Is it time for some smart media baron to launch an All Paris Hilton All The Time cable network?
The saga of Paris Hilton, the quitessential young and super rich celebrity, being sentenced to jail, then released to home arrest, then being hauled to court and re-jailed as she screamed “MOM!” is the kind of celebrity story the American — and, increasingly the world — news media loves.
Why? Is it because one of the rich is getting her just desserts — being put on a level playing field with those who can barely afford a night at Motel 6? Is it because of her glamor? Or is it because this kind of story gives a respite from the weightier, life-and-death, and political-bile- ridden stories that pepper the day news menu?
There are key aspects to this story:
WHAT’S AT STAKE: Is this a case of clamping down on infamous “celebrity justice” where someone famous who has the money to hire a lawyer or big team of lawyers they gets away with more than Howard Schmidlap would if he exhibited the same behavior towards the law? Or is it a case of the justice system overcompensating to unfairly make an example of someone ? Or a bit of both?
WHAT WILL HAPPEN? Will Hilton be traumatized? Is she a scapegoat? Or will this be character building, with the cuisine and roommates perhaps a bit less lofty than in her usual lifestyle? Will this send a message to the average person (the law applies to all) and celebrities (the free ride is over)? Or is this just one case that will be meaningless in the end?
WHAT IS MOST LIKELY TO REALLY HAPPEN: In reality, Hilton likely will emerge much richer. Because in 21st century America notoriety and publicity can mean big bux (unless you’re O.J. Simpson). She’ll likely serve her time and (1) get paid big money for a tell-all TV interview, (2) get a big, fat book deal, (3) get another bankroll from selling the movie rights, (4) be signed to some new TV show. She just has to endure her time eating crappier food and and living with roommates whose nails and hair perhaps aren’t as nice as hers.
But the U.S. fascination with celebrities and what happens to them has spread around the world.
The story is a HUGE, readership-attracting story in newspapers, magazines and on websites throughout the world. And, most assuredly, on weblogs of all kinds and political persuasions as well, even those who denounce it as unworthy as coverage (you cover it by saying you refuse to cover it and get the readership on the issue via search engine searches).
Here’s a chunk of how the story is playing in the press and on weblogs.
THE PRESS:
Times Online (Great Britain):
Paris Hilton achieved the impossible yesterday by becoming, for the first time in her 26 years, an object of public pity. Well, almost.
The celebrity heiress was dragged from a courtroom screaming and crying after a judge ordered her to go back to jail. She was whisked off to the medical centre at Los Angeles’s Twin Towers jail less than 36 hours after the local sheriff’s department had told her that she could serve out her sentence at her luxury home in the Hollywood hills….
….. Los Angeles had not seen the like of it since O. J. Simpson’s famous slow-moving attempted flight from justice. Hilton’s journey back to justice was similarly filmed, every inch of its 13 miles, by a swarm of helicopter-born camera crews.
Thousands, millions cheered at the picture showing Paris Hilton sitting in the back of the police car in tears, first leg of the sad trip that was to take her back to jail.
Is being the spoiled brat she is sufficient motive to prompt people to cheer at her downfall, rejoice at the humiliation she underwent by being broadcast live while taken away from her home handcuffed and in tears?
What or who are people hating? Paris Hilton or the world she represents? After hearing the news, some fans screamed with displeasure, while one civil rights activist says the decision will help “restore the public confidence” in the justice system, the Associated Press reported yesterday.
Paris is exactly the contrary of what normally triggers compassion and sympathy but the so called brain-dead blonde is a human being just like you and me.
She broke the law and she’s being called to pay the consequences of her actions; however the media frenzy surrounding her jail saga could have awakened the worse in each one of us, passive viewers of what public obsession could turn into a human tragedy….
…..So what did we cheer about? Her individual destiny taking back at once all the goodies she had from life or what her being sent to jail stands for, that it doesn’t matter how rich and famous one is, the law is the law?
AP: on mixed reactions to jailing
Maylasia Sun (wire story): Screaming, handcuffed Hilton goes back to jail
The Los Angeles Times sees a bigger, NON-CELEBRITY issue at play:
A sobbing Paris Hilton was shipped back to jail Friday, culminating a high-stakes legal showdown between a judge and Sheriff Lee Baca over who controls how long and where inmates serve their jail sentences.
The questions have loomed large over the Los Angeles County justice system for years as judges watched in frustration as the sheriff slashed the sentences they handed down, often by 90%, to alleviate chronic overcrowding in his jails….
