# Whose success (or at least fame) do you simply not understand? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 15, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-success-or-at-least-fame-do-you-simply-not-understand/574823 "2011-03-15T19:19:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-success-or-at-least-fame-do-you-simply-not-understand/574823/81 "2011-03-18T18:35:25Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Why is the word “other” in that bolded sentence? > [@gazpacho](#): > > I am not sure what you are getting at > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Snooki isn’t cute. She’s not even as good looking as Kim Kardassian. What he said. ---
**Author:** ![Khaki\_Campbell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Khaki\_Campbell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khaki_Campbell)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-success-or-at-least-fame-do-you-simply-not-understand/574823/82 "2011-03-18T19:12:40Z")
> [@Waenara](#): > > Basically, her whole “job” in life is to be a celebrity based on her looks. And with a great helping from the developers at Adobe. ---
**Author:** ![kbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kbear)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-success-or-at-least-fame-do-you-simply-not-understand/574823/83 "2011-03-18T21:13:29Z")
I will never in a million years understand the fame of Katie Price. To be described as a glamour model seems to me to be the most vapid, useless existence. Who exactly has been watching her reality shows the last 5 or 6 years? I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-success-or-at-least-fame-do-you-simply-not-understand/574823/84 "2011-03-18T21:23:52Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > You forgot the sex tape. That seems to be the formula. Have name recognition, money you didn’t work for, a sex tape, and nothing better to do than to be pimped out. I didn’t forget it, but you’re right, I ignored it. Both do have a sex tape as a common means for generating hype prior to their reality shows. I ignored it because I doubt that a sex tape from a nobody without name recognition would have been so popular, or at least identifiable. But you are correct, the sex tape probably played a factor in making each of them known individually as opposed to just a last name connection. It generates a “buzz” about the person that translates into identification of the individual, i.e. name recognition. > [@kbear](#): > > I will never in a million years understand the fame of Katie Price. To be described as a glamour model seems to me to be the most vapid, useless existence. Who exactly has been watching her reality shows the last 5 or 6 years? I don’t get it. Didn’t she get her first bit of attention for being a “page 3” girl, i.e. starting in soft porn (showing off her tits)? She parlayed that into the “glamour model” position and reality show persona. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-success-or-at-least-fame-do-you-simply-not-understand/574823/85 "2011-03-18T21:31:42Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > \*\*Whose success (or at least fame) do you simply not understand? \*\* > > Nicolas Cage. One day someone will have to explain that to me. He’s actually a pretty talented actor in some things. Adaptation, for example. Really fine, sensitive, funny, moving performance, IMO. ---
**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 18, 2011, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-success-or-at-least-fame-do-you-simply-not-understand/574823/86 "2011-03-18T22:29:11Z")
There’s a difference between being an untalented performer and being a “no particular reason”. When one refers to Mr. Cage, for instance, one might say “Actor Nicholas Cage…”, for instance. Or “Singer Britney Spears…”. But when one refers to Kim Kardashian, it’s just “Celebrity Kim Kardashian…”. At most. ---
**Author:** ![wonder\_lust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecccb3/32.png) [@wonder\_lust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonder_lust)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-success-or-at-least-fame-do-you-simply-not-understand/574823/87 "2011-03-18T23:45:15Z")
The shreiking Sam Kinison I imagine someone here will defend him. It won’t change my mind. I don’t get it. That jackass Andrew Dice Clay Huge fan base. Huge creep. Gilbert God Awful Gottfried Along the lines of Kinison in that I can’t tolerate the noise that comes out of him. Glad Aflac fired him. Don’t know why they hired him. (Because he can sound like a nasaly duck? Me too. Who cares?) ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-success-or-at-least-fame-do-you-simply-not-understand/574823/88 "2011-03-18T23:47:16Z")
> [@wonder\_lust](#): > > The shreiking Sam Kinison > That jackass Andrew Dice Clay > Gilbert God Awful Gottfried So what’s life like back there in 1988? ---
