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This Week's Shining and Falling Stars: Hugh Hefner and Paris Hilton

Posted: 06/17/11 06:48 PM ET

Shining Star - Hugh Hefner

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The most famous purveyor of porn is showing that even sultans of sleaze can tastefully handle a potentially embarrassing snafu.

Hugh Hefner's 25-year-old fiancé, Crystal Harris, left him high and dry this week, calling off her wedding to the Playboy creator just days before the nuptials were scheduled to take place. News of Harris' 86-ing of the engagement also came the very same day her first single was released on iTunes. Some cynics may think the timing was just a TAD suspicious. Really, who would ever think to put the kibosh on your upcoming marriage to a magazine mogul in order to drum up some headlines right before your music debut? That would just be simply unthinkable!

But rather than go on a tear about his bride-not-to-be, Hefner is keeping it classy (at least on Twitter.) The 85-year-old lady lover started tweeting after the news broke, writing, "The wedding is off. Crystal has had a change of heart." And proving that wisdom may just come with age, Hefner kept his cool on the micro-blogging site, tweeting, "The breakup is a heart breaker, but better now than after the marriage."

Hefner even injected a little bit of humor into a seemingly crummy situation, writing, "Since we're not getting married on Saturday, I've scheduled a movie: 'Runaway Bride.' Seems appropriate." He also announced that already-printed July issues of Playboy that feature Harris on the cover with the unfortunate headline, "America's Princess: Introducing Mrs. Crystal Hefner," would get a last-minute addition: a sticker. Hefner tweeted a snapshot of a sticker that reads, "Runaway Bride In This Issue!" that will be placed over part of the cover photo of Harris.

Who could have guessed that the mastermind behind the world's most famous dirty mag could be such a class act?

Falling Star - Paris Hilton

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Paris Hilton may have to check out of Hollywood soon -- it appears nearly everything seems to be going wrong for the once overhyped heiress.

First, Hilton's new reality show tanked in the ratings when it debuted last week. The Oxygen channel program, "The World According to Paris," attracted a measly 409,000 viewers. By comparison, the sixth season premiere of "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" (starring Hilton's former BFF, Kim) on the E! channel drew 2.5 million viewers.

Hilton apparently blamed the ratings FAIL not on her lack of appeal, but on the Oxygen network. A show insider told AOL's Popeater, "She worked her tail off doing promotion and publicity for the show and then because of a technical mistake, the show aired at a completely different time in a lot of markets." An Oxygen rep said the show aired as scheduled.

The few people who did watch the show weren't exactly impressed with Hilton. SiriusXM radio host Howard Stern said Hilton's antics on the program made her worse than "a vomit's vomit." Variety declared that "The World According to Paris" is "a dreary, unattractive place."

The bad news didn't end there for the former tabloid fixture. The blonde starlet made headlines for all the wrong reasons when she reportedly got into a backstage shouting match with a show producer after she faced some tough questions from the ladies at The View. And now stories are popping up detailing trouble in Hilton's relationship with boyfriend Cy Waits because of how he was portrayed on her reality show.

Maybe it would be a good idea if Hilton, who has been endlessly referred to as "being famous for doing nothing," went back to what she apparently does best -- nothing.

 

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Shining Star - Hugh Hefner The most famous purveyor of porn is showing that even sultans of sleaze can tastefully handle a potentially embarrassing snafu. Hugh Hefner's 25-year-old fiancé, Crysta...
Shining Star - Hugh Hefner The most famous purveyor of porn is showing that even sultans of sleaze can tastefully handle a potentially embarrassing snafu. Hugh Hefner's 25-year-old fiancé, Crysta...
 
 
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07:09 PM on 06/20/2011
...don't understand the "famous for doing nothing" - that doesn't really happen, there's always something and in Hilton's case it was for starring in a popular, long-running reality tv show with Nicole Ritchie which agreed is a trifle, nothing, but, it was a real TV job like other TV jobs including the View job with contractual requirements, production schedule/work hours, personal appearance commitments, etc., but, if someone wants another hit show for Paris she's got to grow up with her fans- at 30 she's no longer a debutante, her mgmt. miscalculated her demo and her appeal. (She wouldn't be the first "celebrity" to get pregnant aiming for tv success.)
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Welshish
The sadder but wiser girl for me.
08:06 PM on 07/12/2011
This vapid behavior is not amusing at age 30 like it once was.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
couer
06:40 PM on 06/20/2011
Personally, I think Hugh and Paris should get together. Ratings bonanza.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
CubanVoice
Hope common sense goes viral.
09:19 AM on 06/20/2011
Still, Hilton is referred to as a "star."

Hefner's not a star either but at least he's been around forever and hob-nobbed with the stars of yesteryear, when the term meant something. He has less degress of separation from them.
07:43 PM on 06/19/2011
My rising star is not a person but a show on ABC. Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition (Monday nights at 10pm/9c). Such a great show! It's the best thing on TV and way better than any of those other weight loss shows!!! Seriously check it out!
03:33 PM on 06/19/2011
I thought the questions directed at Hilton on The View were valid--why not use her show and celebrity to shine a light on her worthwhile charity work (which she claims she does) rather than portraying her as shallow and vein? If she doesn't like that reputation, then why is she perpetuating it? My personal opinion is that there isn't much depth there to highlight.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Nitehawk
09:03 AM on 06/19/2011
Maybe Paris can concentrate on that half way house now. You remember, the one she said she was going to build after her brush with celebrity justice.
10:50 PM on 06/18/2011
I agree !! Carry on doing nothing and LEAVE US ALONE 11
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
DJE12857
RAGING LIBERAL,ANIMAL LOVER&RECOVERING CATHOLIC!
09:29 PM on 06/18/2011
Maybe Paris could work in one of the Hilton hotels so she'll get a clue as to what it's like to have a real job.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
tchoupitoulav1
11:20 AM on 07/29/2011
That's funny! Some people don't realize just how blessed they are!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
hueylover
carry on
08:36 PM on 06/18/2011
So it's a gold star for Hugh H because he didn't get nasty about his fiancee? And news that Paris H is a bore?
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Halsey
"There is a price to pay for speaking the truth. T
10:41 PM on 06/17/2011
IMO, Play,while not my reading (looking material) is not porn. Have you even glanced at the internet lately?

Paris...let's pray to the gawd of maudlin mindless abyss that none too soon the "k" saga soon ends. I saw an add that the young Kindel (sp?) is now being pimped by the grand madame. Guess if Kim gets married, she needs a new income stream and a way to keep HER face in front of a camera. She is (Kris) nuts to the n'th degree. A marketting smartie, but I hope our fickle nation starts changing channels...soon.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Zweiback
07:56 PM on 06/17/2011
Hef a "shining star" and a "class act"?
Amazingly, Ms. Kurtz is unaware that most of the country is laughing at him.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
way2sunny
10:27 AM on 06/18/2011
Second that!
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M Jeffrey
05:31 AM on 06/19/2011
So you speak for most of the country?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Welshish
The sadder but wiser girl for me.
08:09 PM on 07/12/2011
In this case, she does!