The titanic scuffle for exclusive rights to interview the thus-far reclusive Middleton sister has reached a record high bid of $500,000. So we’re guessing whoever has the most money wins? Unless Pippa decides to actually up the ante by asking for more money…or showing her preferences among which of the two she’d prefer to spill her guts to…

Oprah‘s network, OWN, which has reportedly been struggling of late, has been instructed by the media mogul herself to

“pull out all the stops to secure [Pippa's] first TV interview,”

the London’s Sunday Mirror has been told.

And Barbara Walters, who once told the Kardashians point-blank they have no talent, is pushing her network executives to offer Pippa a higher six-figure amount to secure her “okay.”

Hollywood rumors have even heard that even NBC has joined in the fracas, and is trying to secure a Pippa interview for the “Ellen de Generes Show.”

Apparently, the Pippa craze hasn’t died down in the U.S. at all. The royal sister-in-law is still big news if these three talk show mavens are fighting tooth and nail to land her first TV interview right here on Britain’s former colony, the United States.

So how come Pippa Middleton‘s own native land isn’t as gaga over her, as well?

May the best media matriarch win, eh?

Photos By PR Photos / Via Woman’s Day Australia May 2011 Cover

Leave it to the hard-hitting Walters to grill the reality star about whether Kim thought the sex tape was a good idea at the time. It was actually pitiful seeing Kim flounder and try not to stammer in the face of Barbara‘s withering glare during the family’s interview on “Barbara Walters‘ Most Fascinating People of 2011″ …

“You first came to public attention in 2007 with the sex tape…”

Barbara Walters begins without preamble.

“…and you became famous…so was it a good thing to have done looking back?

Kim gapes a bit before she blurting out a stumbling reply.

“I really believe that with anything in life, whatever you do…you might think…”

she says, before ending with

“I’m…I’ve… made mistakes in my life, for sure.”

Talk about being in the hot seat.

“It was devastating for the whole family,”

Kris Jenner replies to Barbara‘s question about what the whole family felt about Kim‘s sex tape

“and you cry yourself to sleep for a few nights, then you hire a really good attorney and try to make something, you know, better happen.”

Things got better for the Kardashian Klan, alright, because here they are in showbiz making millions of dollars for being famous… and they don’t even need to have any talents.

Photos Via Video Screen Grabs

Oooh, burn!

The most prominent members of the Kardashian Klan—namely Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, and momager Kris Jenner—earned a place on Barbara Walters’ annual “10 Most Fascinating People of 2011,” and during their interview on ABC earlier this week, Barbara did not hold back, purposely bringing up Kim’s infamous sex tape and telling the Kardashians that they are talentless. She said:

“You are all famous for being famous… You don’t really act; you don’t sing; you don’t dance. You don’t have any—forgive me—any talent!”

Khloe replied:

“But we’re still entertaining people.”

Kim added:

“I think it’s more of a challenge for you to go on a reality show and get people to fall in love with you for being you, so there’s definitely a lot more pressure.”

Barbara then brought up Kim’s sex tape with ex-boyfriend and hip-hop star Ray-J, which catapulted her to fame back in 2007. She asked:

“So was it a good thing to have done?”

Kim admitted:

“I’ve made mistakes in my life, for sure.”

Kris Jenner chimed in:

“And you learned a lot from that.”

Did she? Well, the most obvious lesson there is: do not make a sex tape. But what else is there?

Aside from the Kardashians, Walters’ list, which was topped by the late Apple head honcho Steve Jobs, also included Amanda Knox, Herman Cain, Donald Trump, Derek Jeter, Simon Cowell, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Pippa Middleton, Katy Perry.

Photos By PR Photos / Video Screen Grab

Paris, along with her mother, Kathy Hilton, appeared on ‘The View’ this week to promote her new show, ‘The World According to Paris’—and got hit with some pretty tough questions by Barbara herself.

Barbara started off by coming after Paris for whining and complaining about having to do her 200 hours of community service—something about high heels—and then brought up the fact that Paris claimed she wanted to help women through charity work and yet she didn’t really bother to show that side of her on the show. Barbara said:

“Why not present that side of yourself, if indeed it exists?”

Directly after the show, Paris threw a fit—as confirmed by a rep for ‘The View’—and gave the producers a good chewing out backstage over the tone of the interview, according to reports.

Entertainment news reveals that Paris’ new show got low ratings, so she really has a lot to be upset about.

But whose side are you on: Barbara Walters‘ or Paris Hilton‘s?

image via WENN

Walters became a very popular TV morning news anchor for over 10 years on NBC’sToday, where she worked with Hugh Downs, and later hosts Frank McGee and Jim Hartz. Walters later spent 25 years as co-host of ABC’s newsmagazine 20/20. She has the distinction of being the first female co-anchor of network evening news, working with Harry Reasoner on the. In 2011, Walters is continuing as a contributor to the network news division, and its stellar flagship program, ABC World News.

Walters was married three times.

“I’m convinced that you stay married when the sex is bad, only because you really want to be,” Walter told The New York Times in 1996. “But I always had an out. I had this job, and this life and enough money. I didn’t have to fight the bad days.”

Birth Name: Barbara Jill Walters
Born: September 25, 1929, in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. A.

Click here to view photos and get the latest entertainment news on all your favorite celebrities

image via WENN

Barbara said of General Petaeus on her show, “In life, it seems, there are people who break things and people who fix them. This man is a fixer.”

