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Forget It: You'll Never Be Famous

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 25, 2009 6:36 PM CDT

(Newser) – Celebrities are everywhere, grinning from magazine stands and TV screens galore. But good luck trying to join the glossy ranks of fame, Jim Hanas writes in the New York Post. The odds are daunting: Only 4,763 people are famous, says a market research company, and only 2% of them have a high "awareness score." That puts your odds at 1 in 62,986—"slightly worse than your chances of being put to death by legal execution."

Yet more than half of 25-year-olds say fame is one of their generation's top goals, more than helping the needy (30%) or becoming more spiritual (10%). No doubt, times have changed: Jesus was the 16h century's big celeb; by the 18th, there was Mozart and Marquis de Sade. Today, kids watch 1,300 hours of celebrity-driven TV a year and assume they'll be next. "That such a transformation seems likely to occur is, I contend, our culture's Big Lie."

I love you! screams a New York Yankees fan as Alex Rodriguez passes by during the All-Star Game Red Carpet Parade in New York, Tuesday, July 15, 2008.
"I love you!" screams a New York Yankees fan as Alex Rodriguez passes by during the All-Star Game Red Carpet Parade in New York, Tuesday, July 15, 2008.   (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Taiwanese music fans catch a stage diving musician during the annual Spring Scream music festival in Kenting, Taiwan, Saturday, April 4, 2009.
Taiwanese music fans catch a "stage diving" musician during the annual Spring Scream music festival in Kenting, Taiwan, Saturday, April 4, 2009.   (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
Los Angeles Lakers fan screams as he clings to a traffic signal during the Lakers' NBA basketball world championship parade in Los Angeles, Wednesday, June 17, 2009.
Los Angeles Lakers fan screams as he clings to a traffic signal during the Lakers' NBA basketball world championship parade in Los Angeles, Wednesday, June 17, 2009.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Fans scream as members of the cast of the vampire film Twilight appear on stage at the Twilight fan party at E-Werk on June 6, 2009 in Berlin, Germany.
Fans scream as members of the cast of the vampire film Twilight appear on stage at the Twilight fan party at E-Werk on June 6, 2009 in Berlin, Germany.   (Getty Images)
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It's no wonder many of us have grown up with the vague conviction that we've been born into an oppressed minority—the Unfamous—from which we will eventually, and justly, be delivered. -

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
YetAnotherCollegeKid
Feb 1, 2010 8:00 AM CST
Absolutely. For example, my big dream (everyone has one) is to be a bestselling author. But even if I got there, would I make that list? I kind of doubt it. I would just be well known among those who read my work. Would that be famous enough? Absolutely.
Netstorm2k10
Jul 26, 2009 6:58 AM CDT
Obviously, this is skewed. Many people are famous, but only within certain circles. Irregardless, more important truth here is that fame isn't important. It's nice, but unimportant.
kokuaguy
Jul 26, 2009 3:33 AM CDT
I admire those who use their celetrity to help alleviate poverty and alert the world to the coming climate catastrophe.
 

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