Yahoo News: Barbara Walters - most fascinating people for 2009

[Burgundy Burner]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091203/...inating_people

Here is her list for this year...with some comments from yours truly.

Lady Gaga - Uh, not interesting at all. Just weird and a fad that will fade quickly.

Adam Lambert - Decent choice, but Taylor Swift would've been a much more logical pick here.

Kate Gosselin - She's been through a lot and her ex is a jerk, but this is not a good choice - she will fade quickly as well.

Michael Jackson - Good choice, but for a set of sad circumstances. No one can deny the impact that he has had on the world.

Jenny Sanford - Seriously? Yeah, her husband is a jerk and she deserves better. Nothing more to this story though.

Brett Favre - Come on! This is a bad Mark Martin redux. If it was Mark Martin, it would be a bad Brett Favre redux.

Glenn Beck - Good choice. Darling of the right, despised and detested on the left. Sparks a lot of debate and passionately/angrily/emotionally so.

Sarah Palin - Bad choice. Yes, an interesting person, but the timing is horrible - it will simply help her to sell more books.

Tyler Perry - Quite frankly, the best choice on this list. Highly underrated talent who will continue to see a growing audience. Talented playright, actor, director, and producer who will have an increasing role within the mainstream of America. Disclaimer - I admit to being an enthusiastic fan of his work, but there is no denying his talent and the impact that he will have in the future.

[ljs]

Glen Beck is NOT a darling of the right. Of all the "right" people I know, almost no one likes him.

And not sure why it matters if they fade, this special is for the year 2009 only- not " who will become someone in the future."

Why is the timing horrible for Sarah Palin ? Why is selling more books a bad thing?

Lady Gaga is actually interesting, if you look at her story. I was off Monday, so watched daytime TV. She was on Ellen, and was actually very well versed, smart young lady. Her father passed from Carcenoma and the song she sang was in his honor. She played the piano amazingly, and sounded great. I have a new found respect for her after watching that. She isn't the freak many thing of her as, just b/c of her outfits and shows that she puts on.

[Burgundy Burner]

Originally Posted by ljs

Glen Beck is NOT a darling of the right. Of all the "right" people I know, almost no one likes him.

And not sure why it matters if they fade, this special is for the year 2009 only- not " who will become someone in the future."

Why is the timing horrible for Sarah Palin ? Why is selling more books a bad thing?

Lady Gaga is actually interesting, if you look at her story. I was off Monday, so watched daytime TV. She was on Ellen, and was actually very well versed, smart young lady. Her father passed from Carcenoma and the song she sang was in his honor. She played the piano amazingly, and sounded great. I have a new found respect for her after watching that. She isn't the freak many thing of her as, just b/c of her outfits and shows that she puts on.

People can add their own comments - we all have opinions. It's ok to disagree.

Lady Gaga is like Cindy Lauper (Hair by Crayola) reinvented to me. I'm sure she's a nice person, but it seems like a fad that will fade - a la Lauper.

Beck - the numbers/ratings/book sales suggest otherwise.

Palin - she is out of politics at the moment and has no direct affect on policy making. Nothing wrong with selling a book, but BW is helping her to do so with having the former gov on the list. I'm a fan of Gov. Palin, but this is how I see it for now.

[Destino]

Originally Posted by Burgundy Burner

Lady Gaga - Uh, not interesting at all. Just weird and a fad that will fade quickly.

Adam Lambert - Decent choice, but Taylor Swift would've been a much more logical pick here.

If by fascinating we mean people willing to do weird things on stage? Sure. Personally I could care less about either of these two. YAWN

Originally Posted by Burgundy Burner

Kate Gosselin - She's been through a lot and her ex is a jerk, but this is not a good choice - she will fade quickly as well.

Women in failed marriages aren't unique or interesting. Plus I hate reality TV. YAWN.

Originally Posted by Burgundy Burner

Michael Jackson - Good choice, but for a set of sad circumstances. No one can deny the impact that he has had on the world.