Barbara Walters’ 10 Most Fascinating People 2010 list:

10. Betty White
9. Mark Zuckerberg
8. Justin Bieber
7. The cast of Jersey Shore
6. Sandra Bullock
5. Jennifer Lopez
4. LeBron James
3. Kate Middleton
2. Sarah Palin
1. General David Petraeus

What do you think? Do you agree with Barbara’s list? I can’t say I do but it’s a very subjective list anyway, isn’t it?

photos: Fame

On the lowbrow side, we have the entire cast of The Jersey Shore. I suppose this makes sense, those kids rule the media – but God, whatever will Babs talk about with The Situation?

On the highbrow side we have Kate Middleton and Sandra Bullock. Somewhere inbetween? Sarah Palin, LeBron James and Jennifer Lopez.

Jennifer Lopez? How and why? Because she’s the new host of American Idol? Why not Steven Tyler?

What do you think of this list?

Photos: Fame

More pictures of Barbara, Adam and Gaga after the kiss…

Barbara showed clips of each person and talked about them when it was their turn. Barbara showed a video clip where Lady Gaga locked lips with another female. Did she do the same for Adam Lambert? From TMZ:

During one of the first segments on her “The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009″ show last night, Babs aired a package featuring Lady Gaga locking lips with another female — it was not blurred, it was not censored, it was no big deal.

But later in the show, she made a big deal about the fact that she wasn’t going to show Adam Lambert’s man-on-man kiss at the AMAs.

So, why not? We can be forced to watch lesbian kissing but not gay men? Get real, Barbara. Do you think Adam was discriminated against in the show? Is Barbara unfairly pushing the issue?

Photos: Bauer Griffin

more pictures of the flamboyant singer after the jump…

Lady Gaga is definitely not just another one of your one-hit wonder artist. Gaga became the first singer ever to have four No. 1 hits off a debut album, receive an MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist. And of course, her ever-so bizarre and flamboyant outfits have sparked much controversies as well as attention.

Here’s the entire 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009 according to Barbara Walter:

The First Lady, Michelle Obama
Controversial political commentator Glenn Beck
Entertainment mogul Tyler Perry
Kate Gosselin
Adam Lambert
Former vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin
Star NFL quarterback Brett Favre
South Carolina’s first lady Jenny Sanford
Michael Jackson’s three children: Paris, Prince Michael and Prince Michael II

What happened to Jon Gosselin and Michael Lohan??

photos: Fame

More pictures of Star and Barbara after the meow…

Star was asked about the Tiger Woods scandal and she said this via the Huffington Post:

Star Jones has recommended that Tiger Woods sit down with her former “View” boss, Barbara Walters, for his first interview about the sex scandal rocking his marriage.

But it wasn’t because she’s a TV legend.

“My former boss might be a good choice,” Jones said on “The Insider.” “She wrote an entire book where she detailed her own affair and got paid a lot of money. She would be a very good choice. That would be like the pot calling the kettle black. I’m not sure she would be sympathetic, but she can’t be as judgmental.”

Yowza! Is Star still pissed off or what? I wonder what Barbara will say when she gets in front of the cameras on The View today! Stay tuned…

Photos: Fame

Which side do you believe – the current or former cast? I think Rosie can’t get a job and is trying to get herself out there some more. She’s washed up and done. Move on.

More pictures after the interview…

Barbara picks 10 people who have done important, brave, heroic and awesome events during the previous year and interviews them for her ‘year end’ special.  Except this year they ain’t so grand.  It’s more like they picked stars who can turn in ratings or people who have projects affiliated with the mother channel, abc/Disney.

USA Today list some of the honorees as:

“…the honor roll includes Tom Cruise, Tina Fey and Will Smith.

Walters will also feature Rush Limbaugh, Miley Cyrus and Michael Phelps. The show will air Dec. 4, ABC announced Thursday.”

Frank Langella is also on the list and the other three – no one knows.  Barbara has picked people with ties close to abc and Disney making it appear her list isn’t as objective as it used to be.  What did Tom Cruise do this year besides drag Suri in front of the paparazzi?  What did Miley Cyrus do besides get caught up in at least three photo scandals this year?

Where’s the people like the 41 year old woman who made US Swimming history?  Taylor Swift who is a good role model for girls and writes her own music, has a top album and is climbing the charts at eighteen years old?  Stephanie Meyers who wrote the Twilight series being made in to teen sensation movies?

As for the last three names –   I’m betting the Obamas are two of them.  Her list is already full of people who were over-exposed this year, why not add them to the list too! Who do you think should be on her list?

Photos: PR Photos

More pictures after the jump…

The View co-host admits that she was depressed and had low self-esteem earlier in her life.  She slept with a lot of men.  She also says via I’m Not Obsessed:

“I was sleeping with a lot of guys and had more abortions than I would like to count. I had very low self-esteem and just wanted to die. I felt if someone killed me, it wouldn’t even make a difference. But God showed me that it would make a difference.”

Wow.  What do you think the girls on The View will say about that?  These co-hosts seem to be making more news than they are reporting this summer.  Elisabeth and Whoopi fighting over the use of the N word, Barbara and her steamy book that admits an affair…what can Joy do to top these?

Photos: PR Photos

More pictures after the skip…

Barbara Walters has a book out called Audition – which is her memoir.  Joy Behar – a co-host – had a book out and wasn’t allowed to talk about it much.  Sherri Shepherd has a book coming out and can’t talk about it much.  Do you see where the bitching will begin?  Celebitchy says it is happening while The View people deny it.

Elisabeth Hasselback, Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters and Sherri Shepherd all make up the talk show.  How can you get all of that estrogen in one room and not have a few arguments along the way?  If you work in an office, you know what I’m talking about.  If you were a non-Barbara co-host, would you be mad at all the book promotin’?

Photos: PR Photos