What Were You Watching?

CNN's "hard news" rep took a hit, but Paris Hilton brought in the viewers, as her exclusive tell-all with Larry King drew 3.2 million viewers -- more than triple King's regular average.
Ratings for the Paris edition of "Larry King Live" exceeded those for CNN's last two presidential debates. CNN drew 2.78 million for its debate between the Democratic contenders and 2.05 million for its Republican debate, earlier in June.

CNN got the interview after the major networks backed out. Barbara Walters thought she had the deal sealed for 20/20 by offering $100,000 which it billed as a reasonable license fee for family photos and videos.
Then NBC offered a million dollars, and Walters got pissed at the Hiltons for reneging, so she outed them. Both networks were embarrassed and Paris fell into Larry's lap.

The show was King's highest-rated since 2005 but only his 53rd highest-rated in 10 years at CNN, according to Nielsen Media Research. Some 1.4 million adults 25-54 demo tuned in for Hilton, more than three times King's regular average.

CNN exhaustively promoted the interview even analyzing it afterwards on Anderson Cooper 360. Ironically, the man referred to as the "Paris Hilton of news" refuses to talk about Paris, often called her "she who must not be named" and "the heiress." But he caved to network pressure Wednesday.

I saw the interview, I thought it was interesting. Paris was giving scripted answers and not totally taking responsibility for her actions. She said she got a raw deal, she's never used drugs, she had one drink the night of her DUI, her lawyer told her she could drive to work and she read the Bible a lot in prison. But when Larry pressed her for her favorite verse she didn't have an answer. Presumably it's like asking to decide which pair of shoes she loves most.

But she wasn't the ditzy airhead I expected, she had some real substantial things to say and I can only hope that she has realized how unfulfilling her previous lifestyle was and that she is true to her word and decides to become a more serious person who can affect positive change on our society.