Breaking: Barbara Walters rejects Sarah Palin again, picks Michelle Obama as Most Fascinating Person

Well, the long wait is over.

The holidays can now proceed.

Barbara Walters has announced the official Barbara Walters' Most Fascinating Person of 2009. 

It's not Adam Lambert, the oral sex mime. No, it's not Lady Gaga, the whatever. Nor is it Kate Gosselin. Or even Brett Favre.

And it is definitely not Sarah Palin, who is a Republican making her second unsuccessful bid for the coveted national broadcast honor.

They were all just thrown in for the ratings mix anyway. Along with, of all people, Fox News' Glenn Beck.

Are you sitting down?

Barbara Walters' Most Fascinating Person of the Year is .......Michelle Obama. A Democrat.

No, really.

The first lady will miss the big announcement because she's in Norway today to watch....

...the U.S. president pick up a lesser honor, something called the Nobel Peace Prize.

Here are some of the things the Most Fascinating Person of 2009 tells Barbara Walters in an exclusive interview about her rough year:

I mean, if you think about this year, I had to get these two beautiful girls settled into a new city, into a new home, into a new school. We got a dog. I visited eight countries with my husband. I planted a garden. I've started a mentoring program. It has been everything. And now, here we are at our first Christmas in the White House...

[Malia] was still waking up for that 4 o'clock feeding and I'd get up because I'd be the first one to hear her, and he'd be asleep.

And I thought: "I'm up, I might as well go to the gym. And if I get to the gym, then he'll have to wake up and do that feeding."

I get a workout in and everyone will be happy. So you know, if there's anything that I can attribute these arms to, it's probably just determination....

I always thought, "Well, if I wanted somebody as my state senator, or as my U.S. senator, or as my president, I would want Barack Obama." And the only reason he wouldn't do it is if I said no....

Mrs. Obama said her idea of personal paradise is that one hour of the week alone in front of the TV with the dog Bo.

He thinks he's a lap dog. He'll cozy up with me, and I'm just clicking through mindless shows.

A lot of, you know, shows about food and design, and all that good stuff. And it's just quiet, and I'm not thinking about anything for that second -- not about the kids, not about my husband, not about my schedule. If I get an hour of that during the course of a week, it feels like heaven.

You can watch the entire Barbara Walters Most Fascinating Person of the Year show on ABC at -- oh, darn! -- you missed it. It was already on Wednesday. Well, there are still some photographs over here, next to the lengthening list of Tiger Woods' mistresses (for those at home tracking the scores, early today the updated tally stood at 11).

Last year, as some remember, the Barbara Walters Most Fascinating Person was also a stunning surprise, Barack Obama, coincidentally the husband of this year's selection. And another Democrat.

Next year's show is already in the works no doubt, a third straight celebrity cliffhanger with a slightly different title: Barbara Walters' Most Fascinating Incumbent Vice President.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photos: Steve Fenn / ABC;  Samantha Appleton / White House.

Comments

[Madison]

Good lord I can't believe I have just read a post that S.P. is the most fascinating out of the two? WOW oh WOW. Wait! I thought it was the "Tiger" was the most fascinating person right now no? lol

[Tony]

I smell some republican angst here. Easy children, calm down. It's just Barbara Walters.

[SGF2]

Not surprisingly. HA! Had she chosen Palin, I would have CONSIDERED watching. Seriously, what exactly is fascinating about Mrs. Obama other than she's married to that egomaniac?

[Cool]

Oh my. Being rejected by the libs? That must have stung as much as not being invited to Rosie O'Donell's nighttime slop feed.
Gov. Palin has more class in her farts than both the Obamas and Ms. Walters combined.

[Bill K]

Who cares what this disgusting FOOL thinks.

[Jack]

Gee, wonder why Sarah Palin isn't fascinating? As an endless whiner and complainer, a quitter, a proven incompetent, and possessing no intellect whatsoever...she IS fascinating to many Americans who've never read a real book and watch Fox "News". But to Barbara Walters and most Americans...she's just a dunce with a cult following. Not that fascinating.

