Access HollywoodAccess Hollywood

    Our National Paris Obsession

    | Comments (11)
  • I'm on set and cameraman Kev just told me the space shuttle launches in 4 hours. Thanks Paris, I had no idea.

    True, that in this current Paris obsessed news cycle, I was unaware that America was returning to outer space. Is there any chance I went to sleep a few days ago and woke up on another planet... one where a delinquent socialite garners much more attention than war, NASA, missing persons, immigration law discord and setback... and on and on.

    I perpetuate this material every night, but my show is called Access Hollywood... It’s in the title; this is our niche and has been for the last 11 years, back when Dennis Franz' "backside" stirred opinion on “NYPD Blue.”

    There is national outrage? Is it mostly justified because people honestly feel that her "re-assignment" further disenfranchises other inmates who aren't given that option and may have medical issues too? Is it more that people just want her put down and punished?

    I think the latter prevails. There is a part of me that resents Paris for what she has given to society - sex tape, racial slurs on the Web... her main body of work is 'The Simple Life,' a reality show that derives its laughs from her mingling with the under class.

    Ironically, it's partly her perceived detachment from reality [and everyday people living in it] that causes much of the vitriol.

    It would be so much easier to rally behind her if she were even minorly known for giving back or charity of some kind. That's her biggest problem in this PR/image battle she is losing.

    She comes off smug.


    As for the news media, this is a terrible day. Matt Lauer begrudgingly covered a little of this story this morning on the “Today” show. They'll be devoting more time to it tomorrow morning, I am 99% sure.

    Two out of the three major network news anchors have caved to the story. Brian Williams is standing on an island and I applaud him for it. If he falls behind even Katie in the ratings and STILL doesn't mention her name, I'll start a cult devoted to him.

    Paris Back Behind Bars







    This story has never been worthy of media outlets that call themselves NEWS... until, maybe, now. This is a perilous time in our culture. The frenzy and obsession with this poisonous young girl is borderline dangerous. This country must keep its guard up!!

    I'm imagining office workers at the State Dept. or the Pentagon with small TV sets and computers tuned in to this story... I don't know that, but it seems everyone else is.

    I am afraid for Paris mentally. If in fact she is on medication that is normally prescribed to schizophrenia patients, to take advantage of its side effects (I believe this to be true but got a "no comment" from her publicist), I think being off it or exposed to smaller doses could cause a harmful panic.

    I hope Paris is not part of this quick to take meds culture that patches all problems with meds. I'm not as enthusiastic as Tom Cruise on the topic, but I do have a fear that drugs are being prescribed more and more these days to deal with insecurities, fears, loneliness etc that have always existed.

    There are bigger issues beneath this Paris Hilton charade... of health, race, media culture and more that stem from this socialite's saga.

    I wish the news outlets would leave this to us. It does not need to be a 24-hour watch.

Comments

I like your post, on how America is obsessed over Paris Hilton. There is more going on around the world and people just want to see a well known person behind bars. The funny thing is her image is nothing....she has no image, she's done no charity work. If you look at Ms. Jolie and her charity work using her image to give back is great. On the other hand Paris is not doing anything except partying with friends getting drunk and not giving a damn about other people but watching her own image, seeing herself going in and out of clubs, what a reputation!

Paris's unknown mental health is of no concern..... There are well trained doctors in prisons to help the schizo's. If you let one person out because of that symptom then that means everyone in jail has the same problem. So who cares about her mental state, they have counselors.... If I was put in jail then I would have the same problem as she has but later you become adjusted, in time she'll be alright...

After her imprisonment I doubt she'll do any charity work, I can probably say she's going to party up after her release. PARIS OUT OF JAIL PARTY!!!
I want to see if it does happen. I'm skeptical that she'll turn herself around. And if she did turn herself around then her image would boom back but then after a couple of months its back to her old self...

Poor little rich girl.I have no pity for her.If it was me,I'd probably be in there for a longer sentence.Rich and famous people are not above the law,but they think so.Money can buy you things, but when it comes to the law, no one should be exempt.Good luck in jail Paris!!!

