Celebrities: Does anyone really care?

[Toastburner B]

I was thinking about this last night, and would like to see what everyone else thinks:

Why is it that even major news networks go out of their way to say something about any famous person? Why in the world is the Michael Jackson trial even approach front page news status? Or what actor is hooking up with what actress?

Seriously, there are entire TV shows deciated to find out who is doing what at any time.

Another prime example are famous people trying to affect politics. We all remember the parade of celebrities who lined up to speek out against Bush or Kerry, but the real question is, why? If you base who you are going to vote on what Leonardo di Caprio(sp) tells you to do, you need get some help.

Seriously, though...why all this effort just to tell us what someone who happens to pop up in movies every so often is doing right now? Does the average person really give a darn? Why is the celebrity regarded as a demi-god like being?

[WanderingWombat]

Because the average person can't go five minutes without wondering exactly what the people they idolize are doing, drinking, driving, or thinking. I was thinking the same thing the other night when Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, and some other stupid shows were dominating the airwaves in between the educational channel. (Heh, yeah, TLC is educational sometimes, when it's NOT the Home Decorating Channel). There are people who have based their entire career on telling poor people what rich people are like. Also, at 8am, MMM was airing the Michael Jackson Players, who recreate the key scenes from the trial (with Michael Jackson being played by a big Mexican in makeup).

Uhm.... super! Good for them. Whatever keeps the masses in line, I say. Reminds me of that Bill Hicks bit, where he's pretending to be on the phone:

Guy in LA: "Whats happening out there? Snowed in, eh? Bummer. Oh, me? I"M OUT BY THE POOL!!!!!!"

Bill in New York: "Whats happening out there? Talking to TV producers, eh? Bummer. Oh, me? I'M READING A BOOK! Yeah, we're thinking out east! We're evolving! Hey, is that an earthquake in the background?"

[Azisien]

Why they do it: Gets ratings, otherwise they wouldn't do it.

Why it gets ratings: As sick and horrible as it sounds, people do watch those shows.

Why they watch those shows: I am not one of them, but I assume its "something to do."

I barely watch any TV anymore because I can't stand the bullshit. But I know my mother watches Access Hollywood every single day. She might even tape it. Drives me nuts.

[Cracked But Not Broken]

Why in the world is the Michael Jackson trial even approach front page news status?

It is because it is a trial talking about a socially disturbed person malesting children, the fact hes famous is just icing on the cake for the media.
When they finally got Micheal Manson arrested, it was all over the news, was he famous in any way aside from the fact he killed people, not really.

As the reason everyone wants to know about the lives of celebrities is because celebrities live the lives "we all" want, up until the point where they get addicted to meth and choke on their own vomit while od'ing off it, but up until that point there rich, famous, and everyone loves them. Thats the deal with why everyone idolizes them.

[WanderingWombat]

Who the heck was Michael Manson?

[Sithdarth]

I do believe he was trying to reference Charles Manson and some how got the names mixed up.

Celebreties exist to show the common person that his/her dreams really can come to pass. As such they get great admiration and envey from the common person. Without them there would be little for people to hope and aspire too and that is not such a good thing. They fill a role that they themselves are usually quite unaware of.

[Cracked But Not Broken]

Thanks for pointing that out and I did mix up the name, theres probly a micheal manson at my school or sumthin... dam now i wanna know where the hell i got that name from, not cool.

OH I figured it out, this may get a little confusing but bare with me:

When I was coming up with what I was gonna type and I thought of Charles Manson, I remembered that Marilyn Manson got his name from Marilyn Monroe, and Charles Manson because those are the two poles of fame, Model To Murderor, and then I remembered the Manson interview on Bowling for columbine, which was directed by Micheal Moore, whos initials are MM, Marilyin Mansons Logo and initials are MM so I guess thinking all that in a matter of 1 second (the 1 second before I started to type Charles Manson) got me mixed up and I wrote Micheal Manson. :cool: ... man that is really confusing I gotta go lie down for a minute.

[Psrdirector]

I think it is sad how movie people and athletes are more well known then politicians. One throws a ball, the other runs the country and can change the world.

why is the first more well known?

[WanderingWombat]

I get jokes :) I was gonna say "Michael Manson the musician? Who did he kill?!"

And SithDarth... will you just take the opposite stance to anything I say, or what? We should probably never meet, we'd shake hands and accidentally blow up the Earth.

And the first is more well known because it's more likely that a person will play baseball than will go into politics and make positive changes. People don't want to think about politics, or economics... they'd rather enjoy themselves, which is why celebrities and sports players are so much more popular and famous. Personally, I don't watch baseball until the Stanley Cup.

[Napoleon98]

I personally don't care what a celebrity is doing at any given time.. THEY'RE JUST PEOPLE!!! But w/e... I still don't get why people idolize celebrities, a lto of people see them an think I'd like to ahve that kind of money/body/family, whatever, others see them and pity the life they have to live infront of the camera, ando thers... well stalk them :/

I agree with you though WW, baseball is boring as hell... though I never watch it.. ever... I'd gouge my eyes out before succumbing to that pile of feces

Not even gonna coment on the joke at the end

[Krylo]

It's not that hard to figure out, really.

You listen to a song you like and decide you'd like to hear more songs like that, so you go to see who did it. You then get a name and find out you like more of their stuff, so you become a fan. As a fan you start to wonder what new music this person is working on, and in the process of doing so you start to find out about what they've been doing in their lives. Soon you've formed an emotional attachment to a person you don't know. Granted, it's a small one, but it's enough to make you interested in their lives and want to know if they're a mass murderer or if they donate to charity.

