# "Artists" corporations thought would be the Next Big Thing so they were pushed relentlessly? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 1, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-corporations-thought-would-be-the-next-big-thing-so-they-were-pushed-relentlessly/708699 "2015-01-01T18:33:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-corporations-thought-would-be-the-next-big-thing-so-they-were-pushed-relentlessly/708699/41 "2015-01-03T18:58:28Z")
Tammy Grimes has had a long, respectable career as a stage actress, which is nothing to sneeze at. I don’t remember her ever being pushed as The Next Big Star. Not in the USA, at least. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-corporations-thought-would-be-the-next-big-thing-so-they-were-pushed-relentlessly/708699/42 "2015-01-03T19:01:37Z")
Oh, going way back to the Seventies, I remember ABC TV trying VERY hard to turn Ann Jillian into the Next Big Sex Symbol. She’d had some success as a child actress, was nice looking, and had some genuine talent as a comedienne… but she never came close to living up to the hype. ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-corporations-thought-would-be-the-next-big-thing-so-they-were-pushed-relentlessly/708699/43 "2015-01-03T19:21:18Z")
I recall Piper Perabo being hyped as the next big star, but I think she disappeared from the mainstream as well. > [@RealityChuck](#): > > In 1968, MGM promoted several groups – Orpheus, The Beacon Street Union, The Ultimate Spinach, et al.-- together with the idea that the Boston music scene was as hip and groovy as the San Francisco scene of the time. The fact that no one has heard of these groups today shows how well it worked. Holy crap, this music is hilarious. If I ever want to spend the day listening to stuff that sounds exactly like Spinal Tap’s “Flower People”, now I know who to look up. > [@Don\_Draper](#): > > Terence Trent Darby - his debut album was launched with a massive, massive PR push. He was touted as being the new, improved versions of Michael Jackson AND Prince. The public disagreed apparently. Or… maybe the public thought that one Michael Jackson and Prince was quite enough (or more than enough) already. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-corporations-thought-would-be-the-next-big-thing-so-they-were-pushed-relentlessly/708699/44 "2015-01-03T19:56:05Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Oh, going way back to the Seventies, I remember ABC TV trying VERY hard to turn Ann Jillian into the Next Big Sex Symbol. > > She’d had some success as a child actress, was nice looking, and had some genuine talent as a comedienne… but she never came close to living up to the hype. The double mastectomy right when her career was starting to get some legs probably had something to do with it. ---
**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:** [January 3, 2015, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-corporations-thought-would-be-the-next-big-thing-so-they-were-pushed-relentlessly/708699/45 "2015-01-03T20:08:06Z")
FWIW, Tammy Grimes was a big Broadway star, winning a couple of Tonys. There was no particular reason to believe he couldn’t have been a bigger Hollywood or TV star, but she was given a terrible vehicle in her sitcom and just couldn’t make the transition (and probably didn’t want to). ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-corporations-thought-would-be-the-next-big-thing-so-they-were-pushed-relentlessly/708699/46 "2015-01-03T20:47:40Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#): > > I recall Piper Perabo being hyped as the next big star, but I think she disappeared from the mainstream as well. \ She currently stars in the TV series [Covert Affairs](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1495708/?ref_=nv_sr_1). I’ve liked her ever since [Coyote Ugly](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0200550/?ref_=nm_knf_i4). ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-corporations-thought-would-be-the-next-big-thing-so-they-were-pushed-relentlessly/708699/47 "2015-01-03T21:51:01Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Oh, going way back to the Seventies, I remember ABC TV trying VERY hard to turn Ann Jillian into the Next Big Sex Symbol. > > She’d had some success as a child actress, was nice looking, and had some genuine talent as a comedienne… but she never came close to living up to the hype. She’s best known for being a breast cancer survivor. She had a baby a few years later, and pretty much disappeared from the scene after that. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-corporations-thought-would-be-the-next-big-thing-so-they-were-pushed-relentlessly/708699/48 "2015-01-03T23:22:43Z")
[Sigue Sigue Sputnik](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigue_Sigue_Sputnik) was a band that intentionally tried to ride a wave of marketing and hype to fame. They released an intentionally repetitive, low-quality (but fun in a weird novelty-ish way) record, marketed it aggressively, and tried to become famous as an anti-corporate commentary about hype and marketing becoming more important than talent or art. It didn’t work. I still can’t decide whether that means they won or lost. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-corporations-thought-would-be-the-next-big-thing-so-they-were-pushed-relentlessly/708699/49 "2015-01-03T23:49:51Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > [Sigue Sigue Sputnik](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigue_Sigue_Sputnik) was a band that intentionally tried to ride a wave of marketing and hype to fame. They released an intentionally repetitive, low-quality (but fun in a weird novelty-ish way) record, marketed it aggressively, and tried to become famous as an anti-corporate commentary about hype and marketing becoming more important than talent or art. > > It didn’t work. I still can’t decide whether that means they won or lost. I had considered mentioning them too. TYVM! When I actually heard them at long last, I knew they would flop miserably. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-corporations-thought-would-be-the-next-big-thing-so-they-were-pushed-relentlessly/708699/50 "2015-01-04T00:34:33Z")
