Friday, September 10, 2004
New York Daily News - Home - $22 into thin heir200 line up for Paris 'book'
BY JONATHAN LEMIRE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Would you pay $22 for the wisdom of Paris Hilton?
With no more pressing concerns in the world than securing the signature of a vapid blond hotel heiress, more than 200 people lost an hour of their lives yesterday waiting for Hilton to autograph her new book.
An autobiography, no less.
One obsessed and geographically challenged fan at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square even forgot about the nation of France in her excitement. "Paris is becoming so popular, she only has to go by her first name," said a wild-eyed Nicole Staley, 20, as she looked around. "When people hear the word Paris, they think of her."
But just to show the world hasn't gone completely crazy, about half of the 500 wristbands - given out on Tuesday to fans who wanted an autographed book - went unclaimed.
In fact, some fans were able to just walk in off the street for the chance to meet the woman who has become famous for strutting down a runway and, uh, performing a certain other activity on camera.
Not catching the irony of holding an event for a sex-tape star in a Virgin store, throngs of Parisians clutched the pink-covered book, "Confessions of an Heiress: A Tongue-in-Chic Peek Behind the Pose."
"The Simple Life" TV co-star made a disappointingly un-diva-like entrance five minutes early, greeting the less-than-sellout crowd.
But Dave Rubin, who proudly showed his wristband in Wednesday's Daily News, made sure he was there - earning the distinction of being first on line. "I've been catching so much hell from co-workers for being here," said Rubin, 42, of Elmwood Park, N.J. "Dude, I swear, I'm not a stalker."
The blond wasn't much for making small talk, mostly just breathlessly whispering "thank you" while drawing a cartoon heart next to her simple "Paris" signature on each book.
Hilton's few words, however, seemed to go a long way with her fans. When she complimented one woman on the color of her blouse, the frenzied fan literally skipped out of line in joy.
"She said she liked it," gasped Rebekkah Abraham, 20, of Brooklyn, as she pushed her glasses back up her nose. "She's so fashionable, and yet she liked it!"
Some fans seemed to want more from the glamour puss.
"I've had a crush on her since I hit puberty," said Dave Goran, 17, a high school junior from Manhattan. "I'd ask her out if I wasn't still young enough to be illegal."
"Do you think she'd come to my birthday party if I asked nicely?" said Tommy Tenhet of Queens, who turns 36 tomorrow. "She goes to lots of parties, doesn't she?"
Then there was Harold Schoenfeld, 36, an entrepreneur from Queens who seemed fantastically unimpressed. "I'm just here so I can put it up on eBay when I get home," he said. "I bet I can get as much for it as I did with books from Ric Flair, Chuck Norris and Lou Dobbs."
BY JONATHAN LEMIRE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Would you pay $22 for the wisdom of Paris Hilton?
With no more pressing concerns in the world than securing the signature of a vapid blond hotel heiress, more than 200 people lost an hour of their lives yesterday waiting for Hilton to autograph her new book.
An autobiography, no less.
One obsessed and geographically challenged fan at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square even forgot about the nation of France in her excitement. "Paris is becoming so popular, she only has to go by her first name," said a wild-eyed Nicole Staley, 20, as she looked around. "When people hear the word Paris, they think of her."
But just to show the world hasn't gone completely crazy, about half of the 500 wristbands - given out on Tuesday to fans who wanted an autographed book - went unclaimed.
In fact, some fans were able to just walk in off the street for the chance to meet the woman who has become famous for strutting down a runway and, uh, performing a certain other activity on camera.
Not catching the irony of holding an event for a sex-tape star in a Virgin store, throngs of Parisians clutched the pink-covered book, "Confessions of an Heiress: A Tongue-in-Chic Peek Behind the Pose."
"The Simple Life" TV co-star made a disappointingly un-diva-like entrance five minutes early, greeting the less-than-sellout crowd.
But Dave Rubin, who proudly showed his wristband in Wednesday's Daily News, made sure he was there - earning the distinction of being first on line. "I've been catching so much hell from co-workers for being here," said Rubin, 42, of Elmwood Park, N.J. "Dude, I swear, I'm not a stalker."
The blond wasn't much for making small talk, mostly just breathlessly whispering "thank you" while drawing a cartoon heart next to her simple "Paris" signature on each book.
Hilton's few words, however, seemed to go a long way with her fans. When she complimented one woman on the color of her blouse, the frenzied fan literally skipped out of line in joy.
"She said she liked it," gasped Rebekkah Abraham, 20, of Brooklyn, as she pushed her glasses back up her nose. "She's so fashionable, and yet she liked it!"
Some fans seemed to want more from the glamour puss.
"I've had a crush on her since I hit puberty," said Dave Goran, 17, a high school junior from Manhattan. "I'd ask her out if I wasn't still young enough to be illegal."
"Do you think she'd come to my birthday party if I asked nicely?" said Tommy Tenhet of Queens, who turns 36 tomorrow. "She goes to lots of parties, doesn't she?"
Then there was Harold Schoenfeld, 36, an entrepreneur from Queens who seemed fantastically unimpressed. "I'm just here so I can put it up on eBay when I get home," he said. "I bet I can get as much for it as I did with books from Ric Flair, Chuck Norris and Lou Dobbs."
