and murder. When the gun smoke clears, Kelly Danaher, a young husband, father and teacher, lies dead in the road and his neighbor from two homes down, Raul Rodriguez, is charged with murder. But Rodriquez says he was justified under the Texas version of the Stand Your Ground law. During the trial, though, a picture emerges of a neighborhood simmering with deep disturbing tensions, under siege for years, living in fear of one among them.  (OAD: 9/14/12)

Celebrity Neighbor Feuds:  And: What happens when the loud music is coming from your celebrity neighbor like Madonna’s New York apartment or the LA pad of Justin Bieber? “20/20″ takes a look at celebrities sparring with their neighbors.   (OAD: 9/14/12)

#2020Saturday

David Sloan is senior executive producer of “20/20 Saturday”.

– ABC -

“GMA” Leads “Today” by 819,000 Total Viewers and 66,000 Adults 25-54

“GMA” Only Morning Show to Increase Week-to-Week in Demo and Total Viewers Versus Competitors

“GMA” Continues to Grow Season-to-Date and Year-to-Year in Total Viewers While “Today” Declines

ABC News’ “Good Morning America” ranked as the No. 1 morning newscast in both Total Viewers (5.739 million) and Adults 25-54 (2.092 million) during the week of April 22, 2013, according to Nielsen Media Research.  For the week, “GMA” outperformed the No. 2 ranked “Today Show” (4.920 million and 2.026 million, respectively) by +819,000 Total Viewers and +66,000 Adults 25-54, its widest margins in 7 weeks - since w/o 3/4/13.  Further, “GMA” increased its Total Viewer advantages over “Today” both week-to-week (+576,000 on w/o 4/15/13) and year-to-year (+180,000 on w/o 4/23/12).  Additionally, GoodMorningAmerica.com on Yahoo! reached 23 million users in March 2013. It is the No. 1 morning news website and beats Today.com by millions of users each month.

Winning all 30 weeks of the 2012-13 season to date, “GMA” has ranked No. 1 every week in Total Viewers for more than eight months (the last 36 weeks - since w/o 8/13/12) and in 41 of the last 43 weeks (behind “Today” only during the 2 weeks of the 2012 Summer Olympics).  Further, “GMA’s” 36 consecutive weeks at the top stand as its longest stretch at No. 1 in more than 21 years – since before the 1991-92 season; Nielsen’s electronic database started on September of 1991.

In Adults 25-54, “GMA” has ranked No. 1 in 24 of 30 weeks, representing “GMA’s” most number of No. 1 finishes during a season in the key adult news demo in 20 years – since the 1992-93 season. 

“GMA” improved on the previous week (5.623 million and 2.044 million, respectively, on w/o 4/15/13) in both Total Viewers (+2%) and Adults 25-54 (+2%) with its strongest numbers in 7 weeks – since w/o 3/4/13.  Further, “GMA” stood as the only morning program to grow week to week as both CBS’ “This Morning” (-5%/-3%) and NBC’s “Today” (-3%/-2%) both turned in losses.

“GMA” built on its year-ago Total Viewer audience by +8% (5.311 million on w/o 4/23/12) to deliver year-to-year increases in overall viewers in all 30 weeks this season.  In contrast, NBC’s “Today” (-4%) has not only seen losses year to year in Total Viewers in all 30 weeks of the season, it has turned in losses for the last 36 weeks overall, starting with the week following the Summer Olympics (since w/o 8/13/12).

Season to date, “GMA” stands as the No. 1 morning news program in both Total Viewers and Adults 25-54. It is leading “Today” by its largest season margin in overall viewers (+612,000) in more than 21 years, and in the adult news demo (+71,000) in 20 years – since at least the 1991-92 season and the 1992-93 season, respectively; Nielsen’s electronic database started on September of 1991.

