When I was a kid I had posters of the Australian Cricket Team on my wall, they were famous and I nearly died the day I got Craig Mcdermot’s (Australia’s Pace Bowler) autograph on my school hat. The word celebrity has been so cheapened and watered down over the years thats its lost all lustre and meaning.
To the point these days where we have an unnatural obsession with knowing whose doing what, when and where. To pedastool pedestal a “Celebrity ” is a dangerous practice, that at my guess wont give you much in return and waste your valuable time. Today’s 5 minute of famer has extended their welcome for more than we should have let them, filling our magazines with gossip, our TV screens with rumor and our minds with junk.
Now I’m a fan of many, Jamie Oliver, Tom Hanks and Merryl Streep come to mind. All of which I’d love to have over for dinner, meet and get a photo and autograph. I’d ask them about their families, their dreams and secrets to success.
I’m keen to hear how they made it and learn from their success, not so I can replicate their fame, but to see how they tick, operate and see the story behind the facade that is the life of the rich and famous. As a radio announcer Ive met plenty of actual celebs, people who are known for doing their thing, and doing it well. Are they all nice? NO! A particular interview with a little Aussie Band INXS springs to mind where the guys were wearing Sunglasses at 7 in the morning, to which I asked them why? Cause we’re in a band was the harsh reply. Whatever! I had no interest in learning more.
But when I met Deisel, Johny Young, Troy Casser Daly and Russel Crowe, all lovely, all good family men who gave me the time of day, and treated me like an average guy, they were a delight to meet.
Famous for Famous sake, this is where it get’s Dangerous. The Chick Chick Boom Girl, The Cast of Jersey Shore and the 4th Runner Up on Beauty and the Geek, all nice people I’m sure but not worth your effort to follow, tweet, obsess over and chat about at the water cooler.
How about instead of those who wont enrich your life, you get to know those that may, and probably even can. The old lady across the street, the girl who makes your coffee at Gloria Jeans every day (Hi Sandy and Wendy), the lady behind the deli counter who givers your kids free Cheerios every time you visit (thanks Berryl, the kids talked about all the way home.)
Maybe a little less time on the Gossip mags, and a bit more on those you pass in the street everyday for a change. Sure a little Celeb Action is good, even healthy, but not at the expense of those who count.
Pop Quiz
See if you recognise any of these 15 Minute of Famers.
- Evan and Bella, My Restaurant rules
- Vesna, Big Brother
- Cat White, Biggest Loser
- Sara & Lachlan, Beauty and the Geek