Isn't it interesting that we've never heard that Paris has a severe medical problem before this. Perhaps she is just an addict.

I'm a regular viewer of AH but this is the first time I've read your blog.

I can honestly say I'm thrilled that you are as troubled by the constant Paris coverage as I am.

I don't know - I guess I always assumed that because of the nature of your show, you would be as enamored of Paris as the rest of the media world believes the average American to be.

I was wrong.

Paris is not being treated like everybody else, not because she's getting preferential treatment but because she's being more punished than everyone else. I heard so many comments yesterday that if she were someone else like a coal miner's daughter or a black person, she wouldn't have been let out after just three days. These people did not even look into the Los Angeles county jail system on how things really are. Everyone else in Los Angeles with the same situation gets out of jail in two to three days. It's too bad that people are so quick to judgement without seeing the whole picture. Just because they hate her doesn't mean that what's happening to her is fair. Even though people can't stand her parents for how she was reared,I saw the love and closeness in that family yesterday on TV, which many families don't even have or parents that don't show any love or affection for their children. People are angry and jealous with the rich especially because Paris lives a lifestyle that none of us approves, but again, look at the picture before making a judgment that she belongs in jail for more than three days.

Paris is withdrawing from cocaine and other narcotics...everyone knows this..that is her medical issue. The obsession is born out of frustration because there are so many other news worthy pieces, and people. The average person, being frustrated with seeing her everywhere for no good reason, is forced to garner a strong opinion about her. Imagine what our conversations would be if the casualties, and cost, of this war were covered as much. Or the fact that we seem to have forgotten that Osama Bin Laden- not Iraq- was behind the terror on 9/11. What would this countries conversations be like? Just like you, Billy, I tune in to Access Hollywood for fun, but CNN, and the likes, should stick to their day jobs. On that note..the tabloid media is what's feeding this "Paris" and "young hollywood" sensation. If the same people stopped getting the coverage that they do- across the board- then we might start seeing real celebrities again.

The news justs get more sickening every day about Paris Hilton. Her Dad shopping for a get out of jail party is proof that her parents are responsible for her behavior and what sad behavior that is. Jamie Lee Curtis hit it on the nose with her comments. I totally agree with her. You don't encourage your children to go back to the ways that got them in trouble in the first place. Rick and Kathy Hilton need to start acting like responsible parents, THEN maybe Paris will straighten up.

It sounds really inetresting on how one personality can attract the attention of many people. Paris hilton has done it very well,be it in jail or even out. I know the sherriffs will miss her big tyme.The issue of Paris in a way reflects what is happening anywhere else. Position and status in the community,this plays a role and indeed a bigger one in how one gets treated. It was news all over when she was released from Jail before her time elapsed! Actually that was not fair but there were reasons too. Ok..Allow me turn your attention. I have a story,and this is my story. I have a success dream and that I am reaching out to the celebrities and the weathy billionares,I would like to establish myself and persue higher learning and become an entreprenuer.By this I know I will be of great help to my community/country by providing jobs and becoming very productive. Anyone that can link me to the Billionares so that I can sell my idea to them will have done me a great favour! All I need is just One Million Dollars and I will be set to go...I am very optimistic and hopeful that it will come tru!
biggmosh@yahoo.com

Thanks for a bit of sanity in a world revolving around celebrity insanity. I am so sick to death about hearing about Paris Hilton (and every other celebrity for that matter) acting like a lunatic and just getting more press for it. Things have really gone downhill in the celebrity world. Paris Hilton should have lunch with Tom Cruise where he can explain how becoming more active and taking certain vitamins can cure her of everything.

I know that Paris is a bad person for USA and for the world but she is rich girl and have lot of money to go some were in the world .

I would like to know when I can get the song "three wishes" off of itunes as promised in february. I really want this song for my son's wedding. I have been trying everywhere on line to find out how to listen to the entire song. I thought it was going to be on itunes for charity i.e. lollipop theatre.
Please let me know



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