We Didn't Get The Paris Interview

Bob Schieffer: Why Would Anyone Want To Interview Her Anyway?

(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.

[myidoncbs]

Kudos to Bob Schieffer! Excellent job of pointing out how ridiculous is the media attention given to Paris Hilton.

[pilgrimsway-2009]

Hey they have Sam Watersons picture in the video. Is He running for president? I would vote for Him. Would not you?

[tmonta1]

Hats off to you once again, Mr Schieffer. You just keep getting better and better.

I was tempted to beg Les Moonves to reinstate you as anchor, but then I remembered how shabbily John Roberts was treated when he left. I still see the look on his face as he gave his last report from the White House lawn (no one even commented on it, which, I might add, was also a significant slight to your loyal CBS viewers),and I realize you're far more free and effective where you are. Roberts certainly deserved better, and my humble take is that you've GOT better.

Gosh, I hope you're having as much fun doing your posts as I am watching them. You do make my day, sir.

[peacethinker-2009]

Right on! Nobody but the American Idol crowd cares about anything a spoiled rich girl has to say. What's she gonna talk about, the latest fashions or a diamond dog collar. Keep it real.

[johnshaft4]

Missing out on America's "Princess Di" must not be good for your inner child, either. Perhaps, Katie may lead the way with money contributions for a shrine for Princess Paris and get CBS back on top.
In the alternative, maybe, CBS could start an "all Paris/all of the time" 24/7 cable channel so that we don't miss a beat.

[blackbug99]

Now, that is funny journalism!

[erasmus6]

Well at least somebody has a brain.

[slider9499-2009]

Kudos to Bob and CBS. Unlike the now lowlife NBC and CNN, CBS still has some dignity by not wasting time with such tripe. I applaude CBS and Bob for making the right decision - both ethically and from a business point as well.

[formrusmcsgt]

Only airheads listen to other air heads.

[cbs_oliver]

Almost as wasteful as making much of Paris Hilton is making much of ignoring Paris Hilton - and it is more mean spirited as well. Shame on you Mr. Schieffer.

[pfrasher]

Again, Bob you make me laugh and also regret that we don't see you every weekday evening on the CBS news. PLEASE COME BACK!

[jonahemery-2009]

Paris Hilton is/was news and there are lots of things to ask her. She represents a huge chunk of girls who act just like her. There are things she is learning now that they could learn from. All of us are at different learning levels at this short journey called life and believe it or not, some things are not below you.

How snobby.

[misspp-2009]

Kudos to Bob Schieffer! I do not understand America's fascination with an airhead such as Paris Hilton.

[misspp-2009]

Kudos to Bob Schieffer! I do not understand America's fascination with an airhead such as Paris Hilton.

[knyghtwolf]

Paris and a box of rocks have a lot in common. She is a crappy product of what should never be as a almost was but never will. She looks like a used puppy pad someone left out for a week or so. There is nothing whatsoever attractive about her and I mean that. If visiting aliens from another world came here and first met her, they would probably vaporize us in what they would call an act of humanity. Allowing her, Britnay Spears, Linsey Load of Ham out to intermingle with the real world is just plain WRONG!!! Someone should have told these "celebrities" that their parents were not supposed to be brother & sister.

[skyz2]

"product of what should never be as a almost was but never will"

ha ha that's good

you mean 'not quite right at all'

[silvermonte]

Regarding your Paris commentary -- I never loved you more.

[skyz2]

"ignoring Paris Hilton"

now that would be cruel and unusual punishment

[sty1]

She will be laughing all the way to the bank. You will still be stupid and working class reporting on the obvious and rehashing old news. You can bet that you won't let the truth be told. It smells like rotten old women have taken over.

[mbpfrance]

I have tried and cannot for the life of me understand America's news industry (all media) fascination with this women!