….In the last five years, the Sheriff’s Department has released more than 200,000 inmates early, including some who ended up committing murders and other serious crimes when they otherwise would have been behind bars.
The releases were possible because of a nearly 20-year-old federal court order allowing the Los Angeles County sheriff to alleviate overcrowding by letting county offenders go home early.
A Times investigation found that many of those released early since 2002 had felony convictions and a history of violence and gang activity. Sixteen men released early were later charged with committing murders when they should have still been behind bars, and at least seven have been convicted in those slayings.
Behind closed doors, many judges have complained that the releases have circumvented the justice system — essentially giving an elected sheriff the power to re-sentence offenders in violation of the constitutional separation of power. But few have been willing to speak publicly, and no one has challenged Baca on legal grounds.
The San Jose Mercury News’ Mike Cassidy, writing before the judge’s decision:
So here’s what I propose: Let’s sentence her to obscurity. What better punishment than to ignore a woman who lives to be noticed?
Is that hot, or what?
I don’t want to see another word written about Paris Hilton. Not one. No more blog posts. No more graffiti on the bathroom walls. No more pictures of Paris. I don’t want to see Paris Hilton in her jumpsuit. I don’t want to see her in underwear. I don’t want to see her not in her underwear.
Think of all the trees that can be saved by the nation’s newspapers. Sure, “Access Hollywood” will go out of business, but those talking heads can always find work filling in for Katie Couric on the CBS Evening News with not-Walter Cronkite.
What do you mean, I’m a hypocrite for writing about Paris right now? I’m writing about her, but I’m thinking of what’s good for all of us. What’s good for you. What’s good for Paris.
OK, what’s good for you.
Enough said. Now, on to Lindsay Lohan.
A SAMPLING OF WEBLOG OPINION:
—Glenn Reynolds, aka Instapundit: “PARIS HILTON: Victim of society! And George W. Bush! It’s a fair cop.”
Whoever doesn’t feel an ounce of pleasure at the sight of this mega-rich non-entity finally being treated with a modicum of justice has surely lost the capacity to feel anything. Sorry, Al, I know I should be studying carbon offsets. But far from undermining democracy, this little story about this pathetic, pampered wretch can only restore a little faith in the criminal justice system. It’s almost enough to make up for O.J.
Paris Hilton and other young role models demonstrate the concerns I’ve voiced. The mindset becomes such that they believe they are, in fact, entitled and beyond reproach. They have lived a life in which their parents have programmed them to believe they are destined for greatness and that desire is all that is required to attain the notoriety which they have been promised.
Unfortunately, when many of these young people are forced to encounter the world as it is…rather than as it has been described…they fail miserably. The expectations they bring to adulthood are virtually delusional…and they are not prepared to encounter life’s travails. Worse yet, they believe that life will accommodate them in the same way they have been accommodated by their parents. This often leads them to disregard society’s rules…assuming they apply to others but not to them.
I dont know whats more sad, the fact that I could be doing something else or the fact that dizzy broad is even on the news. Whats even more sick is that this is all the media has been talking about for the last week. Hello earth to media are you there? No one gives a s*** about Paris Hilton going to jail. There are other things going on right now that actually matter. She wasnt actually someone who did something that left a lasting impression. Her “fans” need to get a life, how in the hell do they get headlines?
—Pat:
Paris Hilton although beautiful and rich, and extremely arrogant, is caught up in a pissing match between the judge and the sheriff. Paris snubbed him a couple of times prior to sentencing, along with mama Hilton when she asked for his autograph. If I had been the Judge after handing her my autograph I would have added another 45 days to the sentence, as I smiled politely.
Paris Hilton is name that will no doubt be added to such great cases such as Roe V. Wade or Brown V. The Board of Education, when the appelate court determines that her constitutional rights were violated. I can see this one going all the way to the supreme court, even if she is released on Monday. Should be interesting!
I have to admit the latest episode in the Cirque de Paris here in L.A. has made me think how utterly ridiculous this city can be at times. I’ve lived here for 17 years now, a transplant from small town MA, and I’ve seen it all over the years.
Today was one of those days when I thought to myself, some where in this city there are real people living their lives. But instead as Hart noted here earlier today, we’re subject once again to this ridiculous display of L.A.’s “perpetual ineptness when it comes to balancing the scales of justice in high-profile celebrity cases.â€
Personally, I don’t give a rat’s rear end about Paris Hilton (or her family, for that matter). It doesn’t make a bit of difference to MY (or YOUR) life, if she is behind bars, or “forced” to spend 40 days in her 3,000 square foot home (which many people would probably gladly PAY to life in for 40 days).
