Pop Culture Junkies Anonymous

Reality TV personality Kim Kardashian recently stated in an interview with V Magazine  that she has admirations of being the first reality TV star to receive an honor on theHollywood Walk of Fame, placing her name among icons such as Meryl Streap, Michael Jackson, and Mickey Mouse.

I think there was a quote where somebody said that reality stars will never get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. So, of course I’m so competitive that I think that it would be a huge achievement and a goal that anyone would want. I would love to break that mold.

It didn’t take long before the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce replied to Kardashian’s request with a nicely worded HELL NO.

She has not been nominated. She is a reality star. We don’t do reality stars. She needs to get a real acting job then come to us.

The response does not come as a surprise to those who know what it takes be amongst the 2,400 Walk of Fame honorees, including having made a significant contribution to the motion picture, broadcast television, audio recording (music), broadcast radio, and/or theatre industries. Has Kardashian made that contribution? No. A starring role in the 2008 epic failure Disaster Movie does not earn you a spot next to an Oscar winner like Kardashian’s idol Elizabeth Taylor, and her upcoming role in Tyler Perry‘s The Marriage Counselorprobably won’t help her case either. An internet single titled “Jam” which was panned by critics and barely received air play does promise you a star next to a music legend likeElton John. So, you would think her only valid argument would be her work in television, right? Not so fast.

When you look at all of the television stars that are among those honored on the Walk of Fame, you see names of talented, hard working individuals. Bill Cosby, an accomplished comedian and star of the groundbreakingThe Cosby Show, has been honored with a star. Lucille Ball, star of the iconic sitcom I Love Lucy and the first female to head a major production studio also has a star.Carroll O’Connor, too, has a star on the walk of fame for his television contributions, most notably for his portrayal of the bigoted yet hilarious Archie Bunker on All In The Family. Although the E!’s  Keeping Up With The Kardashians has made a major splash in pop culture, the factor that plays into the success of reality shows hinder Kim, her family, and other reality star’s credibility when it comes to being awarded with the Hollywood elite: They don’t have a talent.

Despite the fact that reality TV has become the most watched genre on television, it is considered one of the lowest forms of stardom, ranging from B to C- list status and while it can make an individual “popular” that same star doesn’t receive much “respect” among other talented entertainers.  A reality tv star like Snooki may be popular, but the severe lack of talent prevents her from being a serious Hollywood actress, and now that MTV has announced the final season of Jersey Shore, she and her housemates will soon be forgotten. Ever notice how Kim Kardashian has appeared on the cover of almost every major fashion magazine except for US Vogue? That’s because Anna Wintour doesn’t have time for cheap stardom. Did people take Heidi Montag‘s music career seriously? Her album sold less than 1,000 in its debut week.

Taking the escalator to fame has a negative long term effect than taking the stairs. Reality TV fame is usually very short lived and limited. Just ask Paris Hilton who became a “superstar” from her reality show The Simple Life in 2004 yet now is low of the radar in 2012, despite being featured in a few movies and releasing a couple of singles that were quickly forgotten. After a while, watching someone without a talent becomes very boring, and if you don’t have anything to bring to the table, you’ll be forgotten. It’s not like we’re excited for their next great movie, waiting patiently for them to release a new song, or making a trip to New York City to see them on Broadway. We’re watching them live their lives on TV and talent is not a requirement. Sometimes we see them attempt a new entertainment project not because music or acting is their passion, but because they simply can off of their TV fame. Those very projects usually end up forgotten and severely mocked. No talent + no significant contributions to the entertainment industry + no awards or recognition = no respect.

The day Hollywood becomes desperate will be the day a highly rated reality series is valued more than a critically acclaimed scripted TV series, but until then, don’t hold your breath for an Emmy Award nomination, cemented handprints at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, or a Star on the Walk of Fame for your favorite reality tv stars.

                                         

Around the 7th season, the novelty of the show started to wear off, and with the exceptions of the adorable David Archuleta and the glam-rock style of Adam Lambert, the talent presented didn’t stand out like it did in previous seasons. Let’s be honest, the talent got boring, so people stopped watching. I, too lost interest in the 7th season. In the 8th season, the show attempted to make things interesting by adding a 4th judge, songwriter Kara DioGuardi.  Abdul was ousted in the 9th season, and her replacement was comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, which, although DeGeneres has a likeable personality, left viewers wondering “Why is she judging a singing competition?”  DeGeneres, DioGuardi (she wasn’t received well by the audiance) and show veteran Cowell were out at the end of the 9th season. Cowell went on to host the next UK originated competition show brought to America, “The X Factor” and brought back everyone’s favorite nice judge Abdul leaving Jackson on the American Idol island all by himself, dawg.

