Wed: Barbara Walters' Most Fascinating People of 2009

[lostnfound]

I'm going to watch it, mainly because of Lady Gaga. In the past few years, there hasn't been a new pop artist that has become a phenomenon. I think the last pop artist who debuted with a strong cultural impact was Britney Spears. I cannot think of another pop singer--maybe Beyonce, but her debut didn't make the generational impact that Britney had.

As for the #1 spot, I have a feeling it could be Susan Boyle. She's a rare jewel--an average British woman, average appearance, stuns the world with her voice, has the biggest female debut, and lives happily ever after...

Or maybe the Salahi's....HAHAHA!

 

[boxerdudeuk]

i can give you a link to about 500 people VASTLY more interesting than anybody on that list.

http://www.ted.com

 

[scrapple]

What the hell has Michelle Obama done to be considered "most fascinating"? She's been the least active First Lady since Pat Nixon.

 

[MMMonsterBoy]

i'm "thinking about it" because i'm posting in a thread about it. believe me, i'm in PR, i know the value of publicity in any form.

but i still disagree. being popular is much different than being interesting.

where's christine amanpour? anderson cooper? general patreus? the leader of the UN? tim geitner?

michelle obama is the only one on that list even remotely interesting.

and kate fucking gosselin? really?

I see where you are coming from, but I think this list is about people who captured the general public attention. The people that got other people talking. Yes, we all know there are perhaps more valuable persons out there more capable, but no one is talking about it. I am sure Bawbaw's list is less political, and more pop-cultural.

 

[boxerdudeuk]

I see where you are coming from, but I think this list is about people who captured the general public attention. The people that got other people talking. Yes, we all know there are perhaps more valuable persons out there more capable, but no one is talking about it. I am sure Bawbaw's list is less political, and more pop-cultural.

yeah you've got it bang on. after i posted my earlier comment, i thought about it and really - it's not that those people were chosen that annoys me - it's that the list is called "most interesting"... it should more reflect that they make huge waves in popular culture. call it what it really is.

 

[boxerdudeuk]

No. I am just asking what she's done. What makes her fascinating?

But my bigger question was Anderson Cooper. What would be fascinating about him? That he won't come out of the closet?

judging by who anderson cooper interviews, what he sees, where he goes, and the opinions and ideas he's privy to - i'd find him more interesting than anyone else on there but maybe michelle obama.

admittedly though, he didn't make a giant impact in 2009 specifically. my bad for that.

 

[PabloZed]

What the hell has Michelle Obama done to be considered "most fascinating"? She's been the least active First Lady since Pat Nixon.

I can understand having that impression because of the national media. She simply does not get the coverage. But because I live in the DC area my local news covers many of her activities. She visits schools to talk to children about nutirition and exercise and girls about education and the value of telling boys no; she talks to teachers about her husband's education iniatives and also talks to school administrators about school lunches and nutrition. She is also active with military families and has quietly done fundraising for children of servicepersons overseas. I even saw her at a local farmers market talking about fresh foods and gardening. I think she is simply avoiding national issues and therefore is not part of the national conversation.

I might add she is the mother of two young children who are her foremost concern.

 

[haberfuckingdashery]

i love this medieval / gothic look and color of her dress and her set...Wow

 

[haberfuckingdashery]

look at that smile on the queen's face. She just loves it when people bow at her! 83 years of people bowing and it still doesn't fail to put a huge smile on her face.

and all in black just adds to gaga's medieval theme

Gotta love Liz

 

[JOHN B]

I am in the middle of watching this right now. Isn't it going a bit fast? I thought her show use to be two hours long? This episode is just glossing over these people with a few quick questions. Kinda boring. OOhhh.....it's back on...and Adam is NEXT!....gotta go!

 

[joshz88]

I'd say its a good list besides Adam Lambert, Sarah Palin, Kate Gosselin, and MJ's kids (although they are interesting, I think this exploits the kids which I don't think is right).

I would make my list something like this:

1. Michelle Obama - She is redefining the role of the first lady.
2. Sonia Sotomayor - The first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice.
3. Captain Sullenberger - He safely landed his plane in the Hudson river, saving many lives.
4. Laura Ling and Euna Lee - They were detained in North Korea for months and released with the help of Bill Clinton.
5. Brett Favre - He became known to many as the biggest traitor in sports and lost one of the most loyal fan followings in the NFL as the former Packer signed with the Vikings.
6. Tyler Perry - He has become a movie mogul and has brought a massive level of mainstream success to the black film industry.
7. Jenny Sanford - Her whole story with her husband's affair is very interesting as she has largely been quiet about it, so it will be very fascinating to see what she says.
8. Glenn Beck - He has become an influential and outspoken political commentator who knows how to get people talking (for better or for worse).
9. Susan Boyle - In a day and age where sex appeal and heavy studio production are used to sell records, she became a very huge exception.
10. Lady Gaga - She is this years biggest rising star in entertainment who, unlike the Twilight cast and Taylor Swift, is actually relevant outside of the pre-teen crowd.

 

[bluedragon4]

Didn't bother watching it. I have to say Barbara does cut the hosts off ALL the time. It gets so annoying. She thinks she is the authority on everything. Whoopi needs to put her in her place just once with saying ,"please, stop interrupting me". Or "shut up you old crusty whore". Regis is annoying also. I can't wait till he retires. I only watch the show when Anderson hosts. Hope he is gonna be the new host when Regis retires. These old reporters or whatever they are do get so annoying as they get older. I don't wanna hear about your ailments or what you were doing in the 1950's. Who cares?

 

[haberfuckingdashery]

Didn't bother watching it. I have to say Barbara does cut the hosts off ALL the time. It gets so annoying. She thinks she is the authority on everything. Whoopi needs to put her in her place just once with saying ,"please, stop interrupting me". Or "shut up you old crusty whore". Regis is annoying also. I can't wait till he retires. I only watch the show when Anderson hosts. Hope he is gonna be the new host when Regis retires. These old reporters or whatever they are do get so annoying as they get older. I don't wanna hear about your ailments or what you were doing in the 1950's. Who cares?

lol the 1950's

ya no, old dears are really cheezing me off too. i'm going to try hard when im old not to piss the hell outa the then generation about 2010.

 

[PabloZed]

Gosh, Barbara is looking crustier all the time and even the soft lighting can't save her.

Totally agree with John B - those weren't interviews, they were more like greetings. I can tell you though what the headline tomorrow will be: "Palin's Idea of Happiness is a bowl of moose chilli on a snowy day." That's what she said.

Have to say SouthPark was far more entertaining. Loss of internet drove people, particularly chronic masturbators, crazy.

 

[joshz88]

i'm "thinking about it" because i'm posting in a thread about it. believe me, i'm in PR, i know the value of publicity in any form.

but i still disagree. being popular is much different than being interesting.

where's christine amanpour? anderson cooper? general patreus? the leader of the UN? tim geitner?

michelle obama is the only one on that list even remotely interesting.

and kate fucking gosselin? really?

I agree that there are plenty of people who are much more fascinating than the people on her list, but Barbara's list is not necessarily to find the 10 most fascinating people in the world, but the 10 most fascinating people who are well known to the average person. People like Christiane Amanpour, Anderson Cooper, General Patraeus, and Tim Geithner are extremely interesting and have done fascinating things and do have well known names, but their stories and what they have done aren't nearly as well known to the general public as others are.

 

[NedNickerson]

So, who was #1?