Can't argue with this choice. I've lived to see a lot of famous people die. Never have I gone through the radio dial and heard the songs of only one man. When Michael passed every radio station I have programed was playing MJ songs. The man for all his faults (and there were many) was a mountain in the music industry.

Originally Posted by Burgundy Burner

Jenny Sanford - Seriously? Yeah, her husband is a jerk and she deserves better. Nothing more to this story though.

Agree BB. Yawn.

Originally Posted by Burgundy Burner

Brett Favre - Come on! This is a bad Mark Martin redux. If it was Mark Martin, it would be a bad Brett Favre redux.

This is a good choice. He wanted to be in Minny for a long time and now we all see why. Not only is he having possibly his best season ever, he is showing that he knew which team was a QB away... a point often debated and rarely tested. I like this pick.

Originally Posted by Burgundy Burner

Glenn Beck - Good choice. Darling of the right, despised and detested on the left. Sparks a lot of debate and passionately/angrily/emotionally so.

He is fascinating in that he's proving that in politics agreeing reinforcing your audiences beliefs is more important than honesty or integrity.

Originally Posted by Burgundy Burner

Sarah Palin - Bad choice. Yes, an interesting person, but the timing is horrible - it will simply help her to sell more books.

I think she's an idiot but there is no question that americans is fascinated by her.

Originally Posted by Burgundy Burner

Tyler Perry - Quite frankly, the best choice on this list. Highly underrated talent who will continue to see a growing audience. Talented playright, actor, director, and producer who will have an increasing role within the mainstream of America. Disclaimer - I admit to being an enthusiastic fan of his work, but there is no denying his talent and the impact that he will have in the future.

Definitely a good choice. The guy has an impressive resume and yet outside of the black community he's relatively unknown.

[Burgold]

I can never figure out why I don't seem to make any of these lists... or more seriously, important scientists, humanitarians, and people 95% of the population has never heard of, but who if we did we would find what they do and how they do it incredible.

A pop culture celebrity is almost never the most interesting person... fame doesn't make one interesting.

[Burgundy Burner]

Originally Posted by Destino

Definitely a good choice. The guy has an impressive resume and yet outside of the black community he's relatively unknown.

Tyler Perry has been a favorite of mine for quite a while now - and I'm a white boy. Anyway, I think he will continue to gain in popularity and become more mainstream over a period of time - he's just too talented.

For anyone here who is not fully aware of his work, just rent a couple of his movies - you will be hooked.

Heck, now I'm in the mood to watch - well, "Madea Goes To Jail" will be a good one to slip into the dvd this evening. A good way to kick off the weekend a bit early!

[Califan007]

Originally Posted by Burgundy Burner

Lady Gaga - Uh, not interesting at all. Just weird and a fad that will fade quickly.

I'm not at all fascinated by her but that doesn't mean she's not fascinating...

Adam Lambert - Decent choice, but Taylor Swift would've been a much more logical pick here.

I'm not exactly sure why EITHER Lambert or Taylor Swift deserve to be considered "fascinating" to be honest lol...

Kate Gosselin - She's been through a lot and her ex is a jerk, but this is not a good choice - she will fade quickly as well.

America definitely found her and her "reality" story fascinating...whether or not she fades next year is one million percent irrelevant to this list.

Michael Jackson - Good choice, but for a set of sad circumstances. No one can deny the impact that he has had on the world.

To be honest, I'm not sure if MJ would be considered "fascinating" as much as "newsworthy"...and it wasn't him, it was his death that made him newsworthy. But wouldn't really argue too much with him being on the list.

Jenny Sanford - Seriously? Yeah, her husband is a jerk and she deserves better. Nothing more to this story though.

Can't imagine her being considered "fascinating"...maybe the babe in Argentina might have been a better choice lol...who wouldn't be at least curious about what type of woman would cause a man to fly half way around the world to spend a few days with her?

Brett Favre - Come on! This is a bad Mark Martin redux. If it was Mark Martin, it would be a bad Brett Favre redux.

I can see this one being on the list, too...for all the ridicule he received with his on-again, off-again "retirement" plans, for Favre to come out smoking like he has this year--and at his age--definitely makes it a fascinating sports story.