The same goes for movies and actors. You see a performance you like, or a really pretty face, and decide you'd like to see more, etc. etc.

That tenuous emotional attachment means that when the media plays something with O.J. MJ, or whoever else, they come as close as possible to telling every single person in the world that someone they know personally has comitted a crime. It's not exactly the same, but hearing that the musician you recently found out likes raspberry pop-tarts and produces music that you love just beat their child with a stick ellicits a greater emotional response (and, thus, ratings) than, "John Jacobson of Nowhere Utah beat his children with a stick today."

Are you people really telling me you're not a fan of anything? That at the O.J. trial you never stopped and thought, "Holy crap, that lovable goof ball from Naked Gun killed his wife?"

Now, granted, many people take it too far and form an unhealthy attachment to these celebrities, beyond just the light one that the well-adjusted individual will make, but it still all comes from the same thing. Well, the same thing and some sort of mental disorder causing obsessive tendencies.

[WanderingWombat]

Sure, I'm a fan. I appreciate their work, and respect them as actors. I really don't need to know what they wore to a thousand-dollar-a-plate awards banquet.

[Napoleon98]

I'm with WW on this one. There are people I am fans of, and I like to know if they're working on a new movie or w/e... but I still don't give a rats ass why Bradd Pitt and Jennifer Anniston broke up.. all I know is now I got an opening with her :p

[Cracked But Not Broken]

I gotta say that the most aggravating people in this kind of situation is what I like to cal bandwagon people. The kind of people who start to idolize someone because they get a chance to meet the person. Like my sister for example, she heard Green Day was coming to concert in our hometown and she was digging around in my CD collection for their cd's so she coul tell my dad she NEEDS to go to their concert because its her favorite band. Thats what aggravates me.

[Krylo]

Most of my post had to do with the MJ trial that was talked about and the whoever it was doing weed back in the day, etc.

The "Blah blah blah is wearing this!" falls under this quote:
Now, granted, many people take it too far and form an unhealthy attachment to these celebrities, beyond just the light one that the well-adjusted individual will make, but it still all comes from the same thing. Well, the same thing and some sort of mental disorder causing obsessive tendencies.

[pochercoaster]

And for those who don't idolize celebrities, they might buy a magazine/watch a show/etc. just out of boredom and make it a habit. Someone comes home tired from work, turns on the TV, is too tired to watch something intelligent and changes the channel, though more for entertainment than emotional ties. I don't know what percentage of people that consume this stuff are like what I described above, but I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't insignificant. Also, that sentence was worded very badly.

[Dynamite220]

People idolize celebs for a reason. They are seen as the vission of success. And in many ways, they are. The acting business is harder than it is made out to be and there are many more starving artists (hyperboly, please don't jump down my throat) than there are celebs. The ones that made it big are the ones who worked hard and had luck and resources on their side. They deserve some recognition.

That does not make them qualified to give "news." They are experts at their trade, but they are not geo-political analists, even though they play them so well on TV. Few people take their oppinions in such matters seriously.
I posted this in another thread some short time ago. It was easier than actualy typing it all out again.

[Hatake Kakashi]

I'd like to think it's all more of the "Jerry Springer" syndrome.

Sometimes, you don't wanna stare... but you just can't look away. But yeah, I get the whole "fan" thing. It's what drives people to do certain things they tend to do. Look at the Lindsey Lohan/Harry Potter thread. She's seen and mentioned, and suddenly, every guy on this forum ('scuse me... 4 out of 5) has to go polish/stroke/clean/shine "something." Amazing someone like that is more well known and arousing than your average porn star. Hrm.

Forgive me if I'm rambling... coming down off of a cram session and caffiene just wor.....

[TheI3rokenspiral]

The masses are stupid and need someone to follow. Even if it's just some guy that reads lines someone else wrote and can make himself tear up every once in a while. I personally think that all famous people should stay as far away from the political grounds as possible. I'm not saying they shouldn't vote because that's a freedom they do have. But they shouldn't be allowed to publicly show their political views.

I loved the concerts thrown by Kerry supporters telling people to think for themselves, and then performing for Kerry. Kinda defeats the purpose of think for yourself huh?

[Red Fighter 1073]

exactly..like those shows with celebrities living their lives. I REALLY DONT CARE!!!!!!!!! its like someone is sayin "OMG she brushes her teeth with crest toothpaste! that is SO COOL!" like i said...so pointless

[Death by Stabbing]

Sure there are some actors and actresses who I like to know if they have a new movie out (wow that was poor grammer). But I don't really care what they do off the silver screen or my DVD player (or VHS player).
They give money to a good cause- good for them but it's not a new movie damnit!

they have lives too you know...sure I'd like to meet them maybe get an autograph and give them mine (heh heh heh), but I don't want to root through their trash or hear if they were drinking and driving or whatever

just tell me about the movies

Love,
Death By Stabbing

[Rookie]

I remember not too long ago there was a big deal about Britney Spears and her eyeless husband (if you watch videos of them in public on tv, Federline always has a stupid hat over his eyes and i have yet to see his eyes.) going to Baskin Robbins. Now they obviously had a swarm of paparazzi around them and then they order something and Federline goes outside and asks em for a couple bucks and says he'll pay them back.

I don't care about what they do, i just want good movies!