Season to date “GMA” is up in both Total Viewers (+8%) and Adults 25-54 (+2%) versus its year-ago averages, growing the most in the key adult news demo (NBC’s “Today” is down -13%/-19%, respectively; CBS’ “This Morning” is up +10%/+1%, respectively). “GMA” is seeing its largest overall season audience in 8 years and best Adult 25-54 performance in 4 years - since the 2004-05 and 2008-09 seasons, respectively.

For the week, “GMA” nearly doubled the performance of CBS’ “This Morning” in both Total Viewers (+93%) and Adults 25-54 (+97%)

Source:  The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 Live + SD weeks of 4/22/13, 4/15/13 and 4/23/12.  Most Current – 2012-2013 Season (9/24/12 – 4/28/13) and 2011-2012 Season (9/19/11 – 4/22/12).  All averages based on regular telecasts.  (*Note: Due to coverage of Hurricane Sandy, w/o 10/29/12 was coded as a breakout and is excluded from the season count).   

Emmy Award-winning “GMA,” featuring the anchor team of Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, Sam Champion, Lara Spencer and Josh Elliott, airs live Mon.-Fri. (7:00-9:00 a.m., ET) on ABC. Tom Cibrowski is senior executive producer.

– ABC -

8.5 Million Viewers Tune-In to Hear Knox Tell Her Story for the First Time 

The ABC News Program Delivers 12-Week Highs for ABC in the Timeslot in Key Demos

“Murder. Mystery. Amanda Knox Speaks – A Diane Sawyer Exclusive” averaged 8.5 million Total Viewers and a 2.4 rating/6 share among Adults 25-54 and 1.7 rating/5 share among Adults 18-49 for its one-hour broadcast on Tuesday, April 30 at 10:00 p.m., ET, according to Nielsen Media Research’s Fast Affiliate Ratings.

Diane Sawyer’s exclusive interview with Amanda Knox was the most-watched TV show in Tuesday’s 10 p.m. hour, outdrawing CBS’ Golden Boy by 9% and NBC’s The Voice-led time period premiere of Grimm by 42%.  In addition, the ABC News program beat out CBS’ Golden Boy by strong margins in Adults 25-54 (+26%) and Adults 18-49 (+31%).

Building on its “Dancing” lead-in, “Murder Mystery: Amanda Knox Speaks – A Diane Sawyer Exclusive” delivered 12-week highs for ABC in the hour with Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 – since 2/5/13.

Throughout the hour-long primetime special, viewers engaged in a dialogue about the facts of the case and their impressions making Diane Sawyer’s interview the most social broadcast on network television during its time period. #AmandaKnoxABC became a trending topic on Twitter in the United States on Tuesday night.

Amanda Knox, the college junior who became the center of a murder trial that riveted the attention of millions around the world, had never told her story. After the dramatic Italian trial, conviction, and court appeal that finally acquitted and freed her she spoke to ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer in her first television interview.

JUST ANNOUNCED: In Another ABC News Exclusive – Diane Sawyer to Speak with Malala Yousafzai, Young Girl Shot by the Taliban, in Her First Television Interview

The Malala Fund, directed by Malala Yousafzai, her family and a core group of advisers, supports girls education around the world through grants and partner collaborations (Courtesy: The Malala Fund).

“ABC World News” anchor Diane Sawyer will conduct the first television interview with Malala Yousafzai. Malala, a 15-year-old schoolgirl from Pakistan, was shot by the Taliban in October 2012 because she believed girls should have the right to go to school. Her story of bravery, determination, and passion for learning in the face of almost unimaginable odds captured the attention of the world and inspired a global movement for girls’ education.

Sawyer’s exclusive interview will air this October on all ABC News broadcasts and platforms including “World News with Diane Sawyer,” “Good Morning America,” and “Nightline” as well as ABCNews.com, Yahoo! and ABC News Radio.