Glenn Beck - Good choice. Darling of the right, despised and detested on the left. Sparks a lot of debate and passionately/angrily/emotionally so.

Decent choice...he's like the new Rush Limbaugh right now lol...

Sarah Palin - Bad choice. Yes, an interesting person, but the timing is horrible - it will simply help her to sell more books.

Good lord, is this EVER a good choice...I tire of all the stories about her, but there is absolutely NO denying the fascination that the public has with her as a political personality. Helping her sell more books is, again, one million percent irrelevant to this list.

Tyler Perry - Quite frankly, the best choice on this list. Highly underrated talent who will continue to see a growing audience. Talented playright, actor, director, and producer who will have an increasing role within the mainstream of America. Disclaimer - I admit to being an enthusiastic fan of his work, but there is no denying his talent and the impact that he will have in the future.

Can someone explain to me why Tyler Perry is more "fascinating" this year than, say, last year? Because I can't figure out why he deserves to be on this year's list.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Who is Jenny Sanford?

Awful list, overall.

[panel]

Originally Posted by Burgundy Burner

People can add their own comments - we all have opinions. It's ok to disagree.

Lady Gaga is like Cindy Lauper (Hair by Crayola) reinvented to me. I'm sure she's a nice person, but it seems like a fad that will fade - a la Lauper.

But even Lauper would have deserved to have been a person of the year of 1983 or whatever, this is Gaga's year.

I think she will actually have many more.

[Prosperity]

Glenn Beck is a good choice, I don't like him, but he's definitely got an interesting story.
Sarah Palin... yeah sure
Michael Jackson... solid but most people pretty much know his life story
Brett Favre is awesome

Jenny Sanford... ehh really? Maybe don't know much about her except for her dumb ass husband
Adam Lambert? why cause he's a flamboyant homosexual?
Lady Gaga? lame

I don't know who I would add though, so my criticisms aren't worth anything... except maybe, I'd add Jon Stewart cause everyone expected him to have no one to make fun of when Obama won, and he generally seems to be an intelligent, funny, level headed person, very rare combination.

[panel]

Originally Posted by Califan007

Can someone explain to me why Tyler Perry is more "fascinating" this year than, say, last year? Because I can't figure out why he deserves to be on this year's list.

He directed, wrote, and acted in 2 movies this year that combined for $140 million dollars at the box office.

He acted in the #5 highest grossing movie this year

And he launched a new TV show that is in syndication along with another TV show that he created.

I think that is enough to be considers a person of the year, especially since this year has seen him go from a guy who was only known in certain circles, to a guy who everyone has now heard of.

[zoony]

I don't have a clue who 4 of those people even are. Lady Gaga? WTF is that?

[Califan007]

Originally Posted by panel

He directed, wrote, and acted in 2 movies this year that combined for $140 million dollars at the box office.

He acted in the #5 highest grossing movie this year

And he launched a new TV show that is in syndication along with another TV show that he created.

I think that is enough to be considers a person of the year, especially since this year has seen him go from a guy who was only known in certain circles, to a guy who everyone has now heard of.

Last year he directed, wrote and acted in 2 movies that combined for $80 million...and he already had a successful TV show on the air. I guess I don't see that extra $60 million as being enough to elevate his "fascinating" ranking over last year to the top 10.

And saying he "acted in the 5th highest grossing movie this year" is a bit disingenuous lol...he had a brief cameo in Star Trek, that's it. Hardly something to bump him up in the "fascinating people" race.

[Midnight Judges]

I know the politicians on the list. The rest, I have no clue. I have a feeling this is one of those times when it is good to be out ot touch.

[sean_e_b]

Lady Gaga, Adam Lambert, Brett Favre, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, and Tyler Perry are the most fascinating people of 2009? Seems more like a list of the most over-hyped and talentless of 2009. The world would be a much better place without most of these people on the list.

By the way, I wish Tyler Perry was "virtually unknown outside the black community", he's absolutely terrible in everything he does.