Celebrities, for the most part, are richer and better-looking than the rest of us. We envy their lives (we even fantasize about living their lives), but we also need reassurance that they, too, have personal problems to deal with. So stories about how happy they are and how unhappy they are both are newsworthy (well, let’s call it “gossipworthy”). It’s real-life Soap Opera, and it’s hardly new.
That being said, if it’s true that Jen is having Justin’s baby, I truly hope that (sniff) she’s on the road to happiness at long last. But that doesn’t mean I’m ready to forgive Angelina (the tramp).
Eldo, I think the “shallow and self-absorbed” comment comes from the fact that we’re obsessed with them, but the celebrities don’t return the favor and find us fascinating. For every celebrity who goes out of his/her way to shout “Look at me! Look at me!”, there are half a dozen who wish the papparazzi and gossip columnists would just go away. If they DON’T talk about themselves, the public turns on them.
Celebrities and their followers each provide the other a service. Ultimately, yeah, it’s “about the work”, whether the “work” is acting, singing, playing a professional sport, or whatever. But with show-biz, at least, the entertainers are also marketing themselves (or rather, the industries are marketing the performers as well as the performances). If the public wants to (and gets to) read about you, they’ll buy your product. When they lose interest in your life, your career is also likely in serious danger.
It’s true that people who want to be the center of attention are drawn to the performing arts; a performer who doesn’t like performing starts from a tremendous disadvantage. That might mean they’re somewhat more “self-absorbed” than their peers, at least to the extent that they’re always aware of how they’re coming across, but it doesn’t necessarily make them shallow. If you took the guys you work with down at the warehouse (not that I assume you work in a warehouse), and told them that you wanted to publish an in-depth interview of them, complete with professionally-retouched photos, I’m sure some of them would leap at the chance, even though the finished product would read just as “shallow” as a Hollywood puff-piece.
These magazines sell because people buy them. The celebs put up with/cooperate with them, even the “scandal sheets” (within certain limits) because it’s good business.
Hillbillyman over 13 years ago
Celebutards.
Hormigator over 13 years ago
The work in this one is amazing!
palepink Premium Member over 13 years ago
Gene is Dan’s real father? Oh, come on.
lewisbower over 13 years ago
I would like to claim that it is only a few women I know. Unfortunately some are of the other gender.
RwB1 over 13 years ago
I love how the background spans all of the panels.
fritzoid Premium Member over 13 years ago
Celebrities, for the most part, are richer and better-looking than the rest of us. We envy their lives (we even fantasize about living their lives), but we also need reassurance that they, too, have personal problems to deal with. So stories about how happy they are and how unhappy they are both are newsworthy (well, let’s call it “gossipworthy”). It’s real-life Soap Opera, and it’s hardly new.
fritzoid Premium Member over 13 years ago
That being said, if it’s true that Jen is having Justin’s baby, I truly hope that (sniff) she’s on the road to happiness at long last. But that doesn’t mean I’m ready to forgive Angelina (the tramp).
fritzoid Premium Member over 13 years ago
Eldo, I think the “shallow and self-absorbed” comment comes from the fact that we’re obsessed with them, but the celebrities don’t return the favor and find us fascinating. For every celebrity who goes out of his/her way to shout “Look at me! Look at me!”, there are half a dozen who wish the papparazzi and gossip columnists would just go away. If they DON’T talk about themselves, the public turns on them.
Celebrities and their followers each provide the other a service. Ultimately, yeah, it’s “about the work”, whether the “work” is acting, singing, playing a professional sport, or whatever. But with show-biz, at least, the entertainers are also marketing themselves (or rather, the industries are marketing the performers as well as the performances). If the public wants to (and gets to) read about you, they’ll buy your product. When they lose interest in your life, your career is also likely in serious danger.
It’s true that people who want to be the center of attention are drawn to the performing arts; a performer who doesn’t like performing starts from a tremendous disadvantage. That might mean they’re somewhat more “self-absorbed” than their peers, at least to the extent that they’re always aware of how they’re coming across, but it doesn’t necessarily make them shallow. If you took the guys you work with down at the warehouse (not that I assume you work in a warehouse), and told them that you wanted to publish an in-depth interview of them, complete with professionally-retouched photos, I’m sure some of them would leap at the chance, even though the finished product would read just as “shallow” as a Hollywood puff-piece.
These magazines sell because people buy them. The celebs put up with/cooperate with them, even the “scandal sheets” (within certain limits) because it’s good business.
baileydean over 13 years ago
I, too, hate gossip… but I am guilty of reading the headlines as I go through the checkout line at the market.
fritzoid Premium Member over 13 years ago
shytimes, it’s good to see you too. :-)
I just find it ironic that we hate celebrity gossip journalism because it gives us exactly what he hate to admit we want. Like McDonald’s.
Today’s cartoon seems to be aware of the irony as well…