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”Kimye” As Barbara Walter’s People of the Year

The Sun Sentinel has a great column, “Late Night Humor,” reprinting late night television hosts’ best lines.  December 12, 2013, Jay Leno was quoted as saying, “Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are among Barbara Walter’s “10 most fascinating people of 2013.  In a related story, Barbara has been named one of the “10 most easily fascinated people of 2013.”


This Grandma loves Barbara Walters.  She blazed trails for young women in media and has been a role model of success in a man’s field.  Barbara Walters has been a role model for us Boomers in remaining active, vibrant and working well into her eighties. She knows what she is doing.  Like Mily Cyrus criticized for twerking and now is up for entertainer of the year, Barbara also knows her audience and is focused on her craft.  Yes, this Grandma agrees, “Kimye” are fascinating.


You may be surprised that a professional Boomer working grandma might watch and follow the Kardashians.  I find the Kardashian family history the best of reality television and the only reality television I would watch.  Bruce Jenner married a woman with four young children and assumed all financial responsibility for them while encouraging a warm and living relationship between the children and their father.  On the other hand, his children have been honest of their feelings of exclusion from his new family growing up.  We hear the reality of blending families, and the positives of a family working together.  Yes, they have capitalized on celebrity seemingly without talent.  But, their talent is underestimated.  They are American entrepreneurs and highly successful at the craft of celebrity.


Since more than 41% of children in America are born out of wedlock, Kim and Kanye bearing North out of wedlock is not unusual. Even being a biracial couple is no longer unusual in America.  The first family of New York City is a biracial family.  Kim suffers weight issues and is honest about how celebrity is good and bad. She is a successful, hardworking young woman.  Our society is changing and the Kardashians mirror changes in society in real time.  Of course, they are interesting in how they have parlayed celebrity into spinoff businesses and multimillions.


They and Barbara have much to be proud of.  Who are we to judge.  Americans ARE easily fascinated.  We are privileged in America and love to see success in privilege. Jay Leno, your best line misses the point.  God Bless America!


Joy,


Mema

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