# Why the Shia LeBoeuf hype? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 19, 2007, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shia-leboeuf-hype/430630 "2007-12-19T22:41:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shia-leboeuf-hype/430630/21 "2007-12-20T10:04:44Z")
Would he have gotten this far if his name were Sunni? Or Joe, John, or Jim? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shia-leboeuf-hype/430630/22 "2007-12-20T10:06:34Z")
You were probably joking, but just in case… It’s pronounced SHY-uh. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shia-leboeuf-hype/430630/23 "2007-12-20T11:59:29Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] Sometimes, a young star is heavily touted, and it works out. Sometimes it doesn’t. I still remember when they picked Gretchen Mol to be the “next It girl.” That did not turn out to be the case. [/QUOTE] Well, [judging by her body of work](http://worldfilm.about.com/od/actressesphotogalleries/ig/Gretchen-Mol-Photo-Gallery/Gretchen-Mol.--7-.htm), I’d say that was _our_ loss! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shia-leboeuf-hype/430630/24 "2007-12-20T12:05:51Z")
[QUOTE=MrSquishy] I hate his name. Shia TheBeef. Ugh. [/QUOTE] I once read that his name translates to “Thank God for the beef.” I was always curious if it was true. I guess at least half of it is. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shia-leboeuf-hype/430630/25 "2007-12-20T12:06:11Z")
Never heard of him. ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shia-leboeuf-hype/430630/26 "2007-12-20T12:33:12Z")
I was very impressed with his turn as host of SNL. I take that as an indication of his talent and likeability, so I think he’ll live up to his hype. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shia-leboeuf-hype/430630/27 "2007-12-20T13:31:05Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] Sometimes, a young star is heavily touted, and it works out. Sometimes it doesn’t. I still remember when they picked Gretchen Mol to be the “next It girl.” That did not turn out to be the case. [/QUOTE] I remember that because the whole thing seemed so ridiculous. Her “It Girl” status was based off of an article in some entertainment rag attempting to predict the future for actors and actresses that hadn’t really done anything yet. And Mol was picked as the It Girl before any real person had seen in anything other than a bit part. The article pointed out her first “big break”: Rounders. Anyone that’s seen it knows Rounders is fantastic, but Mol is barely in it. If I remember right, she had several other movies fizzle out before filming ever started and the first real “Gretchen Mol Movie” was 1999’s The Thirteenth Floor, a full year after the “It Girl” pronouncement. And The Thirteenth Floor bombed in the face of The Matrix and thus Gretchen Mol’s status as the “It Girl” came to a close. As for Shia, I first noticed him when I somehow managed to watch Constantine and I Robot back to back and noticed it was the same kid. Then the Disturbia hype started (which I haven’t seen yet) and he was in Transformers, which he did OK in. If he’s even halfway decent in Indiana Jones he can probably write his own ticket in the future. I think he’ll make it. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shia-leboeuf-hype/430630/28 "2007-12-20T13:34:15Z")
I like him. My two older girls were the right age when Even Stevens was on the air that I already knew who he was. Then Holes came along. They had both read the book, loved it, and my middle daughter dragged me to the movie theater to see it. I think he handled the role perfectly. Not only does he seem like a perfectly competent actor, but he’s cute in a non-threatening kind of way, sort of geeky looking, and seems really down to earth. All good traits. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shia-leboeuf-hype/430630/29 "2007-12-20T13:44:21Z")
[QUOTE=grayhairedmomma] He was good in the Disney series 'Even Stevens" (not one note like so many of the kid actors) and he was great in the Disney movie ‘Holes’. [/QUOTE] I didn’t realize he was the kid in _Holes_. Stanley Yelnats! I love that movie, and I thought he was great in it. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shia-leboeuf-hype/430630/30 "2007-12-20T13:53:16Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] I think he was launched from the now defunct Project Greenlight. Remember The Battle of Shaker Heights? [/QUOTE] Trying to forget it. I seem to recall the when he did Project Greenlight, I had already seen him in Holes. They’re both listed as “2003” at IMDB, so I can’t testify. I think he’s all right. I guess I just find him a little charming or something, but in a neutered sort of way. He is kind of like Topher Grace or Michael Cera like that. . .none of them has a set of testicles. I thought he carried Disturbia well enough. Sometimes he gives off the feeling that he’s really trying to ACT, though. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shia-leboeuf-hype/430630/31 "2007-12-20T14:06:28Z")
