{alltv} Walters grilling burns Paris

Friday, June 3, 2011

{alltv} Walters grilling burns Paris

Paris Hilton's television comeback hit the pause button this week after a disastrous interview on "The View," canceled press appointments and lackluster ratings for the premiere of her Oxygen reality show, "The World According to Paris."

Hilton was so distraught after being thrown tough questions by "View" co-host Barbara Walters on Wednesday that she screamed at a producer backstage.

Hilton and her mother, Kathy, appeared on "The View" to promote her new show. Walters criticized Hilton for complaining in the first episode about her 200 hours of community service. She also questioned Hilton's claims of doing charity work and her desire to help other female prisoners -- neither of which is seen on the Oxygen show. Walters asked, "Why not present that side of yourself, if indeed it exists?"

Afterward and off-camera, both Paris and her father, Rick, berated a "View" producer, upset at the tone of the interview. A rep for the show confirmed the incident. Hilton's rep had no comment.

That night, Paris threw herself into a long round of partying with sister, Nicky. After the duo attended a launch for "World" at the Gansevoort Hotel, they dined with friends at The Darby, then partied at Avenue and 1Oak. The Hiltons ended up next door at Artichoke Basille's Pizza and Bar at about 3 a.m. Thursday morning.

Hours later, Hilton abuptly canceled a lunch with several magazine editors and an interview, with her team claiming she was sick, losing her voice and didn't want to infect others. By then, ratings for the "World" premiere had been tallied: an anemic 400,000 viewers. She took off for Spain Thursday night to support her Paris Hilton motorcycle racing team.

Hilton's rep said, "The decision was made by her management to reschedule two things that were not time-sensitive on Thursday." A rep for "The View" added, "We're sorry Paris felt she had to cancel some interviews."