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!
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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.
Hmm…where is Madonna…lets see largest grossing tour by a woman…hmmm…baby adoption coverage…hmmm
tim gunn, baby!
and (please don’t hate me) the former mrs. federline: britney!
c’mon, whatever the hell’s goin on in her head alone is fascinating!
no?
These are awful!
Patrick Dempsey?! What for?!! For having a head full of hair past 40?!!
Jay-Z?!! For un-retiring and afflicting his large ego among us again?!!
As long as Madonna has a spot, Babs can pick whomever she wants. But I agree, no Borat but yes to SBC. Yes Daniel Craig. Yes Amy Sedaris (never goona happen, though). Yes Nancy Pelosi. No Patrick Dempsey. Shonda Rhimes would be better. How about The Lost Braintrust (Lindelof, Cuse, Burk & Abrams)…or Christina Aguilera? How about the host of the best TV show on the air right, the CBS Sunday Morning News, Mr. Charles A.?
http://moviemartin.blogspot.com
How about Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse.
I don’t know if I agree with the rest of you. The list seems pretty up to date to me. Dempsey is on the top-rated TV show. Wintour blew up big with “The Devil Wears Prada” although it wasn’t technically about her. Jay-Z is the biggest (and white-friendliest) rap person Babs is ever gonna talk to. The Irwin widow and Osteen, who has had like the top-selling self-help book of the year (work in a Barnes & Noble and learn things like this), seem logical. Remember it’s the ‘Most Facinating’ people of 2006, not the most facinating of the last two months (and remember Babs also wants to appeal to a certain rocking-chair demographic).
That picture…is very scary. I thought it was some emaciated drag queen trying to do a 1960’s-era Barbra Streisand. Don’t do that to me afte rlunch!
My personal pick is the cast of “The Office,” but if you have to pick one person, then Steve Carrell could represent. Here’s why: The Office, 40 Year Old Virgin, Little Miss Sunshine, Evan Almighty, Get Smart. He’s my favorite loveable dork.
Good call Martin. CBS Sunday Morning is the reason I skip church. I love Charles Osgood!
Wow. I’m not facinated by a single one of these 7 people. (And does the whole list seem very 1996…??)
It’s a very Lord of the Rings day, huh, Michael? LOL
Why am I on this list?
Anna Wintour? Ms. Devil Wears Prada herself and JZ? YUCK! I think the author and former assistant to Wintour would be more fascinating to talk to. Also why not let america vote for the 10? I don’t think Walters has a clue what is happening in pop culture, from blog here America has voted and Daniel Craig is one who should be on it?
Just look at that tabloid crocodile’s lovely, open-mouthed smile (that’s what Ms. Walter’s insists was always recommended by Pamela Harriman) (WHO?) Yes, just another name dropped by BW from another place and time that no one can relate to now. Patrick Dempsey; easy catch (he works for ABC). Terri Irwin again? Let’s see…….need the trademark tears. John Ramsey?….how many times has she already talked with him? This is getting like her Oscar specials (which have fewer Oscar contenders with each passing year). She must be having problems snagging people because the list she’s offering up so far look like easy catches; or as someone else suggested……..they need the publicity. Does anyone really wait to see any of her “specials” any more? One word sums her up nicely: irrelevant.
This proves that sometimes the useless entertainment industry doesn’t know whats hot. Just what has the most media hype. Jay Z is played out and tired. I’m glad his records sales didn’t shatter anything like his overexposed can’t act girlfriend Beyonce’s sales. Vanessa Williams career like Beyonce is based on her face nothing more. I heard Condie is Time’s Man of the Year. Now thats fascinating honoring a woman with brains!!!!! Baba Wawa some of us want SMART talented women honored. Hey honor Angela Bassett because NO black actress will ever have a resume like hers. Black women are too busy putting fake hair in their heads playing idiots! Angela had chance to play some strong black women! Can she play Oprah next?