Surprise! Barbara Walters Finds Obama Most Fascinating

December 5, 2008

President-elect Barack Obama has topped Barbara Walters's list of the Most Fascinating People of 2008. The ABC special aired last night, and last year the honor of Most Fascinating Person went to Harry Potter author JK Rowling. While many people probably agree that Obama is the most fascinating figure of the year, it's somewhat surprising that his opponent John McCain did not make the list.

The complete list includes:

Barack Obama
Tom Cruise
Sarah Palin
Frank Langella
Thomas Beatie
Rush Limbaugh
Tina Fey
Miley Cyrus
Michael Phelps
Will Smith

Do you find the people on this list fascinating? Anyone you'd like to sub in?

Source

57 Comments

UnDave35 4 years 23 weeks

I'm surprised that BO isn't the top 3. As much as Walters fawned all over him when he went on the View. It's a shame they couldn't have been at least respectful to McCain when he was on there.

starangel82 4 years 23 weeks

I don't find half the people on this list fascinating.

kristints 4 years 23 weeks

I don't find it surprising at all that Mccain didn't make the list, he wasn't really interesting to anyone until he chose Palin and that was just because she's so freakin' nuts!

sorrowja 4 years 23 weeks

Best on the list Obama, Phelps and Smith (started out as a rapper-turned actor-turned producer) pretty fascinating if you ask me so he can stay. However, they should have included Michelle. Oh and remove Sarah and replace her with Usain Bolt (google him if you haven't heard). Oh and Miley is she kidding me isn't she too old to think that Miley is fascinating(shaking my head).

dino dino 4 years 23 weeks

i think that barbara walters should be on that list what an elegant woman

Shadowdamage 4 years 24 weeks

On an unrelated note, I have decided I quite like her coat.

PiNkY PiNk 4 years 24 weeks

the only people I find fascinating from this list are barack obama and michael phelps.

rachelsmith 4 years 24 weeks

I'm going to defend Miley here for a minute, as i think she's far more fascinating than a few of the others, especially in the past year, as she has changed (not necessarily in a good way) so much. I remember everyone was talking about how grounded she is, and then bam. Dating a 20 year old, and completely int he spotlight. She doesn't seem so grounded anymore, but I'm not sure it's entirely her fault. Did she really know what she was getting into? Can any of us fathom hoe it must be to have your teenage years, when everyone makes stupid mistakes, under total scrutiny, with plenty of negative comments about you for every positive one on the internet? What does this say about the way we treat celebrities these days, and how will she end up? I say she's be lucky to end up just a diva - she could do a lot worse. Role model, maybe no. Fascinating, yes. You can dislike Miley Cyrus and still find her fascination, and the people who just automatically say Ew as soon as her name comes up sort of strike me as overly judgmental on a frickin just-16 year old. Who didn't make mistakes at that age? I don't particularly like her, I think that she's setting a bad example for her young fans. But I also pity her, and am sometimes revolted by how she is treated by the media, and common folk on the internet.

rachelsmith 4 years 24 weeks

I'm going to defend Miley here for a minute, as i think she's far more fascinating than a few of the others, especially in the past year, as she has changed (not necessarily in a good way) so much. I remember everyone was talking about how grounded she is, and then bam. Dating a 20 year old, and completely int he spotlight. She doesn't seem so grounded anymore, but I'm not sure it's entirely her fault. Did she really know what she was getting into? Can any of us fathom hoe it must be to have your teenage years, when everyone makes stupid mistakes, under total scrutiny, with plenty of negative comments about you for every positive one on the internet? What does this say about the way we treat celebrities these days, and how will she end up? I say she's be lucky to end up just a diva - she could do a lot worse.Role model, maybe no.Fascinating, yes.You can dislike Miley Cyrus and still find her fascination, and the people who just automatically say Ew as soon as her name comes up sort of strike me as overly judgmental on a frickin just-16 year old. Who didn't make mistakes at that age?I don't particularly like her, I think that she's setting a bad example for her young fans. But I also pity her, and am sometimes revolted by how she is treated by the media, and common folk on the internet.