In addition, ABC News is partnering with BBC to tell Malala’s story to a worldwide audience. BBC’s Mishal Husain will also interview Malala. Both interviews will air in conjunction with the publication of  “I Am Malala” (Little, Brown) this October, which marks the one-year anniversary of the assassination attempt on Malala’s life.

Newsmakers continue to turn first to “ABC World News” anchor Diane Sawyer to share their stories.  Amanda Knox sat down with Sawyer to share her story in a worldwide television exclusive that aired last night on ABC. Last week, President George W. Bush and Laura Bush spoke with Sawyer in their first television interview on the eve of the opening and dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center.

Click here and here for information on the Malala Fund.

Interview to Air on “Good Morning America” and All ABC News Platforms on TUESDAY, APRIL 30^th 

In an exclusive interview, George Stephanopoulos sits down with NBA player Jason Collins, the first openly gay active athlete in a major US professional sport. The free agent and former Washington Wizards Center revealed the news to Sports Illustrated and now talks to Stephanopoulos about his announcement.

The interview will air on “Good Morning America“and all ABC News platforms on Tuesday, APRIL 30^th.

About Good Morning America:

The Emmy Award-winning morning news program, featuring the anchor team of Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, Sam Champion, Lara Spencer, and Josh Elliott, airs live Monday through Friday from 7:00 – 9:00 a.m. ET on the ABC Television Network. Tom Cibrowski is the senior executive producer of ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

-ABC-

“ABC News has long valued investigative journalism, and Brian Ross, Rhonda Schwartz and their talented team have repeatedly been recognized with the most prestigious awards in journalism including many Emmy, Peabody, DuPont and Murrow Awards,” Sherwood noted. “I am confident these new additions, with ongoing support and leadership from Eric Avram, will take our investigative reporting to new heights,” he said.

Below is his full email to the ABC News staff:

I am writing with news about our award-winning investigative team.

I’m very happy to announce that James Gordon Meek will join our Washington bureau next month as an investigative producer. James has spent the better part of the past two decades covering national security and politics.

In 2006, while a reporter for the New York Daily News, James was the first to report that the FBI had foiled a plan to bomb New York City’s tunnels in an effort to flood lower Manhattan.

His reporting on the death of Army Private First Class David Sharrett in Iraq after a five-year investigation forced the Army to admit that Sharrett’s own commander shot him and left him to die. Those responsible were finally held accountable last year.

Since 2011 James has served as Senior Counterterrorism Advisor and Investigator for the House Committee on Homeland Security, grappling with some of the top threats to our country, including the bombing at the Boston Marathon.

His vast knowledge of national security issues and skills as a deep-diving reporter will prove to be powerful assets on our team.

Today Josh Margolin joins ABC News as a senior investigative reporter.  Josh is a hard-charging journalist whose enterprise reporting breaks news and makes an impact.

You may recall his cover story for the New York Post earlier this month, revealing that several prominent political figures were allegedly plotting to rig the New York City mayoral election. His story hit newsstands just as several of those officials were arrested.

A fearless watchdog, Josh has also exposed that City Hall officials were trying to suppress a critical report about New York City’s 9-1-1 emergency dispatch system.

While at the Star Ledger in New Jersey, Josh led the team that was recognized with a Pulitzer Prize for breaking news reporting on the resignation of former Governor James McGreevey.

Competitive, aggressive and relentless — Josh is a perfect addition to our powerhouse I-Team.

I’m also please to share that ABC News Radio correspondent Aaron Katersky will expand his duties to include investigative reporting.

From the Newtown shootings to Superstorm Sandy and most recently the Boston bombing, Aaron reporting has proven indispensable to our efforts and he will now formally contribute to the overall investigative output of ABC News.

I am also pleased to announce that Lee Ferran take on a larger role within the investigative unit as the new editor of “The Blotter” on ABCNews.com.

A dynamic reporter, Lee has a keen eye for compelling stories.  After coming to ABC News in 2007 as an intern, Lee joined the digital team and later became an investigative reporter for the Ross Unit in January 2011.

