Barbara Walters lays 2009 “Most Fascinating” egg

By April MacIntyre Dec 11, 2009, 0:55 GMT

Barbara Walters - © Sylvain Gaboury / PR Photos

Barbara Walters has laid her 2009 “Most Fascinating” egg.

Monsters and Critics has compared and contrasted what the veteran journalist has delivered as “the most fascinating people of 2009.”

Walters gave her "Most" most fascinating award to First Lady Michelle Obama, who she asks about her arms, and her vegetable garden, and juggling two kids in the White House.

Here's our take:

1. Lady GaGa
M&C: Agreed. Whatever you think of her, this ballsy 23 year-old is undeniably smart, creative, unafraid and a fine musician and masterful pop composer.  Never, ever boring.

2. Adam Lambert
M&C: No. A black nail polish wearing boy kissing a boy on TV does not make one fascinating. We nominate the most underappreciated man on reality television: Mike Rowe of Discovery’s Dirty Jobs.  Rowe in action is no-miss, muttering one-liners under his breath while rolling up his sleeves and getting into real work, in a show that celebrates the working man/woman who are never recognized.

Rowe’s fans and admirers are legion. Gay and straight.

3. Michelle Obama
M&C: Non.  Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, France’s first lady is a treasure trove of oooh la la, who sings, poses nude, and might act in a Woody Allen film. She’s dated a slew of rockers and billionaires; we’d love to hear her fascinating bon mots. 

4. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin
M&C: Agreed: Love her or hate her, she makes people take notice, and even her biggest detractors cede she is the most resilient and tenaciously optimistic thorn in the Left-of-center crowd’s side.  There's no quit in her.

5. Glenn Beck
M&C: No.  Bill Maher of “Real Time with Bill Maher” for HBO delivers an electric, cross-political chat that engages minds, spurs debate over important issues, with a perfect balance of comic relief.  Regardless of your political leaning, Maher aims to get as many perspectives debating for each show. 

6. Tyler Perry
M&C: No. There is nothing fascinating about Perry. However, the film “Paranormal Activity” was written, produced, directed, cast and edited by Oren Peli for $15,000. It took in over $107million and still counting.   Those are the kind of profit margins Hollywood loves.  

7. Kate Gosselin
M&C: No.  Elin Nordegren trumps her; everyone is watching and waiting to see what this wife scorned has planned for her spouse Tiger Woods.  No one cares about what happens to TLC has-been Jon Gosselin.

8. Brett Favre
M&C: Nah. Manny Pacquiao is by far the most riveting sports figure of the year.  The Pac Man took on Ricky Hatton, then Miguel Cotto in 2009, and will be facing off with Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2010.

9. Jenny Sanford
M&C: Meh. Would rather hear John Edwards’ explain the maneuverings of his “filmmaker” Rielle Hunter, the baby mama of his baby daughter.

10.Michael Jackson’s kids
M&C: No. We think this is Tito’s year to break out.  Fascinated by his new Clockwork Orange-styled derby and the fact he always wears it everywhere. Even to the supermarket (we have spies).