Kris Jenner’s eponymous talk show premiered last week – and was promptly trashed by critics. The NY Posts’ Linda Stassi wrote a particularly scathing review. It was filled with gems like “so horrible it should come with a hazard warning” and the observation that Kris “comes across as a spoiled, vacuous woman with nothing to say of any interest, importance or humor.” I guess Stassi hasn’t seen Keeping up with The Kardashians.

Well Kris wasn’t going to take that lying down, and she wasn’t going to strike out at Stassi, either. Kris sent the poison pen journalist a sterling silver Tiffany pen worth $325 and a dozen Magnolia’s cupcakes, which retail for about $50. In response, Stassi wrote another column mocking Kris for trying to bribe her:

On Tuesday, I wrote a review of “Kris,” a horrible new talk show by the mother of all self-promoters, Kris Jenner.

A few hours later, a messenger arrived at The Post bearing a dozen Magnolia cupcakes (see the need for Spanx, above) and one $325 sterling silver Tiffany pen. With a note.

At first I thought maybe a grateful reader wanted to reward me for saying that Kris came across like a demented Norma Desmond, or that she had as much right to have a talk show as her talentless daughter had for hosting a talent show.

But nooo.

It was from Norma herself — Kris Jenner — who somehow thought it would be a great idea to send a journalist a hugely expensive pen with a note saying that I could use it to write her a better review next time.

And you thought the fake wedding was bad form.

I was concerned. Had Jenner’s publicist fallen into a debilitating coma and wasn’t able to tell her that reporters aren’t allowed to accept bribes — and that, in real life, people don’t get expensive free stuff for media whoring? Well, not all the time, anyway.

So, Kris, let’s get something straight right here, right now. I cannot be bought — for a pen. A pen and pencil set, maybe — but just a pen?

To improve your rating, Mrs. Kardashian-Jenner, either you somehow become interesting, which given the data seems as likely as the pope turning Jewish, or you do better with the bribes.

[From The NY Post]

The NY Daily News also trashed Kris’ talkshow – did she bribe them too? That would get expensive fast. Alternately, she could just put her time and effort into creating a better show, but you know that’s not going to happen. In response to Stassi mocking her gift, a source close to Kris told EntertainmentWise that it’s a shame Stassi wasn’t in on the joke.

“Kris jenner isn’t stupid … She doesn’t need to bribe anyone.”

“She sent it as a joke and clearly Linda can’t take a joke. Kris sees things positively and when people send negative energy her way she responds with positivity and humour.”

It’s not the worst way to respond to a critic, with sugar instead of vinegar, but it did come across as a bribe, not some kind of cheeky response.

In related news, Naught But Nice Rob is reporting that Keeping Up With the Kardashians is ending. Before you break out the champagne, the show is under contract until 2015, so it will be on the air for two more years at least before anyone pulls the plug. In contrast, I give Kris’ talk show about 5 more weeks, tops. That’s hardly worth trying to placate a journalist over.

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