What is troubling, is that the Judge SPECIFICALLY said that “electronic monitoring” was NOT an option for Paris Hilton, yet Sheriff Baca ignored the judge, and released her anyway.
In my opinion, this was a BOGUS “illness”, as Sheriff Baca seems to be able to take care of her medical needs NOW (now that the judge has made it perfectly clear that Ms. Hilton is to serve her time “behind bars”).
—Bounded In A Nutshell: “[Is]is it just me, or has anyone else wondered if Paris Hilton’s sudden descent into instability and medical needs whilst in prison might have a very simple name – withdrawal symptoms?”
—Average Guy In Flyover Country: “Let’s get to the point; Paris is back in jail only because she is a celebrity. If you go to jail for violating your parole for drunk driving, typically you will spend the first 2-3 nights in jail or the weekend. Then you will be put on a tether. This was no special treatment. The mistake the Sheriff made was not to state that this is a very common practice.”
—Daddawg: “Paris, baby…the reason we all watch is because we all want to see you get your backside smacked…. Hey, maybe Bush will pardon you.”
Constantly we are being given the message: The only lifestyle suitable to us is the Walt Disney one that squares with fundamentalist Christian beliefs. Slowly but surely they are finding ways to send every free spirit in America straight to jail….except, of course, for free spirits with lots of money and clout. The question is not “why did Paris get such privileged treatment?” The real question should be: “Why are the rest of us being treated like dirt?”
Paris never graduated from high school, instead she opted for a GED. Her vocabulary is limited to: That’s Hot! Let’s do lunch! How do I look?
Can America survive a few days without a new photo or video clip of Paris Hilton?
Don’t fear my children, the blond bimbo will make up for lost time as soon as she is released. It will once again be Paris Hilton 24/7.
—Native Intellligence (on LA Observed):
Back when I did a lot of Playboy Interviews, we interrogators shared a joke among ourselves. At some point in every interview – celeb, politician, sports hero, etc. – we knew we’d get an answer that required us to respond, “Oh, come on.†You know: “Do you expect us to believe that malarkey, that specious explanation, that rationalization, that equivocation?†It was meant to signify, in case any had doubts, our editorial integrity, that we weren’t playing along as publicists might have us play, that despite valuing our privileged access we weren’t about to just bend over and bring the personal lubricant. Those were the days….[READ THIS WHOLE POST]
…[IN THE UPDATE]Do Paris and her ilk exist in a different world than you and me. Don’t answer that: of course she thought she could get away with it. Paris needs to man-up.
Where’s Martha Stewart when you need her to write Paris a letter on cell block comportment, on some of that stationery she no doubt made at home from plants grown in her own garden. Whoever thought Martha would be a role model?
I never thought I’d be saying this, but I feel sorry for Paris Hilton. Don’t get me wrong; she deserves to be punished. But I don’t understand how the media and the American public can seem so celebratory while watching her crying and screaming for her mom, being taken back to jail after a very tumultuous process.
Again, I’m not trying to defend Hilton, or proclaim her innocence. But she’s clearly very sad, extremely distressed, and possibly depressed, and I can’t find any joy in that.
I’m receiving many letters from lawyers, doctors and older people denouncing the acts of judge Michael T. Sauer as unfair and unlawful. I really want to thank everyone who has send me an email and helped us better understand what is happening. And keep them coming.
I would like to post a particular letter which claims that Paris Hilton’s Civil Rights are been violated. It makes perfect sense to me, and I hope that the Hilton family and their attorneys finally wake up and take serious action.[Read the letter …JG]
I know earlier I posted it was ridiculous that people were petitioning that she not go to jail. I did not feel sorry for her…now I actually do…..Yes, this time I feel kind of sorry for Paris because she’s being put up as an example. I think it was one thing to be prepared to serve 23 days…but then to be let out, mentally relaxing, and then being told you’ll be going back? Sure she might be a spoiled brat, but do any of you want to go to jail at all? And I KNOW some of you who read this have gotten being the wheel after drinking. Maybe you weren’t dumb enough to drive while over the legal limit (which actually isn’t that much) or dumb enough to drive again after your license was suspended…and whatever else she may have done.
NOTE: This was published prematurely without categories. We will leave out categories, due to links already gone out.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.