How celebrity status is attained – Part 1

When will America re-align its collective values and begin to place celebrity status where it really belongs? Who decided that someone with exceptional God-given physical ability, which we define as athleticism, is worth the exorbitant salaries which they receive? Who decided that the entertainment community should command such outrageous salaries? Why have Americans become so enamored with “stardom” that we lose sight of reality for a taste of fantasy. Why does the entertainment industry have to have so many awards show to further perpetuate the enormous egos of the already overpaid entertainers?

There is often such a thin line between the athlete who manages to cross the line from amateur to professional and he who falls just short, never achieving a life-long dream. Yet one is rewarded with undreamed of wealth while the other may end up with a seemingly meaningless 9 to 5 job. Similarly, with actors and entertainers, one’s career may hinge on an “experts” opinion of whether he or she has the “it” quality. Many of todays celebrity athletes are able to achieve greater success for reasons that go beyond athleticism. For some, it was circumstance, being in the right place at the right time. For some, it may have been performance enhancing substances. For some, it was being surrounded by great players who made them appear better than they might otherwise have been (e.g. Heisman Trophy winners who never succeeded in professional football).

“American Idol” chooses a wannabe celebrity by a popular vote. History has shown that very few of these winners have gone on to true celebrity status as measured by their recording success. Many of these stars have been outshone by those who were not chosen.

Actors and actresses often attain their celebrity by their appearance as much as by their talent. Who is the most famous “ugly” person you know? Talent might better be measured by those who succeed in live performances than on the “big screen”. Who among us has the opportunity for retakes in our jobs until we get it right. Does the surgeon get a do-over if he amputates the limb of the wrong patient? Does the pharmacist get a do-over if he places the wrong medication in the vial or in the patient’s IV bag? Does the auto mechanic get a do-over if he forgets to refill the brake fluid, resulting in a fatal crash? Given enough do-overs, most of us could give a pretty convincing performance. And if that’s not enough, should an actor be incapable