I was of the impression ('cause it entered my mind once but I don’t care enough (until now) to look it up 😉 ) that he was related to [Sabrina LeBeauf](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0494058/), the oldest Cosby Kid. Apparently not. And that’s all I’ve got to say on this subject. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shia-leboeuf-hype/430630/32 "2007-12-20T14:34:36Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] You were probably joking, but just in case… It’s pronounced SHY-uh. [/QUOTE] I’ll bite: how do you pronounce the last name? luh-boof? Leh-bowf? ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shia-leboeuf-hype/430630/33 "2007-12-20T14:36:45Z")
[QUOTE=squeegee] I’ll bite: how do you pronounce the last name? luh-boof? Leh-bowf? [/QUOTE] On TV, I’ve always heard it la-buff. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shia-leboeuf-hype/430630/34 "2007-12-20T14:50:22Z")
[QUOTE=squeegee] I’ll bite: how do you pronounce the last name? luh-boof? Leh-bowf? [/QUOTE] It’s a French name, and the vowel combination “oeu” has no corresponding English sound. Just say “luh-BUFF”, and pucker your lips for the second syllable. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shia-leboeuf-hype/430630/35 "2007-12-20T16:42:30Z")
[QUOTE=Justin\_Bailey] I remember that because the whole thing seemed so ridiculous. Her “It Girl” status was based off of an article in some entertainment rag attempting to predict the future for actors and actresses that hadn’t really done anything yet. And Mol was picked as the It Girl before any real person had seen in anything other than a bit part. [/QUOTE] It was **Vanity Fair** , a bit weightier than your average entertainment rag. So they blew it with Gretchen. They were dead on with Gweneth Paltrow and Charize Theron, who were also featured in the same way. It’s still not Gretchen’s fault. I wish her well. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shia-leboeuf-hype/430630/36 "2007-12-20T17:27:27Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] It’s a French name, and the vowel combination “oeu” has no corresponding English sound. Just say “luh-BUFF”, and pucker your lips for the second syllable. [/QUOTE] According to IMDb and other online sources, his name is actually spelled “eou”, which to the best of my knowledge is not a vowel combination found in French. I presume the name is a (dyslexic?) deformation of “boeuf,” and pronounced similarly. It irritates me disproportionately every time I see it. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shia-leboeuf-hype/430630/37 "2007-12-20T17:40:53Z")
[QUOTE=Equipoise] It was **Vanity Fair** , a bit weightier than your average entertainment rag. So they blew it with Gretchen. They were dead on with Gweneth Paltrow and Charize Theron, who were also featured in the same way. [/QUOTE] You say tomato I say “our magazine has nudity on the cover, isn’t that awesome?” Sorry, Vanity Fair may pretend to be arty, but most of the time it’s no better than your average rag. Of course, I love Entertainment Weekly, so what do I know? ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shia-leboeuf-hype/430630/38 "2007-12-20T17:42:23Z")
[QUOTE=singular1] I was very impressed with his turn as host of SNL. I take that as an indication of his talent and likeability, so I think he’ll live up to his hype. [/QUOTE] OP chiming in here; this is what I’m talking about - there was a time when you had to something really memorable to merit a guest host spot on SNL. Maybe those days are passed. Disturbia? Transformers? Are these really what is making this guy popular? This is almost like when there’s a dry year in music and almost every hit is lame but someone still has to be number one and they get treated like royalty. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shia-leboeuf-hype/430630/39 "2007-12-20T18:21:20Z")
I didn’t see Disturbia (and I want to) but I thought the kid was horrible in Transformers. I was really hoping one of 'em would drop a car on him or something. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2007, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shia-leboeuf-hype/430630/40 "2007-12-20T18:22:45Z")
[QUOTE=Vinyl Turnip] According to IMDb and other online sources, his name is actually spelled “eou”, which to the best of my knowledge is not a vowel combination found in French. I presume the name is a (dyslexic?) deformation of “boeuf,” and pronounced similarly. It irritates me disproportionately every time I see it. [/QUOTE] Wow. And it’s La as well. And, bless his heart, his middle name is Saide. Wiki does say the last name is a French variant, though, just as you suspected. He certainly has a wild family tree. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shia-leboeuf-hype/430630.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shia-leboeuf-hype/430630.md?page=3)