Barbara Walters gave a preview of her annual special, "The 10 Most Fascinating People of the Year", which is set to air at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12.

The 20th annual special will feature Hollywood celebrities, political figures, athletes and a literary phenomenon.

Included this year are Ben Affleck, whose "Argo" is an awards-season front-runner; "Family Guy"’s Seth MacFarlane; British boy band One Direction; Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas; New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie; Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; and EL James, the author behind the steamy phenomenon "Fifty Shades of Grey".

As is tradition, Walters will announce the No. 1 most fascinating person of 2012 during the broadcast.