WP TV critic Tom Shales: "Next to Coulter, Paris Hilton is pure refreshment."

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: Paris Hilton, Free To Speak Her Mind (Such as It Is)
By Tom Shales
Thursday, June 28, 2007; Page C01


In her first post-jail interview, the heiress told CNN's Larry King she's "definitely matured." (By Kyle Christy -- CNN Via Associated Press)

...."Sadly, this is part of American culture," lamented King's colleague Anderson Cooper on his own show, "Anderson Cooper 360," following King's. Cooper seemed embarrassed to be covering the interview even though he'd been doing promos during the day as well. On the low-rated "Paula Zahn Now," which preceded King, CNN ran a "countdown clock" headlined "Paris Tells All," in the lower right-hand corner of the screen....

***

It would be easy to dismiss the entire event as much ado about less than nothing, but America has always loved bad girls, stories of people conquering adversity, and tales of reform and repentance. This saga has all those elements and a beautiful blonde besides, making it essentially irresistible. Of course for all the hoopla about CNN landing the first post-jail interview, other networks reportedly had turned it down. NBC was said to have made a $1 million offer to Hilton's father but negotiations apparently fell through.

Meanwhile TV blogs were chortling over remarks made in the past by CNN news director Jon Klein, who once boasted that CNN is "the most essential source of information" in the country and said, "The American people want serious news, and they're not getting enough of it from cable." They certainly didn't get a lot of it from CNN last night.

To look at the spectacle from yet another perspective, watching Hilton for an hour was in its way more edifying and encouraging than enduring more hateful rants from publicity hound Ann Coulter on MSNBC's "Hardball With Chris Matthews" the night before. Matthews was still discussing the Coulter appearance on his show last night. Next to Coulter, Paris Hilton is pure refreshment....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/28/AR2007062800002.html?hpid=moreheadlines

[Clark2008]

1. "Beautiful" blonde?

I still have yet to figure out why anyone thinks Paris Hilton is "beautiful."

My husband doesn't find her all that attractive, either, so it's not just my female eye.

[jollyreaper2112]

5. She'd be cute if we didn't know who she was

I've seen some women who are plain to look at or don't photograph well who are simply dazzling in person. I've seen others who are dazzling in photographs but are either vile yuckies in person, dim bulbs, or otherwise unattractive.

Hilton possesses the raw materials but lacks the soul to make her truly attractive.

[Frances]

2. I think that Ann Coulter will fade

as she ages. Did anyone else notice how she tossed her hair when she was listening to Elizabeth Edwards? The hair toss works when you are young and pretty, but it looks silly when you are out of your twenties. It is time for Ann Coulter to look and act like the mature woman she is. A woman is much more attractive when she behaves appropriately in my opinion.

[Nikki Stone1]

3. She's 45 acting 19

:)

[Frances]

4. Exactly

[Fleshdancer]

8. the hair tossing cracked me up....

it looked like she was doing a poor imitation of Julie Robers from Pretty Woman...which would explain the hooker dress.

[monmouth]

6. I really, really miss Ted Turner.....eom

[Beelzebud]

7. How about this assessment: Both are GARBAGE.