As news was breaking overnight in the Boston bombing, Lee played a key role working around the clock to make sure our digital coverage was accurate and balanced.

ABC News has long valued investigative journalism, and Brian Ross, Rhonda Schwartz and their talented team have repeatedly been recognized with the most prestigious awards in journalism including many Emmy, Peabody, DuPont and Murrow Awards.

I am confident these new additions, with ongoing support and leadership from Eric Avram, will take our investigative reporting to new heights.

Please join me in welcoming Josh and James to the ABC News team and congratulating Lee and Aaron on their expanded roles.

Ben

#####

ABC News President Ben Sherwood sent the following note to the news division announcing new roles on “This Week” and in the Washington bureau:

I’m writing with good news about changes on “This Week” and in the Washington bureau.

I’m pleased to announce that Sandy Cannold has been named Executive Producer and Senior Business Editor of ABC News.

A 13 year veteran of CNBC, Sandy will oversee our super-star team of business and economics specialists including GMA Weekend Anchor Bianna Golodryga, Linzie Janis, the talented Zunaira Zaki and our newest arrival, chief business and economics correspondent Rebecca Jarvis.

Viewers have told us time and again that jobs, money and the economy are their most important issues and we are very fortunate to have such a smart, savvy and experienced team to steer our financial coverage.

Sandy leaves “This Week” while it is enjoying the best season to date ratings in more than three years. He has been at the helm for some of the broadcast’s most memorable programs, including a live program in Newtown after the tragic shootings in December.

Robin Sproul, who just celebrated her 20 year anniversary as Washington Bureau Chief will expand her role to serve as Executive in Charge of “This Week.” As bureau chief, Robin is the leader of our Washington coverage and has presided through five presidential terms, starting just after the inauguration of Bill Clinton. She oversees all Washington beats, and has been part of award-winning teams covering everything from politics to the events of 9/11 to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sara Just, who has contributed to nearly every program and platform from the DC bureau – including senior roles at Nightline, GMA and Digital – will become the Deputy Bureau Chief in Washington, reporting to Robin. During her time at ABC, Sara has received eight Emmy Awards, two duPont Silver Batons, two Peabody Awards, and an RFK Journalism award for coverage on a range of stories from presidential campaigns, to conflicts in the Middle East, natural disasters, the racial divide in America, as well as arts and features.

Please join me in congratulating Sandy, Robin and Sara on these new roles.

Ben

“GMA” Continues to Grow Season-to-Date and Year-to-Year in Demo and Total Viewers While “Today” Declines

Season-to-Date, “GMA” Leads “Today” by Largest Overall Viewer and Demo Margins in 20 Years

ABC News’ “Good Morning America” attracted 5.623 million Total Viewers and a 1.7 rating/12 share/2.044 million Adults 25-54 for the week of April 15, 2013, according to Nielsen Media Research.  “GMA” outperformed NBC’s “Today” (5.047 million) by+576,000 Total Viewers to rank No. 1 for the 29th time in 29 weeks this season.  Additionally, GoodMorningAmerica.com on Yahoo! reached 23 million users in March 2013. It is the No. 1 morning news website and beats Today.com by millions of users each month.

“GMA” has ranked No. 1 every week in Total Viewers for more than eight months (the last 35 weeks - since w/o 8/13/12) and in 40 of the last 42 weeks (behind “Today” only during the 2 weeks of the Summer Olympics).  Further, “GMA’s” 35 consecutive weeks at the top stand as its longest stretch at No. 1 in more than 21 years – since before the 1991-92 season; Nielsen’s electronic database started on September of 1991.

For the 5th consecutive week, “GMA” was up week-to-week in Total Viewers (+2% – 5.494 million on w/o 4/8/13) to deliver its largest overall audience in 6 weeks – since w/o 3/4/13.  

