If you have plans to become a riveting public figure in the near future, you might do well to make yourself famous in the next couple of weeks. Otherwise, you'll be too late to make Barbara Walters' deadline.

ABC says it will air its annual Walters special, "The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2005," on Tuesday, Nov. 29. The date takes an entire month of fascination off the table, but it does allow ABC to air the show during November sweeps, which end the following night.

Among the compelling folks on Walters' list this year are Tom Cruise, who starred in one of 2005's biggest movies ("War of the Worlds") and also spent weeks telling anyone who would listen about his newfound love for actress Katie Holmes and his Scientology beliefs. "Desperate Housewives" star Teri Hatcher is also on the list, as are Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Thomas Mesereau, the lawyer who defended Michael Jackson in his child-molestation trial.

The absolute, most can't-take-your-eyes-off-them person of the year won't be revealed until the special airs. It's set to go at 10 p.m. ET the 29th, bumping "Boston Legal" that night.

This year will be the 12th that Walters has compiled her list. Last year's special, which named White House advisor Karl Rove the most fascinating person of the year, drew a healthy 16.3 million viewers.