# What is "Permanent A-List" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 2, 2014, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120 "2014-12-02T14:36:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Carryon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Carryon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carryon)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/1 "2014-12-02T14:36:42Z")
I am not up on current celebrities but I read a blind item and they described the singer at “permanent A-list” I know “A-list” all right but what makes someone “permanent A-list”? My guess for a “permanent A-list” singer would be someone like Paul McCartney or Barbra Streisand, but I could be wrong. Could someone give me some examples of who you think are permanent A-list singers actors etc? Thanks? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/2 "2014-12-02T15:19:09Z")
For actors, “permanent A-list” is what you used to call “movie stars”. Like, real ones. The kind of movie stars where you could ask somebody “Hey, have you seen the new \_\_\_\_ movie?” Because the star can carry a movie just on name. Will Smith is starting to slide out of there, so I guess maybe “permanent” isn’t quite as permanent as you’d think. But Tom Cruise, George Clooney, Denzel Washington. You know, _stars_. (They also tend to be “stars” rather than “actors”.) ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/3 "2014-12-02T15:30:21Z")
The first person I thought of was Elizabeth Taylor. Pretty much retired for the last 20-25 years of her life, but never off the A-list. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/4 "2014-12-02T15:35:57Z")
Or the likes of De Niro and Pacino. A lot of stinkers in the last decade, but, they are still huge names. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/5 "2014-12-02T15:43:03Z")
Paul Newman was on the Permanent A-list. Meryl Streep probably is. Mel Gibson was a contender, but he blew it. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/6 "2014-12-02T16:28:32Z")
I’ve never heard singers, just actors, described as “A-List.” Maybe Sting or Elton John? ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/7 "2014-12-02T17:07:05Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > The first person I thought of was Elizabeth Taylor. Pretty much retired for the last 20-25 years of her life, but never off the A-list. This is a good example - someone who stopped and remained “A-List”. I can think of examples of people who could stop and IMHO would remain “A-List”, but we really wouldn’t know until they did it, yah? Maybe [Jack Nicholson](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000197/?ref_=nv_sr_1#actor), he hasn’t released a movie since 2010 and doesn’t have any upcoming? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/8 "2014-12-02T17:25:41Z")
Sean Connery, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/9 "2014-12-02T18:13:23Z")
To me, “permanent A-list” denotes those people who are still considered A-list for historical reasons. Their recent output generally not deserving of the term. My candidate: Liza Minnelli. She hasn’t done any real acting since 1981 (parodying herself in _Arrested Development_ hardly counts). Her singing appearances in recent years are not considered very good in quality. But she did a few good things decades ago and is Judy Garland’s daughter. So she’s A-list. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/10 "2014-12-02T19:26:40Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > I’ve never heard singers, just actors, described as “A-List.” > > Maybe Sting or Elton John? I would say McCartney, Dylan, and Jagger for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/11 "2014-12-02T19:54:07Z")
No way is Liza Minnelli A-list. ---
**Author:** ![AnthonyElite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@AnthonyElite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnthonyElite)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/12 "2014-12-02T20:48:59Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Sean Connery, maybe? As a singer, right? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/13 "2014-12-02T20:56:30Z")
I suppose “permanent A-list” is the select few who have become almost royalty in their field - their history is sufficient to sustain their fame, regardless of the quality of what they currently do. Eastwood, Redford, Bowie, McCartney, the Stones etc. Tom Hanks is probably just about there. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/14 "2014-12-02T20:59:23Z")
Somebody who has a large quantity of high quality work or at least truly memorable work that can rest on their laurels. Burt Reynolds was the top box office star in the world for most of a decade but he’s a has-been because most of the work wasn’t quality (_Smokey and the Bandit_, _Cannonball Run_, _Stroker Ace_). Tom Cruise has had his share of flops and personal :rolleyes: moments, but even though he’s not considered one of the all time great actors I’d say he’s permanent A-list because he pulled his weight in high quality offerings or cult-films (_Top Gun_, _Rainman_, _Risky Business_, etc.). ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Dracula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/54ee81/32.png) [@Count\_Dracula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Dracula)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/15 "2014-12-02T21:18:36Z")
I especially like “Type A” blood types! A pos is the best. Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/16 "2014-12-02T22:32:23Z")
The late Bob Hope was Permanent A List. A.K.A. Hollywood Royalty. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/17 "2014-12-03T03:41:36Z")
Marlon Brando Frank Sinatra Dustin Hoffman ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/18 "2014-12-03T04:00:46Z")
A lot of people think Barry Manilow. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/19 "2014-12-03T05:06:18Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > A lot of people think Barry Manilow. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! That’s funny, right there! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Carryon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Carryon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carryon)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120/20 "2014-12-03T09:22:36Z")
Thanks for the replies, I get it now. It’d be interesting to see the “permanent A-list” celebs in different countries. For instance, I would venture Cliff Richard, who is pretty big in Europe and well pretty much everywhere other than North America, would be “A-list,” in some countries. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-permanent-a-list/706120.md?page=2)