“GMA” improved on the year-ago week (5.010 million and 1.940 million, respectively, on w/o 4/16/12) in both Total Viewers (+12%) and Adults 25-54 (+5%), seeing year-to-year increases in overall viewers in all 29 weeks this season.  In contrast, NBC’s “Today” was not only down year to year (-4%/-11%), but has seen losses in overall viewers and in the key news demo in all 29 weeks this season.  In fact, “Today” has posted decreases for the last 35 weeks overall, starting with the week following the Summer Olympics (since w/o 8/13/12).

Season to date, “GMA” stands as the No. 1 morning news program in both Total Viewers and Adults 25-54. It is leading “Today” by its largest season margin in overall viewers (+604,000) in more than 21 years, and in the key adult news demo (+72,000) in 20 years – since at least the 1991-92 season and the 1992-93 season, respectively; Nielsen’s electronic database started on September of 1991.

Season to date “GMA” is up in both Total Viewers (+7%) and Adults 25-54 (+2%) versus its year-ago averages, growing the most in the key adult news demo (NBC’s “Today” is down -13%/-19%, respectively; CBS’ “This Morning” is up +10%/+1%, respectively). “GMA” is seeing its largest overall season audience in 8 years and best Adult 25-54 performance in 4 years - since the 2004-05 and 2008-09 seasons, respectively.                                                                                           

For the week, “GMA” outdrew CBS’ “This Morning” by +79% in Total Viewers and by +87% in Adults 25-54.

Source:  The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 Live + SD weeks of 4/15/13, 4/8/13 and 4/16/12.  Most Current – 2012-2013 Season (9/24/12 – 4/21/13) and 2011-2012 Season (9/19/11 – 4/15/12).  All averages based on regular telecasts.  (*Note: Due to coverage of Hurricane Sandy, w/o 10/29/12 was coded as a breakout and is excluded from the season count).   

Emmy Award-winning “GMA,” featuring the anchor team of Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, Sam Champion, Lara Spencer and Josh Elliott, airs live Mon.-Fri. (7:00-9:00 a.m., ET) on ABC. Tom Cibrowski is senior executive producer.

– ABC -

In the moment of crisis, lives can change drastically by twists of fate and split-second decisions.  “20/20″ reports on surviving, from random violence and acts of terror, to massive highway accidents, to the madness of crowds and stampedes.  “20/20″airs on FRIDAY, APRIL 26 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on ABC.   Anchored by Elizabeth Vargas and David Muir, reports include:

• David Muir reports the latest on the Boston Terror investigation, with a focus on the newly emergent heroes and survivors who came face to face with the suspects.

• “20/20″ explores the phenomena of “crowd think” and the herd mentality of stampedes, where individuals forget logical thinking and instead follow everyone else even if it is clearly not the right thing to do.  Matt Gutman reports.

• Matt and Catie Stegmoyer and their two children were driving along a Texas highway last Thanksgiving when they found themselves in the middle of a deadly 118 vehicle pileup.  But the Stegmoyers were able to walk away unscathed largely because they ignored conventional wisdom about what to do in a traffic accident.  John Quinones reports.

• What makes a difference between life and death when there is an active shooter in the office?  Elizabeth Vargas speaks with workplace shooting survivors and a law enforcement official who demonstrates what to do.

• Jay Schadler reports on “The Third Man Factor” – when survivors of terror attacks, natural disasters, and other near-death experiences telling nearly identical tales of a tangible, corporeal presence instructing them to keep calm and providing direction on how to get out alive.  Many believe it is a supernatural phenomenon, but author John Geiger believes our mind literally splits in two – the emotional side that panics and the rational side that thinks through the fateful decisions.

• Amputee college soccer player Bree McMahon shares her inspiring story of recovery, and “20/20″ is with her as she visits Boston to support the amputee victims whose lives changed in an instant last Monday.  Deborah Roberts reports.

David Sloan is the executive producer of “20/20.”

– ABC –