[eddie]

Former Alaska Governor Miss Priss is worthy of nothing more than a coach ticket back to her Casa De La Ruskie Vista. Sad to see so many with obvious Mommy complexes suckling at the teet of such an insipid wretch. Anyhoo, vote for Summer.

[Why]

Sarah Palin is an idoit. She doesn't know anything about anything. She opens her mouth and nothing but stupid comes out. It's so pathetic that so many people look up to her. She's a liar and a cheat. She QUIT her job as an elected official because it was boring. Wow, what kind of idiot would want her elected to ANYTHING at all now. Shes a complete incoherent moron. This article and all the comments Ive read do nothing but make me fear the future. I don't give a crap about who is the most fascinating person in BABA WAHWAH's eyes. The way this article is structured seems nothing but a pathetic crappy attempt to get Palin more attention.

[me]

Its so stupid. Babs cannot speak correctly, why do we care what this woman thinks or says?

[nonsense]

Couldn't help but laugh. Ba Wa, it's time for you to retire. I've got nothing against Michelle. But, fascinating? Michelle is not fascinating, and she doesn't need to be. She is who she is, and she's quite comfortable with it. And if she's like me, she can see right through your brown-nosing, and it probably disgusts her.

FYI Ba Wa: Fascinate: to hold an intense interest or attraction for
ing-: possessing the power to charm or allure; captivating

[stacey]

Sour grapes much? McCain/Palin LOST! Get over it already.

[Anne]

Michelle Obama has a brain.

Sarah Palin thinks she has one.

I would have put Palin on the list just to see her melt down under soft questioning.

[Karen]

Really?Sorry I am not a fan of the "Obamas" and find Palin alot more interesting.Wonder when old Babara is going to retire?

[EESH_GMAB]

Cripes!!! Isn't it the Barbara Walters' Most fascinating Person of 2009 Award? From how you were sniping, I thought I was reading about the Andrew Malcom's Most Fascinating Person of 2009 Award.

[joselin tonia]

It's so sad when people are such haters. The Obama's are some of the most educated people to ever enter the White House. At least I'm not ashamed at some stupid comment they might say, they're too intelligent. Live with it folks, they are your President and first lady, like it or not. Toodles
jos.

[Jill Moss]

Tis tis, who wants to hear from mindless dizo as Palin who made the comment of seeing Russia from her back yard. I think we heard enough from her and all her ignorance during the joke Republican campaign times.
Michelle is a beautiful person, who has enough class for any house including the WH

[Sam]

The small yet annoyingingly loud support that the likes of Sarah Palin get despite her endless idiotic statements, massive ignorance and hypoctitical actions, is a sad testament to what we have become as a country!

[Mark]

Is Andrew Malcolm writing for the L.A. Times or for The Weekly Standard? What's the point of mentioning the political parties of these individuals? He sounds like a typical conservative Republican, constantly whining about the liberal media and playing the role of victim.

[markiejoe]

Barbara Walters' specials are just embarrassing. Why do you lemmings continue to watch them and give her the ratings? They contain 15 minutes of commercials, 30 minutes of filler, which leaves about 15 minutes of actual show which is usually BW fawning. Doesn't matter if it's her cringe-inducing Oscar specials or this nationally-embarrassing dud. STOP WATCHING!!!

[Patrick]

Well I'm so glad you pointed out Michelle and Barack are Democrats. I never would have known.

[Sue]

Walters is an old bitty so who cares. and Obama she is a bitter,nasty person, so the two go hand in hand.

[Audrey]

Geez Malcolm - someone has an ax to grind! Get over it - why shouldn't the First Couple be the most fascinating people? i certainly think they are compared to the others Babs interviewed.

[Tyrone Williams]

I did not know Barbara Walters was still alive....well at least we know her brain is dead. The only thing M. Obama ever did in her life was marry a muslim radical and participated in a corrupt scandal at a hospital in Chicago. No I am not a racist, I also hate Barack's white genes.