> [@Ruby](#): > > [Piper Perabo] currently stars in the TV series [Covert Affairs](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1495708/?ref_=nv_sr_1). I’ve liked her ever since [Coyote Ugly](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0200550/?ref_=nm_knf_i4). She also had a nice part in the sf thriller _Looper_ a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-corporations-thought-would-be-the-next-big-thing-so-they-were-pushed-relentlessly/708699/51 "2015-01-04T01:37:18Z")
**The Knack** was supposed to be the second coming of the Beatles. Still waiting. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-corporations-thought-would-be-the-next-big-thing-so-they-were-pushed-relentlessly/708699/52 "2015-01-04T05:45:38Z")
Anyone remember the KISS solo albums? This was supposed to launch all their solo careers. Didn’t quite work that way. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-corporations-thought-would-be-the-next-big-thing-so-they-were-pushed-relentlessly/708699/53 "2015-01-04T06:08:11Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > You have me there. Better than Bassey for my money. Love _Thunderball_ because the movie’s title is wedged into it senselessly, except the Academy used to require the title in the lyrics so you couldn’t offer up any hit song for an Oscar. See: _Against All Odds._ I’m pretty sure you’re wrong about that. In fact, it would be a good trivia question to name the Oscar-winning songs that _did_ contain the movie’s title. And it sure didn’t help _To Sir, With Love_, which in a travesty of a mockery of a sham, wasn’t even nominated. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-corporations-thought-would-be-the-next-big-thing-so-they-were-pushed-relentlessly/708699/54 "2015-01-04T06:21:02Z")
What? No mention of _ **Girls** _, and the **Lena Dunham** publicity machine? I remember a massive publicity push before that show ever aired. Seemed like Salon and Slate had daily articles about Dunham and the show. It was really obnoxious the way they were pushing it. Connections? Nepotism? Paid publicity? Who knows? But the hype was (and remains, to a lesser degree) overwhelming and off-putting. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-corporations-thought-would-be-the-next-big-thing-so-they-were-pushed-relentlessly/708699/55 "2015-01-04T09:59:44Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > And it sure didn’t help _To Sir, With Love_, which in a travesty of a mockery of a sham, wasn’t even nominated. Nor, from that same year, was[_In the Heat of the NIght_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUulr8w3FPY) even though the film it was from won Best Picture. Anyway, I know I’m getting way off-topic but the Academy in 1967 also didn’t nominate “Mrs. Robinson” or anything else from \*\*The Graduate \*\*soundtrack. Just for comparison, here’s what was nominated: “Talk to the Animals” from **Doctor Dolittle** — Leslie Bricusse (music and lyrics) (Winner) “The Bare Necessities” from \*\*The Jungle Book \*\*— Terry Gilkyson (music and lyrics) “The Eyes of Love” from **Banning** — Quincy Jones (music) and Bob Russell (lyrics) “The Look of Love” from **Casino Royale** — Burt Bacharach (music) and Hal David (lyrics) “Thoroughly Modern Millie” from \*\*Thoroughly Modern Millie \*\*— Jimmy Van Heusen (music) and Sammy Cahn (lyrics) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-corporations-thought-would-be-the-next-big-thing-so-they-were-pushed-relentlessly/708699/56 "2015-01-04T13:34:33Z")
I was trying to discuss this with my teenage son - I likened targets of hype to a soccer offense: wave after wave of attempt, with some embarrassing fails, a few near-misses and the occasional goal. But you can watch “the machine” go into motion and throw attempt after attempt at the “goal”… ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-corporations-thought-would-be-the-next-big-thing-so-they-were-pushed-relentlessly/708699/57 "2015-01-04T13:59:14Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > What? No mention of _ **Girls** _, and the **Lena Dunham** publicity machine? > > I remember a massive publicity push before that show ever aired. Seemed like Salon and Slate had daily articles about Dunham and the show. It was really obnoxious the way they were pushing it. Connections? Nepotism? Paid publicity? Who knows? But the hype was (and remains, to a lesser degree) overwhelming and off-putting. I don’t know…like her or hate her, I think she already has happened… ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-corporations-thought-would-be-the-next-big-thing-so-they-were-pushed-relentlessly/708699/58 "2015-01-04T15:41:46Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Oh, going way back to the Seventies, I remember ABC TV trying VERY hard to turn Ann Jillian into the Next Big Sex Symbol. She was going to be the next Marilyn Monroe. I remember being a little confused about why she was getting so much attention. This was the first time I became aware of celebrity hype. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-corporations-thought-would-be-the-next-big-thing-so-they-were-pushed-relentlessly/708699/59 "2015-01-04T15:58:18Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > I’m pretty sure you’re wrong about that. I sure am! > [@Academy Rules](#): > > Original Song: > An original song consists of words and music, both of which are original and **written specifically for the motion picture**. There must be a clearly audible, intelligible, substantive rendition (not necessarily visually presented) of both lyric and melody, used in the body of the motion picture or as the first music cue in the end credits. Emphasis theirs. [http://www.oscars.org/sites/default/files/87aa\_rules.pdf](http://www.oscars.org/sites/default/files/87aa_rules.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-corporations-thought-would-be-the-next-big-thing-so-they-were-pushed-relentlessly/708699/60 "2015-01-04T16:17:24Z")
Julian Lennon just never seemed to clear the trees at the end of the runway. The 2001 winners of Popstars US, Eden’s Crush, were all the rage until the end of the season, and after all the fans bought the CD and realized it only had the one good song on it, they just fell apart. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-corporations-thought-would-be-the-next-big-thing-so-they-were-pushed-relentlessly/708699.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-corporations-thought-would-be-the-next-big-thing-so-they-were-pushed-relentlessly/708699.md?page=4)