Barbara Walters is seen celebrating the birthday of Casey Anthony's lawyer Jose Baez in an attempt to get an interview

Looks like ol’ Barbara is pulling out all the stops to pop Casey Anthony’s interview cherry…

According to TMZ reports:

Casey Anthony’s attorney, Jose Baez, had dinner with Barbara Walters Sunday night. She was clearly trying to butter him up for an interview with his infamous client … but when Jose went in for the hug, Barbara blanched.

Baez, his wife, Walters and Frank Langella (they had just gone to see his play) all dined at Orso in Manhattan for Jose’s birthday. Our photog tried getting details about a possible asking price for the interview — but no one was talking.

According to our sources, Casey isn’t ready to tell her tale just yet. Clearly BW wants dibs.

When everyone says their goodbyes, and Jose goes to hug Barbara … she shoos him away, saying, “No, no, no. Don’t do it.”

Clearly she didn’t want TMZ getting the “money shot.”

Mmhmm, we see you Barbara, we wouldn’t be surprised if she foot the bill for the whole night. She’s gonna have to spend a lot more than dinner-and-movie if she’s serious about getting Casey’s first sit-down, Anthony will definitely be offered major stacks to tell her tall tale.