Monday, Dec. 29, 2003

15 Minutes Of Fame

Yes, we'll forget Paris. And Funny Cide. And Baghdad Bob. Because, like that steaming plate of Mama's meatballs served up by a celebrity chef, there are some inhabitants of the high-wattage spotlight who were just never meant to stay hot for long. This year's menu:

BAGHDAD BOB Iraq's spin king probably still says Saddam will win

ARON RALSTON Gave his right arm to escape from a crushing boulder

t.A.T.u. Kissy Russian pop duo put a lip lock on charts. Oh--they sang too

JAYSON BLAIR Brought fiction, and chaos, to the New York Times newsroom

CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI At 17, wrote Eragon; it has sold like a hotter Potter

STEVE BARTMAN Cubs fan fouled up Chicago's World Series dream

CRUZ BUSTAMANTE The challenger terminated by California's new Governor

ROY MOORE Kept his Ten Commandments decor, lost his judicial robes

RYAN SUTTER AND TRISTA REHN Bachelorette pair met, married, made us ill

DAVID GEST Filed for divorce from Liza, saying she beat him. (At chess?)

FUNNY CIDE Cheapo gelding (darn!) nearly took the Triple Crown

TRAVIS FIMMEL Undies model had his own show, Tarzan, but only briefly

PARIS HILTON Double threat: embarrassing herself on TV and video

SEAN PAUL His Get Busy was an inescapable hit. We got it--can we go now?

ROCCO DISPIRITO Chef du jour was like garlic: a little went a long way