Paris Hilton’s public contrition tour began this morning just after midnight with her photo-op walk out of the jailhouse, which looked more like a stroll down the red carpet, and it continues tomorrow night with a softball session with Larry King. So far so good, but let’s suppose, just for the sake of argument, that she’s actually serious about living a changed life. What else does she have to do — showbiz-wise, at least — to cease being a pop-culture joke or subject for prurient speculation, and start being taken seriously?
Not demanding money up front for a post-jail interview might have been a good start, but that’s water under the bridge now. My suggestion: First, she should hook up with the charity of her choice. Recognizing the limits of her talent would help, though the Simple Life star would make a decent TV host on a youth-oriented series. Combine the good works element with the reality format she’s best at — say, something like the environmentalist travelogues Cameron Diaz did for MTV — and she’ll be golden. Not Angelina Jolie golden, maybe not even Pam "PETA" Anderson golden, but at least with a little bit more of a halo. (You gotta better idea? Tell us, below.)
Meanwhile, it’s worth noting that Tom Sizemore, a demi-celebrity with actual acting talent, found himself in a Paris-like situation yesterday as he, too, was ordered to serve time for a probation violation — except his sentence won’t be just 23 days, but more like 16 months. Granted, he had a more serious rap sheet, but it’s hard not to think that, if only he could do a glam perp-stroll like Paris, he’d have gotten off with a lighter sentence.
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This woman will never be taken seriously. How can you, when she’s admitted to “acting dumb” because she thought it was “cute”? Piles and piles of money can get you out of jail, but in this case, it’ll NEVER buy her (or her parents) and real respect.
You can’t really see her legs in that video, but when I watched it this morning it looked like she was doing a stroll down the catwalk.
I actually think she should move away from the public eye for a little bit. Work with charities behind the scenes for a few years and then come back to the limelight in the decade or so when people have mostly forgotten your misspent youth. Any attempt to do a TV show, even one with a positive message, will be seen by the public as superficial and insincere at this point.
Also, I hope they mowed down a few of those paparazzo with their SUV when they were pulling away.
I’m glad to be one of the fiirst responses, as the hate-fest hasn’t begun yet. TO EVERYONE WHO WILL POST PARIS-HATE: LET’S GIVE HER A CHANCE< AND IF SHE PARTIES. I'LL JOIN THE CLOBBER-PARTY. BUT FOR NOW< LET"S BACK OFF
Is there anyone over the age of, say 13, who cares one bit her?
I agree that she needs to lay low and stay out of the public eye for a good long while. Then when she comes back, she can start fresh.
I can’t believe I just wasted two minutes of my life writing about Paris Hilton. I feel sick.
The Paris Hilton Jail Story – - co-starring Jay Leno as Man in Red Tie, Rosie Perez as Jail Guard, and Tall Bald Guy from Midnight Oil as Crowd Member.
She just needs to go away. I just don’t understand why she constantly wants to be the center of attention. With all the money she has, why can’t she just enjoy it in anonymity? It would be nice if she used her money and fame for something positive like helping children and people in need. But that maybe asking too much. At this point, I would content if she just disappears…
I must say… it’s hard to take someone seriously who once was videotaped talking on their cell phone and smiling in the camera, all the while getting f***** up the a** by Shannen Doherty’s ex-husband. No one will forget that!
Hold the phone! Wasn’t PopWatch declared a Paris-free zone last year?
Do you think she went to jail just to break the ban? Nice going Susman, now you’re her butt monkey. Rump marmoset? Keister bonobo?
No more space for this sad little nothing person.
Focus on some indie bands or a forgotten actor or a movie that isn’t getting enough press, mkay?
To GeeMoney
Yeah, but I figure that in ten years or so there’re be videos of all of us on YouTube, talking on our cell phones, smiling in the camera and getting f***** up the a** by Shannen Doherty’s ex-husband. So it won’t be as big a deal.
To Emperor Norton
In Britain, they say “bum gibbons”.
I love Paris!
furry_tom
Me spit milk out my nose! And I’m not even drinking milk – that’s how funny you are.
Where can I download your deaf/mute harpsichord movie?
Because drats – I just finished one about an armless pianoforte player, and I’m feeling like – it’s Deep Impact and Armageddon all over again. Neither of our films are gonna get the attention they deserve.
It’s like you’re in my head.
Why does Paris Hilton even have to be in the public eye at all? She should go to college and get herself a career in something other than famewh*ring.
She is useless just like my second cousins step cousin Lizzie Grubman. Paris should just go to NYU’s Wagner school of Public Administration, get an undergraduate degree in fundrasing, work for a organization like The March of Dimes or UNICEF, and do something decent with her families dough.
I think the best thing for Paris would be to live her life out of the spotlight, for a few years at least. I don’t know what it’s like to be a celebrity, but it is obviously not conducive to being a productive, stable adult for many people. For her own sake, I think she needs to develop a life away from cameras and red carpets, and parties with other overexposed celebrities. Her public persona would best be served by backing off to give people a long time to forget about the image so many love to hate.
I haven’t put my film on the internet. I’m terrified of piracy (Both the DVD and seafaring varieties).
Well I hope she can forget this bad dream and continue doing what she does best … make Oscar movies, keep doing Grammy winning CD’s and of course for her to go get another Tony.
