Watching New Celebs

As I was finishing the slide show for today’s in-class presentation (it went wonderfully, thanks for asking), I realized I would be blogging late again and probably wouldn’t be able to do much research. So what is a gal to do when she doesn’t have any material? Make shit up, that’s what. So today’s topic: what defines a “new” celebrity? Where do we make that distinction?

Obviously, household names that have been around for a decade (or more) aren’t new. Madonna: Not New. Beyoncé: Not New. Blondie: Not New. But what about people like America Ferrera, who has earned critical & public accolades for her recent work but has been around for a few years (Real Women Have Curves was 2002 & The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was 2005)? Are child stars like Dakota Fanning, whose first role was an episode of E.R. in 2000 when she was just 6 years old, considered new as long as they’re still children? How many albums does an individual or band need to release before they’re not “new” anymore? Two? Three? Is Joss Stone, who won a Grammy for Best New Artist in 2005 and has just released her third album, still considered a new celebrity?

I’ve been going on gut feeling and general “breaking onto the scene” as a guideline up to this point, but I’d like some input.

As always, leaving a comment entitles you to a random CD from my collection. E-mail your address to me: jen[at]gonzopants[dot]com after you comment so I can send you one. Limit one per person, while supplies last. Anna, yours will go out tomorrow. Everyone else: e-mail me. Tonya, you get one next time you come to my apartment. No, I will not tell you which one :-p

Joss Stone, Dakota Fanning, E.R., music, movies, Beyonce, Madonna, Blondie, pop music, British artists, America Ferrera, Ugly Betty, television

As I was finishing the slide show for today’s in-class presentation (it went wonderfully, thanks for asking), I realized I would be blogging late again and probably wouldn’t be able to do much research. So what is a gal to do when she doesn’t have any material? Make shit up, that’s what. So today’s topic: what defines a “new” celebrity? Where do we make that distinction?

Obviously, household names that have been around for a decade (or more) aren’t new. Madonna: Not New. Beyoncé: Not New. Blondie: Not New. But what about people like America Ferrera, who has earned critical & public accolades for her recent work but has been around for a few years (Real Women Have Curves was 2002 & The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was 2005)? Are child stars like Dakota Fanning, whose first role was an episode of E.R. in 2000 when she was just 6 years old, considered new as long as they’re still children? How many albums does an individual or band need to release before they’re not “new” anymore? Two? Three? Is Joss Stone, who won a Grammy for Best New Artist in 2005 and has just released her third album, still considered a new celebrity?

I’ve been going on gut feeling and general “breaking onto the scene” as a guideline up to this point, but I’d like some input.

As always, leaving a comment entitles you to a random CD from my collection. E-mail your address to me: jen[at]gonzopants[dot]com after you comment so I can send you one. Limit one per person, while supplies last. Anna, yours will go out tomorrow. Everyone else: e-mail me. Tonya, you get one next time you come to my apartment. No, I will not tell you which one :-p

Joss Stone, Dakota Fanning, E.R., music, movies, Beyonce, Madonna, Blondie, pop music, British artists, America Ferrera, Ugly Betty, television

When I posted about the Kooks, reader DaveP of Pop Buzz UK told me to check out Bloc Party. They’re playing at Portland’s Crystal Ballroom later this month (13 March) and you know, I like them. Thanks, DaveP!

British pop, Bloc Party, The Kooks, Crystal Ballroom, McMenamin’s, Portland, Oregon, music, youtube videos, music videos

People, the favorite rag of celebrity parents who want to get big bucks from their children’s photos, has produced yet another exclusive offspring shoot, this time of Patrick Dempsey’s twin sons Sullivan & Darby. While I don’t advocate the paparazzi-style familial stalking that leads to so many photos of celebrity children (and angers new parents - remember when Sarah-Jessica Parker made them back off her kid?), I think that stars are smart to get money for shots that would be taken anyway, and People tends to do it in a classy way. I wish all the best to the Dempsey family.
Edit: Friday 3:15 p.m. Well I got a notice of copyright infringement from People, as forwarded by the guys at 451Press.com, so I had to remove the photo. If you want to see them, you’ll have to go to www.people.com or get a copy of the magazine.

Patrick Dempsey, McDreamy, Grey’s Anatomy, celebrity offspring