We Didn't Get The Paris Interview

(CBS)  Weekly commentary by CBS Evening News chief Washington correspondent and Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer.

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I have let you down, and I think it's best to just admit it and move on.

Face The Nation did not get the big interview with Paris
Hilton.

I feel terrible about it.

I haven't felt so low since one of our competitors broke into programming to report that the embalming of Anna Nicole Smith's body had begun. Getting scooped on a big story is never fun, not then, not ever. And we never got to first base on that story either, which is why we tried to be competitive on this one.

We held strategy sessions on how to stay ahead on the Paris story. In the finest network tradition, we blamed each other for not getting the interview. We even leaked the infighting to competitors. But nothing worked.

All those big-time bookers dangled all those deals in front of Paris' family, and we were just out of our league. Heck, we couldn't even figure out what league we were in.

As Paris herself might've summed it up, "Whatever."

When the deals for the other networks fell through, my friend Larry King got the interview, and to show what a big deal that is, this morning The New York Times took note of it on page one.

There's nothing left for me to do but stop making excuses and 'fess up.

The truth is I never asked Paris Hilton to be on Face The Nation, and for one reason, I couldn't think of anything I wanted to ask her.

Can you?

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E-mail Face the Nation.
By Bob Schieffer

[dj0114]

Opps- 1/2 hour I meant!

[dj0114]

Well, Bob- maybe you didn't get the PH interview but apparently CBS News didn't decide to ignore her. When I turned on the radio at 0400 this morning my local CBS affiliate led off the hour with a CBS news report about her release and the frenzy outside the jail.

To CBS News this was a bigger story than the wars, housing declines, interest rate jitters, the newly elected head of the World Bank, the overseas markets, oil prices, etc.

Bob- maybe you were too good for the anchor chair at CBS News?

I am not saying PH being released isn't news- it just isn't THE news story of the day. Nevertheless I don't expect any better behavior from the major networks- anyone who would put on the likes of Pirate Master, Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, Law and Order 1,2,3 etc. can't be taken serious.

Thank goodness I only watch maybe 1/2 of TV a day!

[bethwatson-2009]

Really ... a "joke" at the expense of Anna Nicole Smith? She is deceased, and I find this attempt at humor disrespectful.

I'm growing weary of the self-congratulatory fourth estate that is waaaaay to good to cover the Paris Hilton story and then pats themselves on the back for not doing so. If you choose to not cover the PH story, then don't and don't waste my time congratulating yourselves. Spend more time covering government failures in Iraq.

[rushlimpdrug]

jimmyc1955
My point is too bad ol' farrt bob decides to waste time writing a "funny" piece on Paris instead of something of substance.
Any idiot can write the stupidity in this article.
Unfortunately for you, your assumption about my political savy is all wrong.
Perhaps you and bob can drink coffee together one week or two (or a month)and discuss all the people not worthy of interviews. Now that would be funny

[jimmyc1955]

Well, since we try to keep up on the news, and since "news" now consists of front pages (print and web) saturated with pictures of pretty women self destructing it's kind of hard to miss the Lindsey, Anna Nicole and Paris tabloid pieces.

This web site, along with some other mainstream, liberal and conservative sites supply me with some news. But I have to be willing to wade through all the garbage to find it.

Frankly I don't blame the media (what ever that actually is since no two people actual agree on the meaning of the 'media' word) but folks like you who prefer to spend time watching Paris's troubles than to follow your local and state political news created the news void being filled by tabloid reporters like Katy Coric and her ilk.

Who%u2019s your local state legislator? (no fair looking it up first) or how much is your local property tax? Have you ever called or called your congressman, attended a local school board meeting or township meeting?

If your answering no to these, but you know all the details about Paris and Anna Nicole then your the reason the daily news looks more like the National Enquirer - shallow minds want shallow news.

Oh - and before you ask - I read this story because I couldn't believe things had sunk so low that Meet the Press was trying to interview Paris Hilton. So no - I am not following Paris or any other drivel - but its really, really, really hard to avoid it if you want news.

[rushlimpdrug]

. . When, in fact, they were basically clueless (just as I was at that age.) . . . . Maybe you%u2019re the one with the problems.
Try putting the remote down, finding a good book and reading something rather than having this drivel spoon fed to you.
Posted by jimmyc1955
- ouch!
guess all the answers you have now . Yes, if you say the one with the problems I am .
Go read a book I will.
Just couldn't help noticing this intellectual old farrt while writing the "drivel" on Paris Hilton also made reference to Anna Nicole Smith. Guess the "ol' man" keeps up with "Enquiring" news

[jimmyc1955]

to Rushlimpdrug

You sound like a broken record from 1967. Seems that generation (boomers) felt everybody over 30 was out of touch and clueless. When, in fact, they were basically clueless (just as I was at that age.)

We aren't out of touch with you - we just don't care about the shallow, self centered, mean spirited petty things you care about.

Paris isn't news, she isn't even interesting.

Getting pleasure from others pain is often referred to as Sadistic. So if you find watching slow motion human train wrecks like Paris or any of the other human tragedies we are besieged with daily - maybe you should evaluate why you enjoy their pain. Maybe you%u2019re the one with the problems.

Try putting the remote down, finding a good book and reading something rather than having this drivel spoon fed to you.

[neoconnie]

I would ask Paris Hilton why she isn't supporting our President in his quest to lower inheritence taxes for the extremely wealthy. It is an important issue.

[rushlimpdrug]

Witty, dry, relevant and eloquent is this piece.
Posted by rodeo555

This is funny!
Someone actually writes like yoda speaks.
Or maybe I should write it:
Like yoda speaks someone actually writes.

[pleiku1]

Bob, you could have looked into her beautiful blue eyes and tell everyone what you saw; or blow air into her one ear and see if the hair on the other side moves. You could have reported something.