Barry Friedman Picks Tulsa's Top People

The current issue of Tulsa People includes a list of the "top 108 people of 2008." Writer and comedian Barry Friedman complied the list, which he explains as "the good, the bad and everyone in between…who made news or should have during the previous year."

Some of the newsmakers on the list are obvious ones: Mayor Kathy Taylor, banker and philanthropist George Kaiser, Police Chief Ron Palmer, and new County Commissioner Karen Keith.

Friedman also includes some less obvious choices, such as Chad Smith, principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, Elliot Nelson, of McNellie's Public House fame, Teresa Miller, writer and director of the Center for Poets and Writers, and Clark Wiens, co-founder of the Circle Cinema, Tulsa's non-profit art house theater.

But we're still scratching our heads over a few names on the list, such as former County Commissioner Randi Miller. Yes, she made news in 2008, but not in a good way. Same with the woman who beat her in the Republican primary, communist-hunter and proud John Bircher, Sally Bell. (The Fifties live!)

We also arched an eyebrow over Kristen Glover, "spokesdaughter" for Dad Jim's Chevy dealership. Yes, she's lovely and all, but she may be suffering from overexposure. At least we are.

And then there's the Tulsa World's crabby columnist Jay Cronley, who apparently hasn't enjoyed a movie or television show or much of anything else in the last, oh, 15 or 20 years. Oh wait, he likes his dogs. But that's about it.

Tulsa People can be found here.