**Author:** ![wonder\_lust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecccb3/32.png) [@wonder\_lust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonder_lust)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-success-or-at-least-fame-do-you-simply-not-understand/574823/89 "2011-03-19T00:00:11Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > So what’s life like back there in 1988? NEON! Come on… you gotta give me Gilbert. I mean he’s been in the news recently. He inspired my other choices. ---
**Author:** ![giuseppgold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/51bf81/32.png) [@giuseppgold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/giuseppgold)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-success-or-at-least-fame-do-you-simply-not-understand/574823/90 "2011-03-20T20:59:51Z")
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**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-success-or-at-least-fame-do-you-simply-not-understand/574823/91 "2011-03-21T17:10:35Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > There’s a difference between being an untalented performer and being a “no particular reason”. When one refers to Mr. Cage, for instance, one might say “Actor Nicholas Cage…”, for instance. Or “Singer Britney Spears…”. But when one refers to Kim Kardashian, it’s just “Celebrity Kim Kardashian…”. At most. This. There’s a difference between disagreeing with a general consensus of the degree of talent a performer has, and being famous without any basis at all. You may not care for Nicholas Cage, but he’s an Oscar-winning actor, for Pete’s sake. Of course he’s famous. You may not care for Justin Timberlake (personally, I couldn’t pick him out of a line-up or recognize a song by him if you played it a dozen times), but even I know he was a lead singer for a boy band. Snooki or Kardashian, otoh, don’t _do_ anything, as far as I know. Anyone who is introduced as “reality TV star so-and-so” rather than “musician/singer/actor/athlete so-and-so” is rather puzzling. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-success-or-at-least-fame-do-you-simply-not-understand/574823/92 "2011-03-21T17:15:03Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > I didn’t forget it, but you’re right, I ignored it. Both do have a sex tape as a common means for generating hype prior to their reality shows. I ignored it because I doubt that a sex tape from a nobody without name recognition would have been so popular, or at least identifiable. But you are correct, the sex tape probably played a factor in making each of them known individually as opposed to just a last name connection. It generates a “buzz” about the person that translates into identification of the individual, i.e. name recognition. Well, remember that the other person in the sex tape is a minor celebrity, as well. RayJ is a not-particularly-talented singer who is also “famous” for being the brother of singer/actress Brandy. That may have contributed, at least a little, to Kardashian’s fame. For me, though? [Russell Brand](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1258970/). Not funny, can’t act. Why is he famous? Other than being married to Katy Perry, he has NOTHING going for him. I’d advance the notion that Brand made a deal with the devil, but that would indicate that Satan actually saw something in Russell Brand that he would want in exchange. I’d rather masturbate with a cheese grater than listen to one syllable come out of Russell Brand’s mouth. And now he’s in the remake of [Arthur](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1334512/)! What lobotomized abortion thought THAT was a good idea? There was no reason to remake the movie to begin with, but holy-fucking-god! There’s no justice in Hollywood. Someone like Greg Giraldo dies, and Russell Brand won’t. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-success-or-at-least-fame-do-you-simply-not-understand/574823/93 "2011-03-21T21:49:01Z")
Dude, Russel Brand is freaking _hilarious_. He was approximately half the reason to watch Forgetting Sarah Marshall (which is, BTW, an awesome movie). But yeah, I can see how he wouldn’t be universally liked. I mean, not everybody can be Ray Romano.😃 _ducks and runs_ ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-success-or-at-least-fame-do-you-simply-not-understand/574823/94 "2011-03-22T00:19:30Z")
The weird thing about Snooki is how gross she and her friends are. I caught a piece of one episode where Snooki and friends were at a club. One of them had to pee, but didn’t want to walk down stairs in heels, so she peed on the floor!! In a preview, Snooki says that she shits her pants regularly. I don’t think she was kidding. How can girls not think she’s just gross? That said, I saw her on a talk show and she was charming. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-success-or-at-least-fame-do-you-simply-not-understand/574823/95 "2011-03-22T02:41:10Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > But yeah, I can see how he wouldn’t be universally liked. I mean, not everybody can be Ray Romano.😃 If Ray Romano were on fire in the middle of the street, not only would I NOT piss on him to put him out, but I’d take up smoking just to light one off of his charred corpse. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-success-or-at-least-fame-do-you-simply-not-understand/574823/96 "2011-03-22T03:04:37Z")
That puppet insult dog, and anyone else who uses puppets or dummies. ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-success-or-at-least-fame-do-you-simply-not-understand/574823/97 "2011-03-22T04:13:55Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Are some people really that confused when someone is famous for being extremely attractive, like Kim Kardashian? Well, I’m confused that she’s famous because I don’t think she’s very good looking. Each to their own though. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-success-or-at-least-fame-do-you-simply-not-understand/574823/98 "2011-03-22T04:17:51Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > There’s a difference between being an untalented performer and being a “no particular reason”. When one refers to Mr. Cage, for instance, one might say “Actor Nicholas Cage…”, for instance. Or “Singer Britney Spears…”. But when one refers to Kim Kardashian, it’s just “Celebrity Kim Kardashian…”. At most. That Ass Kim Kardashian. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-success-or-at-least-fame-do-you-simply-not-understand/574823/99 "2011-03-22T04:41:58Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > I didn’t forget it, but you’re right, I ignored it. Both do have a sex tape as a common means for generating hype prior to their reality shows. I ignored it because I doubt that a sex tape from a nobody without name recognition would have been so popular, or at least identifiable. But you are correct, the sex tape probably played a factor in making each of them known individually as opposed to just a last name connection. It generates a “buzz” about the person that translates into identification of the individual, i.e. name recognition. Wasn’t she a buddy of Paris Hilton? I thought that’s how she first got some press coverage and then exploited the heck out of it. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-success-or-at-least-fame-do-you-simply-not-understand/574823/100 "2011-03-22T06:24:58Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Except the copy guy. Makes up for a lot. The Stoidmeister! > [@Dr.Rieux](#): > > Vince Vaughn. > He has no range, just a terrible, annoying voice, with which he rambles on and on, saying nothing interesting. Vince is one of those guys who thinks he’s funnier than he is, but I’ve seen him in some good movies. > [@markm](#): > > To keep with the thread, I’d say a comedian I don’t get being famous, it would be Dane Cook. No original material, the material he stole wasn’t really even funny. All he had going for him was looks, especially in a career where most of the competition is a bit odd looking. > > Rob Schneider is also one I don’t get the hate for. He’s not the greatest actor and he can grate on you, but he does deliver the goods. Honestly, I couldn’t stand him until I saw him in The Benchwarmers, then I realized, “Okay, so that’s how he’s made it. He has talent, he just hasn’t been asked to use it.” I actually like Dane Cook, Rob Schneider, & Vince Vaughn, even though I don’t like all their material. I don’t find their success that strange. > [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > One I can’t understand is Sarah Jessica Parker. Nort remotely attractive and not a particularly good actress. :rolleyes: > [@EvilTOJ](#): > > The Kardashians\* are famous because they were on that one Star Trek show, the one on a space station instead of a ship or something. Paris Hilton is a coke-filled butterface who I wouldn’t kick out of bed if I found her in mine, but also wouldn’t get a second look from me if she walked by at the mall. Beaten to it. > [@Waenara](#): > > I agree with **GuanoLad** - Kim Kardashian is quite ordinary if left to her own naturalness. Rather than asking for pictures of more attractive women, you should look for pictures of Kim Kardashian without all her makeup on. She’s definitely not _ugly_ - she is pretty and has good bone structure, but without makeup I know several girls IRL who are better looking than her. > > Pics of Kim Kardashian without makeup: > > [http://www.topsocialite.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/kim-kardashian-no-make-up-1.jpg](http://www.topsocialite.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/kim-kardashian-no-make-up-1.jpg) > > [http://1.bp.blogspot.com/\_JFX5\_9i0Xng/S\_E9ji5P5LI/AAAAAAAAD-E/FzZ37-KZhgs/s1600/Kim\_Kardashian\_Nude\_Without\_Makeup%252B2.jpg](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JFX5_9i0Xng/S_E9ji5P5LI/AAAAAAAAD-E/FzZ37-KZhgs/s1600/Kim_Kardashian_Nude_Without_Makeup%252B2.jpg) > > [http://www.stylebyme.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/kim-kardashian-with-without-makeup.jpg](http://www.stylebyme.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/kim-kardashian-with-without-makeup.jpg) > > [http://2.bp.blogspot.com/\_ngrAPtzKcj0/TKESaRQVe2I/AAAAAAAABjE/a2CblRHHcAU/s1600/kim%2Bkardashian%2Bwithout%2Bmakeup%2Bon.jpg](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ngrAPtzKcj0/TKESaRQVe2I/AAAAAAAABjE/a2CblRHHcAU/s1600/kim%2Bkardashian%2Bwithout%2Bmakeup%2Bon.jpg) > > [http://footballclips.net/forum/files/kimk/kim\_kardashian\_without\_makeup2.jpg](http://footballclips.net/forum/files/kimk/kim_kardashian_without_makeup2.jpg) > Basically, her whole “job” in life is to be a celebrity based on her looks. So she spends all her time working out, buying expensive clothes, tanning, working with a stylist, etc… > > IMO, any decent looking women can look “celebrity attractive” if they have a great makeup artist. Yowza. She’s much hotter without the heavy eye makeup. She really does have good bone structure. Nice lips too. > [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > That puppet insult dog, and anyone else who uses puppets or dummies. Well, I was a fan of the absurd once, so I understand it intellectually I guess, but yeah, annoying. A lot of the confusion here is not understanding reality shows. Why is Jim Parsons famous? Who’s Jim Parsons? Let me rephrase. Why is Sheldon Cooper from **Big Bang Theory** famous? See, most people don’t know Jim Parsons. They know Sheldon 'cos they watch him on TV. That’s all most “famous” actors have, a role (or series of roles) people find familiar. In Jim Parson’s case, he’s just a guy who plays a fake Aspie on TV. How is that a fame thing? A reality show gives us characters, who are sort of based on the people who play them. It’s not really any stranger than TV character fame. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-success-or-at-least-fame-do-you-simply-not-understand/574823.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-success-or-at-least-fame-do-you-simply-not-understand/574823.md?page=6)