Punk'd On Twitter: Ashton Kutcher Thumps CNN

Ashton Kutcher, the baby-faced star of Punk'd, That 70s Show and a host of barely passable feature films, beat the stodgy 24-hour cable news network to be the first with 1 million Twitter followers.

Kutcher, who fancies himself as a new-media player, weaseled his way past CNN's breaking news Twitter feed into the milestone million late Thursday night into Friday morning. The 1 million not only puts him ahead of the news network, but makes him the first Twitter user to reach that many followers.

Kutcher's success is a testament to the rapid uptake of the growing young social networking site that lets users micro-blog whatever they want in 140 characters or less. It also shows that Kutcher, known more for his May-December romance with Bruce Willis ex Demi Moore than his acting roles, actually has one million virtual fans that care what he's doing.

The heated competition grew to involve CNN suspender-wearer Larry King, video game maker Electronic Arts and a cast of thousands. The victor, it was agreed, would donate the money required to buy 10,000 anti-mosquito bed nets for African families as part of World Malaria Day, which takes place April 25. The gift is estimated to cost $100,000.

Along with Kutcher's victory, the 1 millionth follower also gets their share of the limelight and will be featured in The Sims 3 and receive a copy of every single game Electronic Arts (EA) releases in 2009.

"I just found it astonishing that one person can actually have as big a voice online as what an entire media company can," Kutcher said in an online video.

On the heels of Kutcher's historic twictory, it appears other mega-stars are getting in on the act, spreading Twitter even further. Oprah Winfrey is now on Twitter and is expected to devote today's entire show to the micro-blogging wunderkind, going so far as to invite Kutcher and Twitter founder Ev Williams to appear.

And, as we all know, once something gets Oprah's stamp of approval it's a force to be reckoned with. Young Kutcher better watch has back, because if he can capture a million, there's no telling how many Ms. O. can bring aboard.

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