[VSN]

"Robert Smith", not such a typical lefty anymore, trying to play the RACE CARD on anyone who sees through Obama and then is a hypocrite and call us REDNECKS. I don't like either Obama and the fact that he is half White and half Black and she is Black has absolutely nothing to do with it. I dont even see the color of their skin, as you suggest. You need to get reasonable and get over the race thing and see where your country is heading.

[VSN]

Tyrone Williams, I loved your post!
Barbara, I am through watching your specials, not that I made it a point to watch, but this was the last one. You were waaaay off the mark!

[Jim]

Good choice but you cannot put Sara Palin anywhere near or close to the accomplishments of Michele Obama. As for polititcal women Hillary Clinton or a lot of other political women have it over Sara Palin.

Sara reminds me of one of those women back in the cowboy days in the saloons..what were they--dance hall girls or something? Either way one of those women..someone to tell you stupid things to make you feel good.

[KHRISH]

Anyone with any kind of taste except the one in their mouth would reject that numbnut for the First Lady. I personally think Walters did her a favor by not subjecting her to the to the task of tossing together one of her "word salads". Just saying!

[TheBigPicture]

Barbara was playing the A list game. She wants access to the White House. It is a shame as Michelle O is boring and homely. Have you seen her ass grow?

[BufSolja]

As I was reading some of the comments here, I was, at first, amazed by the sheer stupidity of some writers (VERY POOR writers, I might add). But then it struck me: These haters are the same people who listen to nothing but FAUX "News" all day. Get a life. The history books will still show Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States and Michelle Obama as the First Lady no matter how much you hold your breath. Hey, I had to live with "The Shrub" (# 43) for 8 years. I survived and got over it.

BTW: Tyrone Williams: Your ignorance is exceeded only by your racism (and your probable belief that Sarah Palin actually has a brain).

[PALIN FOR 2012]

Hang on Sarah, 2012 is just around the corner!!

[michael]

Palin, in a nutshell, is what's wrong with this country.

[allaire]

Hey, it's her show and she can pick who she wants. Don't like it, turn the channel. If someone was never being considered in the first place, can they actually be considered left out. If so, I guess I was left out too. I'm hurt.

[Jedda]

This First Lady is NOT facinating. Well who cares about what her arms look like, she does have a BIG BUTT, and is slightly bow-legged. No matter how hard she tries she is not likeable to all of us. What she says she does for the girls and household, SHE DOES HAVE HELP. Us regular folk do the same thing ALL BY OURSELVES. I just can't get that warm fuzzy feeling towards those two, They come across as a couple of fakes. Anyway why was,nt someone in the ARM-FORCES selected. You are such an ass-kisser BARBARA and an old Lady. I watched how Bill O'Rielly rattled you.

[JEM]

I don't find Palin, Obama or any of the people mentioned the most fascinating. None of them have done anything. Walters should list people who really deserve to be called fascinating like police, firefighters, etc. who have saved someone's life. The people at the ASPCA who spend numerous hours saving an animal's life. A young person who does something good for someone other than themself. I know this world if full of fascinating people who are regular people that spend countless hours doing for others. That is who I want to see.

[Marty]

Palin for sure was the mos fascinating person of 2009. Even Oprahs ratings were the highest in over 2 years when she went on her show. She took the media by storm last month. I wonder why Taylor Swift missed the list. At 19 this young girl took the American Music Awards by storm and her album is outselling Lady Gaga's.

[Fredwah]

If you want to predict Barbara WAlters' "10 Most Fascinating People" in advance, just think of the 10 most over-exposed, over-hyped people on the planet, and you'll have the list.

[Diane Nunley]

Michelle Obama has had an agenda since her husband started running for president. They both do. She is about as pretty as my dog on a good day, and that scowl of hers...geez. Her arms cannot make up for the hips and big legs...sorry honey. The left-wing media has fed her enough that she actually thinks she looks and plays the part of the perfect first lady. No Jackie Kennedy or Laura Bush is she, poor thing.

[Confused]

Just curious......why bash Sarah Palin?
If Mrs. Obama won, that's great(I guess) but did you really have to go there with Palin?

I can only hope the press will someday return to reporting the real news instead of politically bias garbage.