momma tikita 4 years 24 weeks

:kool: thats an awesome idea krae...you should write to babwa!

momma tikita 4 years 24 weeks

:kool: thats an awesome idea krae...you should write to babwa!

krae85 4 years 24 weeks

seriously, why do the most fascinating people have to be celebrities? What if she chose real people.. much more interesting, I think.

momma tikita 4 years 24 weeks

Hasn't Tom Cruise done HORRIBLE this year? jeez...if she just threw anyone in there why not throw the guy from Twilight...he's hot. Or Tila Tequila for coming out of the closet as a bisexual :oy: How about the prairiedog? :prairiedog: he was pretty fascinating..better than Miley...

momma tikita 4 years 24 weeks

Hasn't Tom Cruise done HORRIBLE this year? jeez...if she just threw anyone in there why not throw the guy from Twilight...he's hot. Or Tila Tequila for coming out of the closet as a bisexual :oy:How about the prairiedog? :prairiedog:he was pretty fascinating..better than Miley...

momma tikita 4 years 24 weeks

I didn't even tune in...waste of time.

bluesarahlou 4 years 24 weeks

Hehe. My mom is pretty fascinating. Teaches Kindergarten. I could never follow in her footsteps...I just don't have that kind of patience for that many 5 year olds!

amybdk 4 years 24 weeks

I, too, find your mom fascinating. She's definitely on my Top 10 list! (directed at sarah)

Jessiebanana 4 years 24 weeks

:sigh: This list was obviously created to hit every demographic for ratings. This list isn't consistent enough to be Barbara's personal list and it leaves out to many truly fascinating people to be a real list. The only people on this list that are truly fascinating are Obama, Palin (for better or worse), Phelps, and maybe Fey (she's in a weird category that is more than a comedian, but not a pundit). To argue about something so contrived is a waste of air.

Jessiebanana 4 years 24 weeks

krae85 4 years 24 weeks

"Did Cruise pay money to get on this list?" lol. but yeah, he probably did. blue, I find YOUR mom fascinating! lols

mydiadem 4 years 24 weeks

Stephenie Meyer has a great story, as does Ellen, much better choices than this lame list. Most of these people were interesting in like 2005, maybe Babs is just slow to get fascinated.

Imabeliever 4 years 24 weeks

Yeah.. Ellen would have been Brilliant.. they could have talked about Prop 8.. among other things. Barbara has lost her damn mind.. or none of her actual first picks would go on the show.

Imabeliever 4 years 24 weeks

WTF x1000???? Will Smith, Tom Cruise, MILEY Freaking CYRUS, and Limbaugh? Unreal. Did Cruise pay money to get on this list? That makes my mind a blank. U refused to even watch it last night.. I would have become angry. LOL! Substitiute one of those aholes for Stephanie Meyer (chessy yes ..but more interesting then Rush)..in fact substitute Rachel Maddow for Rush.. I would rather hear about the success of an openly gay pundit then a chubby pill popping larger than life ego idiot like Rush. Instead of Will how about his younger mini me in training.. Shia LaBeouf?. In mega movies, Spielberg's darling, falsely accused of causing a car accident where he was the real injured party and still needs one to two more major surgeries on his hand.. What about Robert Downey Jr making a HUGE comeback with Topic Thunder and Ironman? Instead of Cruise how about Nicole Kidman.. not able to have a child with Cruise married to someone else.. BINGO pregnant and not ruling out another child (thats two of Cruises ex wives who he was unable to impregnate successfully). Accused of being over paid. Leaving Hollywood life for Nashville. How a new man, a new home base, a new love and a new baby has changed her. Esp interesting to see what she would have said before the opening of Austrailia which has technically flopped. Instead of Miley Cyrus (fame whore..hope her 15 minutes die a fiery death soon) how about all three Jonas Bros..if you must have a young'un on the show. I am disgusted.. only Obama is truly interesting..everyone else is like the Most Annoying People of 2008. And if that was the case why not Speidi?