# Male equivalent of Paris Hilton/Kim Kardashian (famous for being famous)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 7, 2014, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147 "2014-03-07T21:10:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/81 "2014-03-10T11:45:24Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Plus, the the core of Hilton and Kardashian’s fame was their sex videos. Much like (straight) porn, the stars are the women, not the men. > > Note that the guys who fucked Paris and Kim didn’t get famous, as far as I know. [The guy who fucked Kim.](http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_J) ETA: Shoulda read further before posting. ---
**Author:** ![Donegal\_Dragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Donegal\_Dragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donegal_Dragon)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/82 "2014-03-10T14:01:15Z")
Monty Rock III went from hairdresser to talk show guest to Disco “artist” with only a great sense for self promotion ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/83 "2014-03-10T16:46:48Z")
Stephen Baldwin Michael Lohan (father of Lindsey) ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/84 "2014-03-10T23:48:45Z")
> [@Horatio\_Hellpop](#): > > Bob Uecker. Parlayed a really bad athletic career into lots of irritating beer commercials. Also a sports caster for the Brewers for 33 years, and on Mr. Belvedere for five years. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/85 "2014-03-11T01:56:49Z")
Rick Soloman isn’t a household name? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/86 "2014-03-11T03:04:22Z")
What did Bob Hope ever actually do, besides being Bob Hope? ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/87 "2014-03-11T03:36:36Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > What did Bob Hope ever actually do, besides being Bob Hope? Same with the Rat Pack, at least by the time I was born. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/88 "2014-03-11T05:55:20Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > What did Bob Hope ever actually do, besides being Bob Hope? He was a big movie star in his day. The road pictures he made with Bing Crosby were successful enough that they made seven of them. He was in a bunch of movies other than that. He also performed on TV and radio, was a stand-up comic, and hosted shows for the USO for decades. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/89 "2014-03-11T16:34:19Z")
I think the biggest problem everyone is having with this thread is trying to find people with staying power. K-fed is a great example of “random ass dude who had his 15 minutes” but he lasted just that…15 minutes. At least Kim has remained famous (for one reason or another), most of these guys I see posted are one-and-done’s ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/90 "2014-03-11T17:27:39Z")
So far, too many people are naming celebrities they dislike, rather than celebrities who don’t seem to have any accomplishments or jobs. Look, some may think George Clooney is a terrible actor, but we all know what he’s famous for! He’s starred in dozens of movies. Some may loathe Rush Limbaugh, but we all know what he’s famous for: he’s hosted a very successful radio show and written best selling books for decades. Bob Hope was a hugely successful radio, movie, and TV star. You think he was terrible? You’re entitled to your opinion, but don’t pretend you don’t know what he was famous for. You think ENrique Iglesias is a lousy singer? So do I, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s had a lot of hits. We know why he’s famous, even if we wish he weren’t. So far, the few names I’ve seen who qualify are: Kevin Federline George Hamilton Kato Kaelin John Kennedy Jr. Levi Johnson The Situation ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/91 "2014-03-11T17:30:12Z")
> [@Horatio\_Hellpop](#): > > Bob Uecker. Parlayed a really bad athletic career into lots of irritating beer commercials. …and a Hall of Fame broadcasting career. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/92 "2014-03-11T17:46:03Z")
> [@](#): > > Bob Hope was a hugely successful radio, movie, and TV star. You think he was terrible? You’re entitled to your opinion, but don’t pretend you don’t know what he was famous for. It’s not that I think he was terrible; it’s just that the last half of his career, which includes the entire portion when I was alive, consisted entirely of “And here’s Bob Hope, who is Bob Hope, and everyone knows who he is, because he’s Bob Hope”. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/93 "2014-03-11T17:52:32Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It’s not that I think he was terrible; it’s just that the last half of his career, which includes the entire portion when I was alive, consisted entirely of “And here’s Bob Hope, who is Bob Hope, and everyone knows who he is, because he’s Bob Hope”. But his TV specials got huge ratings. I agree they were pretty lame, but the man’s schtick was popular. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/94 "2014-03-13T02:06:33Z")
To say perhaps more clearly what I said before: just because someone acts, sings, does stand-up doesn’t mean that is what they are famous for. I’d say Joan Rivers (who isn’t a man) is famous for being famous, stand-up career and radio show notwithstanding – particularly since the latter came after she established herself as … as Joan Rivers ETA: A male example is Bennett Cerf; he was a panelist on _What’s My Line_, making him an official Famous Person, but he was famous because of _What’s My Line_. ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/95 "2014-03-13T03:05:56Z")
> [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](#): > > ETA: A male example is Bennett Cerf; he was a panelist on _What’s My Line_, making him an official Famous Person, but he was famous because of _What’s My Line_. Bennett Cerf co-founded the publishing company Random House and wrote best-selling joke books before he was ever on game shows. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/96 "2014-03-13T10:26:32Z")
> [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](#): > > Bennett Cerf co-founded the publishing company Random House and wrote best-selling joke books before he was ever on game shows. That says he was successful, rather than famous. I can’t think of any publishing founder I’d recognize on sight. And is it me or is this thread subconsciously sabotaging the guys? Say, for instance, Tom Arnold. He was famous for dating Roseanne. Yes, he’s done a crapload of stuff since, but so have Paris and Kim. So has Kato (I’m guessing). But before there were accomplishments to celebrate, they were famous. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/97 "2014-03-13T12:11:07Z")
> [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](#): > > ers > > ETA: A male example is Bennett Cerf; he was a panelist on _What’s My Line_, making him an official Famous Person, but he was famous because of _What’s My Line_. Ahhhh… game shows! Now THAT’S a place to find “celebrities” nobody’s ever heard of! I’m dating myself here, but I had no idea what Charlie Weaver or George Gobel ever did except sit in the lower left corner on _ **Hollywood Squares.** _ I can’t remember how many times I saw the “celebrities” on _ **$10,000 Pyramid** _ and wondered, “That’s a celebrity? Who the hell is he?” Invariably, it turned out the “celeb” was someone who’d been the second banana on a sitcom that had been off the air for 20 years or someone who’d spent a season on _ **Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In** _ after everyone had stopped watching. I have no idea what Arlene Francis or Kitty Carlisle or Peggy Cass were supposed to be famous for. Well, Kitty was MARRIED to a genuine celeb, but what did SHE ever do? ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/98 "2014-03-13T12:57:54Z")
Oh, I have the best example ever: [Jon Peters](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Peters) a man who parlayed being Streisand’s hairdresser into being big-time Hollywood producer. The man has no discernible talent other than hairdressing and networking. ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/99 "2014-03-13T15:06:24Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > That says he was successful, rather than famous. I can’t think of any publishing founder I’d recognize on sight. Hugh Hefner? ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/100 "2014-03-13T15:23:19Z")
For this thread it seems too easy to name someone who was “made famous” by being on TV when there was a good reason they were on TV to begin with, namely, they were successful. Otherwise, people like Johnnie Cochran or Carl Sagan could be named - obviously not the kind of people we’re looking for here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147.md?page=6)