I respect that Barbara Walters has been doing the TV thing for a long time now — and it’s all the more impressive the way she does it while bathed in a light so misty and mysterious that not even Peter Jackson could replicate it during Liv Tyler’s scenes as Arwen in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. But that said, is the doddering news diva really hip enough to decide which entertainers should be included in her 10 Most Fascinating People of 2006 special, set to air December 12? No, I say. No she is not. And that’s why it’s up to the PopWatch community to help her compile…
What’s that? Babs has already released the names of seven of her 10 profile subjects? Lemme see that press release… "Vogue Editor in Chief Anna Wintour [pictured, left, with Walters], hip hop mogul Jay-Z, newly retired tennis legend Andre Agassi, John Ramsey, televangelist Joel Osteen, Steve Irwin’s widow, Terri Irwin, heartthrob Patrick Dempsey and others." Oh Barbara, where is Ugly Betty‘s resurgent scene-stealer Vanessa (L, Yeah!) Williams, a woman who’s been written off by Hollywood more times than I’ve watched A Diva’s Christmas Carol? Her glaring omission does not please me, and I’m sure there are scads of other names that could’ve (and probably should’ve) made the cut, too. In fact, why don’t you all file your complaints in the comments section below? (Remember, your picks have to be not just talented, but "fascinating.") Ready, set, kvetch!
here’s who i might add:
al gore (i think his movie opened a whole new door for political campaigning).
nancy pelosi (come one – that’s an obvious one).
lorne michaels (snl is in it’s 32nd season and has inspired two new television shows. he deserves some recognition).
jerry springer (come on – that hug with his daughter got us all a little teary-eyed).
just no borat. or tomkat. or brangelina. they’re over-exposed enough!
Here’s a vote for Tony Romo, the sensational new starting quarterback for “America’s Team”!
And let’s not forget the new James Bond, Daniel Craig!
I’m sorry I am so distracted by Anna Wintour’s stiff youthful face, I can’t focus….
Is Barbara Walters kidding? What makes Anna Wintour, after years at Vogue, suddenly so fascinating? Because of “The Devil Wears Prada,” which Wintour won’t even acknowledge? In that case, Walters should have chosen the eternally fascinating and multi-talented Meryl Streep, who starred in two films this year. And what makes Patrick Dempsey so fascinating, apart from starring on a popular show? His hair? C’mon. His follicles do not make him fascinating, just a fad. Never one to miss a chance to shamelessly plug herself or her show, let’s see if Babs doesn’t name her “View” co-host, Rosie O’Donnell, one of the most “fascinating.”
I agree SLEZAK, where is Vanessa Williams????? Damn!
Didn’t Dempsey already get his own kooky BawBwa Walters interview?
Here’s my list of some of the people that should be on there, in my opinion:
-Alec Baldwin (you wanna talk about a great comeback year)
-Daniel Craig
-America Ferrara (quick name all the other Latinas headlining a hit show on network TV)
-Roger Federer (who’s just dominating tennis…I’d like to know more about him)
-Hugh Laurie (just seems like he’d be a charming interview)
How about…
John Krasinski, Tim Gunn, Daniel Craig, the entire freakin cast of Heroes, Stephen Colbert, Amy Sedaris, America Ferrara and my person fav, Hugh Smoking Hot Laurie!
Her “most facinating people” special is so lame. She doesn’t choose the people they choose her. Most of them have something to promote and are included, therefore she just interviews them. Why else would Jay Z be there? He retired like 7 years ago and (unsurprisingly) just released a new album! None of these people holds any interest for me, other than Anna Wintour, as she is somewhat mysterious and i don’t recall seeing any interviews with her before.
Her list always seems to come too late, some of the people on this list should have been the most fascinating people of 1996. She’s such a bore, and at this day an age, although still a pro, she’s getting to be a bit insignificant.
This has to be the dumbest list I’ve seen in a long time! Hardly anyone on there should even remotely be considered newsworthy, let alone fascinating.
First off, I don’t even know who Joel Osteen is (but I’m Canadian so I’m not televangelist savvy) and if I see one more fawning interview about Patrick Dempsey I’m going to lose my lunch. Jay-Z is about as fascinating as lask week’s news and although I love Agassi, all he did was retire.
My picks would be: Sasha Baron Cohen (NOT in Borat or Ali G mode, please), America Ferrara, Daniel Craig and Sumner (sp?) Redstone for having the guts to slap down Tom Cruise! If she really wants to be “controversial” add Mel Gibson to the list.
Oops! I forgot to add the YouTube guys — Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim. They definitely were responsible for the Invention of the Year!
Daniel Craig
Stephen Colbert
Sasha Baron Cohen
Those are my picks.
As long as KFed doesn’t make the list, I’m happy.
Joel Osteen? When did she change it from fascinating to creepy?
Sascha Baron Cohen is definitely the best and obvious choice. Fascinating and somewhat mysterious actor, great entertainer, and a bit controversial.
How about all those comedians working at the White House, it’s kinda like MadTV over there; really really bad, but you just gotta laugh at it sometimes. oh and
Daniel Craig
Bob Dylan and
Borat.