# A-List vs B-list Criteria

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-vs-b-list-criteria/620499>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [May 1, 2012, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-vs-b-list-criteria/620499 "2012-05-01T12:29:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-vs-b-list-criteria/620499/1 "2012-05-01T12:29:32Z")

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Is there any generally accepted criteria as to what qualifies a celebrity as an “A-Lister?” Some stars are obvious: Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Ewan McGregor. But at what point does a stars’ career fade enough to count as B-list?

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**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-vs-b-list-criteria/620499/2 "2012-05-03T14:58:55Z")

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I guess not.

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-list-vs-b-list-criteria/620499/3 "2012-05-03T15:02:05Z")

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When people say, “X? Who’s that?”

It’s part of the life cycle of a Hollywood star:

1. Who’s John Smith?
2. Get me John Smith.
3. Get me a John Smith type.
4. Get me a young John Smith.
5. Who’s John Smith?

Once you pass number 4, you’re on the B list.