………. hhmmm anything else? ….HA!
Stephen: why should we back off Ms. High Society, Better Than The Rest of Us? If you were arrested and sentenced for the same thing, you think anyone would:
A. Put you in your own private cell away from other inmates
B. Let you go home for house arrest after the judge explicity stated that was out of the question at sentencing
C. Gotten out anywhere near as early as she did?
You must be a bazillionaire too if you actually want us to sympathize with this poor excuse for a human being.
the L.A. Times did a study showing she served more time than 80% of 1500 cases similar to hers. I don’t condone drunk driving, and they had to keep her speprate b/c if they didn’t there was a very good chance she would be beaten up. I will give her a chance to redeem herself, and a lot of people won’t, which is what I was trying to say before.
Send her to the electric chair…that’s my best advice on how to rid the planet of the scourge that is Paris No-Talent Hilton.
Why in the world should we feel sorry for this spoiled little rich girl? She had her chance to act like a responsible human being and blew it. What has she ever contributed to society besides driving recklessly while drunk and “acting dumb” because she thought it was “cute”? Do you think any of us would get sent home against a judge’s orders because we had a rash or couldn’t eat the food or were just plain upset about being in jail, whatever her supposed “medical condition” was? Please! She totally got preferential treatment because she’s a rich celebrity. I’m just glad they at least made her go back to jail after she was sent home. But I’ll bet she still had cable TV in her cell. And if she does “redeem herself” it’s only because she HAS to do community service. Did you see her doing anything positive for the community before this? Partying and carrying around tiny little wafer thin dogs doesn’t count.
She acted irresponsibly in the past, but that doesn’t mean she can’t change. And even if she does, you’ll always hate her, and that’s fine. I’ll join you if she does it again. Just wondering, what are your feelings on La Lohan?
Well, I do hope Ms. Hilton can act like a grown up now. Her parents should also be ashamed of themselves. Ah, La Lohan. It’s a shame she can’t be a bit more mature as well. I’m acquainted with the father of Amanda Seyfried who co-starred with her in Mean Girls, and Amanda reported that Ms. Lohan was a nasty little prima donna on set. Some of these celebrities’ actions prove that they simply are not grateful for their place in society. They abuse their fame for selfish purposes and, let’s face it, they don’t really work for a living like you and I do. They have people to do everything for them, which is why it makes me sick when they expect preferential treatment. Do you agree?
Honestly, Paris Hilton is everywhere, and I would like to at least be able to stand her if I have to see her. I think a good start would be for her to just stop acting like a little-girl moron all the time. Maybe if she apologizes for trying to enforce the idea that it is “cute” to play dumb, I might dislike her a little less.
I agree mostly. Paris’ early release was the idiot sheriff’s decision. Unless something comes out that she asked or coerced him, I lay blame on him being star-struck. I agree that many celebs act the way they do, and my heart breaks. Try to imagine living in a bubble, thinking you can do no wrong, and are attacked when doing so. I wish they would work hard and give back, maybe they’d learn something. I look to Angelina, who is the perfect example of a changed person. I hope they do as well. (And to Ms Kathy Hilton, I’d like to toss her in a canyon with Ms Dina Lohan and Candy Spelling and Virgie Arthur).
Also want to add that there must be consequences for what they do. (So I agree with the 23-day sentence). I am floored that Lohan’s next movie will work around her schedule. It’s like they’re saying “don’t worry sweetie. you enjoy your spa, er, rehab stay after driving drunk with coke in the car. when you’re done, we’ll pay you $10 mil.”
I absolutely agree that the sheriff was either starstruck or pressured to give her preferential treatment. I love your idea about tossing the idiot mothers in the canyon. These young celebrity women need stronger mothers to keep them grounded, that’s for sure. I mean, the horror stories that Amanda Seyfried had about Lindsay Lohan is just one example. She said Lohan was so rotten to everyone while on set, that all the castmembers would make plans to go out and keep it secret from Lohan because she was such a royal harpie to everyone. I can’t imagine what it’s really like to be a celebrity living in a fishbowl, but I would think that it would make you be MORE responsible because you’re under constant public scrutiny. They should take their cues from people like Princess Diana (rest her soul) and George Clooney who work hard to give to others, not to themselves. Who else is there that Paris and Lindsay should try to emulate? Any ideas?
You know what, they should’ve thrown her BACK in jail for demanding money for a post-jail interview. How much more money does this knucklehead need? The least she could do is donate that money to a substance abuse program. This is akin to all the athletes who do drugs, drive drunk, abuse their wives, rape women, and murder people, and then just get suspended from playing sports for a while. Hello?? BANNED from ever playing sports professionally again. GO DIRECTLY TO JAIL, DO NOT PASS GO, DO NOT COLLECT $10 MILLION PER SEASON PER YOUR CONTRACT.
JJ- these girls should try to emulate class acts like Natalie Portman and Reese Witherspoon. They would fall short but at least do better for themselves.
There’s no proof she asked for the $$$. From what I’ve heard, NBC was unethical and offered. As for role models, I’m not too keen on the lovely Di. I mean, she was a beautiful soul, but she was suffering inside. I think they should look to Halle Berry or Brooke Shields; two accomplished women in the public eye who have shared their struggles to help others with the same problems.