I don't understand why our society is obsessed with celebrities who spend most of their time and money destroying themselves.
While perusing the news online this week, I've seen several versions of the recent "Lindsay Lohan checked herself into rehab" story, which include rumors that she received an intervention from movie executives and her mother's statement that she is very proud of her daughter for seeking help. Since all Lohan seems to have said publicly about the issue is that she would like to be given privacy and she's enjoying this season of "American Idol," I don't understand why she's making headlines.
Britney Spears' career was recently helped by her filing for divorce and then flashing her privates. Since when is this more useful to a star's career than actually making an album or film? We've always enjoyed watching celebrity scandal, but now it seems that society prefers self-destruction to juicy rumors.
So-called "reality TV" now includes VH1's "Shooting Sizemore," in which it seems, so far, the viewer is forced to watch Tom Sizemore rant about how his acting was better when he was doing crystal methamphetamine and how he has no confidence in himself sober.
What is so interesting about a celebrity who claims he/she is miserable and addicted to drugs and/or alcohol because of the "burden" of fame and fortune? If fame and wealth are so difficult to deal with, why not just give it up? Maybe get an education and get a real job?
Celebrities have gotten themselves addicted to drugs and alcohol for as many years as celebrity status has existed - why are we still so interested? My suggestion - skip the article about what Lohan wore to rehab and read about politics or (imagine this) a book.
Originally published in The Chronicle in January 2007 as Jade Lee Culberson.
Showing posts with label VH1. Show all posts
Showing posts with label VH1. Show all posts
28.2.11
"I Blame Flavor Flav"
I blame Flavor Flav for the show "A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila."
A lot of B-list, C-list and even D-list celebrities got another - albeit brief - taste of fame by appearing on "The Surreal Life." The show gave Tammy Faye Bakker a chance to hang out with Ron Jeremy, Vanilla Ice a chance to be known for something other than "Ice Ice Baby" (unfortunately for him, it was his anger problems and abrasive personality) and Janice Dickenson a chance to look even more crazy than usual.
Unfortunately, the show also introduced Flavor Flav to Brigitte Nielson. They weren't the first - or the last - couple to meet on a reality television show, but they were an interesting (or odd) enough pair to get their own show, "Strange Love." Perhaps this is where the trouble began because, obviously, Nielson toying with and then dumping him was a profitable venture. Apparently, more so than the union of Adrianne Curry and Christopher Knight, as their reality spin-off "My Fair Brady" ran it's course quickly and quietly - like a mild case of the flu. Unfortunately, Flav-fever was far more virulent.
The next symptom was "Flavor of Love" - a parade of women chasing Flav's fame and money, but pretending to "love" him. Naturally, things didn't work out between him and the woman he selected. So they gave him a second season. And that meant more fame for an obnoxious young woman called "New York" (who, before starting the clock on her 15 minutes of fame, was known as Tiffany Pollard). Before you could say "gold-digger," she had her own show called "I Love New York" (the same premise as "Flavor of Love," but with a house full of men and Pollard's overbearing mother as her sidekick).
Of course, it didn't work out with the man she chose in season one, and VH1 is currently airing the second season - this time, complete with the near drowning of a midget. VH1 and MTV show only bad reality TV in lieu of music videos these days, G-list MySpace celebrity Tila Tequila is now seeking "love" in a house full of cameras. But her show needed a gimmick, so she has both men and women to choose from. Perhaps next we'll watch a "Survivor" reject try to find "love" among residents of a minimum security prison. It wouldn't surprise me - but I'll still blame Flavor Flav.
Originally published in The Chronicle on November 4, 2007
A lot of B-list, C-list and even D-list celebrities got another - albeit brief - taste of fame by appearing on "The Surreal Life." The show gave Tammy Faye Bakker a chance to hang out with Ron Jeremy, Vanilla Ice a chance to be known for something other than "Ice Ice Baby" (unfortunately for him, it was his anger problems and abrasive personality) and Janice Dickenson a chance to look even more crazy than usual.
Unfortunately, the show also introduced Flavor Flav to Brigitte Nielson. They weren't the first - or the last - couple to meet on a reality television show, but they were an interesting (or odd) enough pair to get their own show, "Strange Love." Perhaps this is where the trouble began because, obviously, Nielson toying with and then dumping him was a profitable venture. Apparently, more so than the union of Adrianne Curry and Christopher Knight, as their reality spin-off "My Fair Brady" ran it's course quickly and quietly - like a mild case of the flu. Unfortunately, Flav-fever was far more virulent.
The next symptom was "Flavor of Love" - a parade of women chasing Flav's fame and money, but pretending to "love" him. Naturally, things didn't work out between him and the woman he selected. So they gave him a second season. And that meant more fame for an obnoxious young woman called "New York" (who, before starting the clock on her 15 minutes of fame, was known as Tiffany Pollard). Before you could say "gold-digger," she had her own show called "I Love New York" (the same premise as "Flavor of Love," but with a house full of men and Pollard's overbearing mother as her sidekick).
Of course, it didn't work out with the man she chose in season one, and VH1 is currently airing the second season - this time, complete with the near drowning of a midget. VH1 and MTV show only bad reality TV in lieu of music videos these days, G-list MySpace celebrity Tila Tequila is now seeking "love" in a house full of cameras. But her show needed a gimmick, so she has both men and women to choose from. Perhaps next we'll watch a "Survivor" reject try to find "love" among residents of a minimum security prison. It wouldn't surprise me - but I'll still blame Flavor Flav.
Originally published in The Chronicle on November 4, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)