I would much prefer to see a daily article on anyone of the USA service male or female troops serving the nation anywhere in the world or how any one of the Katrina victim families is surviving and moving on with their life! In that I see the potential for tangible positive roll models and lifetime examples being created!

Wake up America news makers- This only is news because you have made it so! The very fact it was considered that she appear on a esteemed program like 'Face the Nation' makes me cringe! Can anyone imagine at another time a journalist of say Walter Cronkites stature taking the time to even cross the street to talk to Paris Hilton? Me niether!

She reminds me of a character from my childhood fairy tales murmuring the lines 'mirror mirror on the wall - who is the richest network of them all - I wish I may I wish I might plunder their pockets for one more night! I give her credit for this-she is smart enough to figure out how to get money- lots of it for doing absolutely nothing- from people and organizations that are far superior in intelligence than her! Or are they?

Has American intellectual interest really slumped to the point that the nightly news is now a rehash of what used to be reserved for third rate periodicals found at the supermarket cash register checkout lines!

[adian1-2009]

Why such fascination with Paris Hilton? Well, she is ***, she is beautiful! *** sells. Beauty sells. After all we are still governed by our natural original instincts. Why the media is so fascinated? Well, our media is money oriented; money governed. It is not what is important what the media is interested in. It is what sells. If it sells, they get more ads. More ads equal more money. Mr. Schieffer's excuse --that he couldn't think of what to ask Paris about-- is nonsense. There are a lots of things that could be asked. Are you wearing underwear? What color? What color are you planning to wear tomorrow? How high they go? Etc., etc.

[rushlimpdrug]

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?

Bob, you are old like the rest of the CBS crew.
I believe you are out of touch with much of the youth.
Your point is as stupid as you are old.
People are fascinated with babies not because they are smart - think about it.
When CBS decides these articles are more stupid than they are "funny" perhaps they can understand why American youth has lost hope in hearing anything age can offer.
Grow up and stop being part of the problem.

[bloggerlady]

Rushlimpdrug, Blanket statements such as yours are so ridiculous. Every generation thinks the older generation has nothing to offer. Paris Hilton is entertainment news. If I want entertainment news, I will go to EW or TMZ or whatever websites carry it. I go to the CBSNews website for news. And to be honest, I've been shopping around for the best news site for the past month or so and CBS appears to be winning. Bob Sheiffer happens to be one of the last true hard news reporters/anchors left in the business. His views on news are shaped by all current events from Vietnam on. He deserves some journalistic respect. Chronological age has nothing to do with whether you prefer hard news or soft news. Please, go blog on some other website.

[advanceus]

WHY SHOULDN'T PEOPLE HAVE FUN AT PARIS' EXPENSE?? SHE IS STUPID, EGOTISTICAL, SHALLOW, SELF CENTERED, ETC., ETC., ETC. BUT VERY, VERY RICH, SO SHE CAN AFFORD IT. HIS COMMENTS WERE, AT LEAST, SOMETHING TO CHUCKLE AT ON MONDAY MORNING!

[antoniof123]

In that case I am watching CBS because I don't want to see her.

[rushlimpdrug]

Every generation thinks the older generation has nothing to offer.
Posted by bloggerlady

In this case it is the old farrt that thinks the younger generation has nothing to offer. Bob and crew are guilty of not grooming any of the younger generation journalist.
This is evident when they scramble to look for the "right" anchor person - blond, petite, pretty smile. Nothing against Katie but I just can't recall her hard hitting news stories.
Bob says, "I couldn't think of anything I wanted to ask her." ?
I say ignore and ignorance are on the same page in the dictionary.
His ignoring Paris and her type shows his ignorance of the big picture.
Retire Bob. You are lame.

[rodeo555]

Witty, dry, relevant and eloquent is this piece.
Mr. Schieffer just gets better and better like a fine wine. We, and CBS, are fortunate to have him. Keep it up, Bob.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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]

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]

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

[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.

[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!

[dj0114]

Opps- 1/2 hour I meant!