Paris Hilton - Most Pointless Celebrity

Gossip columnist Lloyd Grove of the New York Daily News has an early New Year's resolution: absolutely no more Paris Hilton (hat tip: James Joyner).

Over the past five years - without any discernible talent, education, scruples, manners, modesty or underpants - the pretty blond great-granddaughter of hotel magnate Conrad Hilton has waged a terrifying campaign for world domination.

The arc of Paris' "career" - from rich, witless party girl to rich, witless party girl with a hit television show - is an insult to the American sense of fairness: the idea that you get ahead by working hard, playing by the rules and acquiring a skill of some sort.

Paris has bothered with none of the above, and yet society continues to reward her with money and fame.

I don't believe he can keep this up. Paris Hilton's life is such a train wreck that you can't help but stare. Every time she fades away for a while you hope you've seen the last of the annoying, spoiled brat - but then there she is again. A new video featuring Paris and another woman; another series of The Simple Life with that vacuous midget Nicole Richie. Why? WHY? It's not even as if she's especially attractive. Her face suggests that there were some very close cousins in her family tree.

But, still, we can't stop talking about her.