Paris Hilton debate: Bane or boost for career

By Stone Martindale May 6, 2007, 16:25 GMT

Paris Hilton REUTERS/Herbert Neubauer

On an earlier "Real Time with Bill Maher" show, Maher mused in his wrapping monologue that regarding the character of women, specifically Paris Hilton, they needed to have the bar raised:  "I know you're probably really a sweet girl, but you'll (Hilton) have to be euthanized. You're the ringleader. We've got to cut the head off."

Maher made the point that if women wanted to be taken seriously, they needed to heed his cheeky "New Rule" that commented "Hillary Clinton will never be president as long as women keep acting crazy."

Now some people are expressing opinions that the latest legal woes for Paris Hilton that include upcoming jail time may add to her celebrity cache, which seems to be the mainstay "career" of the Hotel heiress.  I disagree.

TMZ.com did a blow by blow of Paris Hilton's testimony with the Judge, telling him she is not the one who reads her mail. "I have people who do that for me," claimed Hilton, recorded in the court transcripts.

Some publicity experts say she'll be even more popular, but with her age advancing, and her lack of character actress skills, the mood of the celebrity hungry populace is mixed.  Many view her as simply a sight gag now.  A visual staple for National Lampoon movies. A less zaftig Anna Nicole Smith.

"It will actually increase her star appeal in a very sick and demented way," said publicist Michael Levine to the AP Entertainment reporter, Sandy Cohen. "There's a segment of our society that's somehow engaged in the soap opera that is Paris Hilton, and this a very compelling plot line in the soap opera."

Perhaps.  But the recent drop off in sheer number of verifiable traffic on any Hilton related stories suggest otherwise, despite the upcoming "Simple Life" return to the smallscreen.

TMZ has posted video of Hilton coming out of her home, speaking to paparazzi claiming that the decision was totally wrong.  Her mother has spoken out aganst the ruling too. Hilton's attorney has said he will appeal the sentence.

The various publicists the AP reporter Cohen spoke with described Paris' dismissive attitude towards everything, including her communication with the judge, "as part of her appeal."

The blogosphere is divided into two camps, the "we hate Paris" groups, and the sympathizers like celebrity Queen of all media, Perez Hilton, who shuns posting any bad news about the heiress. He is frequently posting photos of himself with Hilton as self-promotion on his site.

There is no doubt the spoiled and pampered Hilton has a track record for a total disregard for the rules of life, and each egregious act is met with reward.

Rich companies shower her with millions just to show up at events, and the disgusted look on an wonder why.

Most experts that have commented on her upcoming incarceration doubt she will actually serve the full 45 days.