Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Less than 20 years ago this headline would have made little sense to the average man on the street.
Of course, no one then could have even anticipated or predicted the rise in the phenomenon that is reality television. But, as it stands, here we are today. Some of today’s biggest icons and celebrities have a rather interesting claim to fame: being famous for being famous.
Boy … does that mess with your mind! After all, the accepted definition of a celebrity is a talented individual with ‘distinction and stardom’. I never knew releasing a naughty tape or leading an extravagant lifestyle counted as ‘talent’ or ‘distinction’ but if judging by the content of ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians’ it appears I’ve been living under a rock.
While many talented musicians remain confined to the hallowed halls of mere YouTube cover uploads, we devote thousands of hours of airtime to the likes of Paris Hilton. I’ve recently become obsessed with Celebrity Big Brother.
The enthrallingly unrealistic levels of drama and bickering provide a perfect injection to my already high levels of procrastination. But besides the usual escapism, I was fascinated to watch the calibre of ‘celebrities’ that have graced the house with their presence.
Of course, you have the one hit wonders and the retired soap opera stars. The increasingly number of ‘famous for being famous’ stars has skyrocketed.
In Season 15 we have a Puerto Rican former lawyer famous for having many tattoos. Yes, you read that correctly. Famous for being tattooed. There’s also a woman who spent a million dollars on plastic surgery in the hopes of looking like Barbie.
A handsome American man who’s best known for being the son of a footballer. The list goes on and on. And, if that’s all it takes to be famous, then here goes. Quick, grab a camera! I’m about to throw rocks at that truck over there.
Better start packing for the Big Brother house because in this day and age it appears that just might be enough to be considered ‘famous’.
Editor’s note: I’ve told him not to otherwise his days of Youth Talk fame will be numbered …