There also was a new wave of competition shows on the rise boasting star power. With  ”The X-Factor” having  judges Cowell, L.A. Reid, Britney Spears, and Demi Lovato (Lovato and Spears are replacing Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger,) CBS’s “The Voice” having Christina Aguilera, Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, Cee-Lo Green and Blake Shelton, and “Duets” with Clarkson, Robin Thicke, John Legend, and Jennifer Nettles, Idol began to face stiff competition.

Initial reports by People Magazine  and other news outlets stated that Mariah Carey is in serious talks to be a judge on the show. Carey was originally in talks to be a judge on “The X Factor” with Cowell and Reid confirming her involvement with the show, but season one came and passed, with no Carey in sight.  There have also been reports from various news outlets including Rolling Stone Magazine that the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin has expressed interest in being a judge for the singing competition. Canadian-born singing superstar Celine Dion and the reigning Queen of Hip-Hip Soul Mary J. Blige’s names have also been shopped around for the opportunity.

Carey would serve as a necessity to the show. Aside from bringing her legions of unwavering fans to the TV sets every week, Carey is an accomplished and well known SINGER, something the judges table has been missing in all 11 seasons. Plus, we all know Carey will bring some personality to the table, and anyone who has watched her in an interview knows this. She has a larger-than-life diva mentality with bird tendencies, (example:  ”Them chickens is ash & I’m lotion”) a grade A shade thrower, still acts and dresses like she’s 18-years-old, and can talk for days with her New Yorker/I’m a Diva, dah-ling accent. Carey can bring back ratings and breath new life into the show.

Franklin, renowned as one of the greatest vocalists of all time, too will fill that void of having a true vocalist on the judges panel that Idol lacks. I also see Franklin being 100% honest will each and every contestant like Cowell was but not as mean, yet giving words of encouragement to all of the newcomers (listen to Trey Songz’s debut album “Just Gotta Make It” to see what I mean.) Being the music legend that she is, Franklin will also bring her loyal fans to the show, opening the door for the show to win older viewers.

In all, American Idol is going to have to pull out the big guns (and MILLIONS of dollars) in order to be #1 again and compete with the other singing competition shows on TV.

(Photo credit: WHY fame)

Poor Paula! She can’t keep a job!

Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger will NOT be returning for the next season of “The X Factor” along with host Steve Jones according to Billboard.

While the decision came from execs across the pond in UK, many connect the firing of the two stars to the emotional elimination of 13-year-old Rachel Crow and how Abdul convinced Scherzinger to send the final decision into a deadlock.

There was also talks prior to the show’s US premier to have Mariah Carey as a judge. Carey was not involved in the first season, but is rumored to be replacing Scherzinger.

I wonder who the new judges will be!

(Source: Billboard)

The “Maverick” herself.

Sarah Palin has allegedly been shopping around a new reality show about her husband Todd Palin & his snowmobile endeavors, but according to the Huffington Post, the show isn’t being sought after by networks.

The article says that Discovery, the channel that aired her 2010 reality show “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” doesn’t want the new reality project because they don’t want to pay $1 million per episode like they did previously.

Palin has never been a Hollywood favorite. Her documentary “The Undefeated” did poorly in box office sales and her 2010 reality show did not have the ratings for Discovery to pick it up for a second season.

ummm… isn’t she supposed to be a politician anyways???

(Source: The Huffington Post)

Yall know I’m not fond of the “famous for no reason” crowd, but apparently this is a big deal.

Read the story here. I’m not writing about it.

But I will say that this doesn’t surprise me. Not one bit. Ok I’m done.

FINALLY!!! VH1 is getting it right!!!

In recent years, VH1 took the MTV route with their programming and moved away from music and more towards trashy train wreck tv with “Flavor of Love” “Flavor of Love 2” “Flavor of Love 3” “Rock of Love” “I Love New York” “Daisy of Love” “Real Chance at Love” and shows of that nature.

BUT… the network came to it’s senses and brought back “Pop Up Video” this week!!! YAY!!!

The show features some of the most popular music videos of today with pop ups of random facts about the video, artist, pop culture references, and everything else in between!

You can check out “Pop Up Video” on VH1 weekdays at noon!!!

Ok, no. Not really, but we now have a celebrity with the name.

Los Angeles Superior Court has granted permission for basketball star Ron Artest to have his name legally changed to Metta World Peace, according to ESPN.

Artest’s daughter, Diamond, also plans on changing her last name to World Peace like her father, according to the article.

Since the NBA is currently in a lockout that doesn’t look like it will be ending anytime soon, you can catch World Peace on this season of ABC’s Dancing With The Stars, premiering on MONDAY September 19th.

I wonder if they’re going to change Kimsha’s discription to “Metta World Peace’s partner” on Basketball Groupies Wives L.A.

Rapper T.I. has been released from prison after serving a year sentence (let out a month early) for violating his probation back in 2010 on suspicion of drug possession with his wife Tameka “Tiny” Cottle, according to MTV. com.

Now that he is a free man, what’s next for Tip???

According to Entertainment Weekly, T.I. has already begun filming a reality show about his post-prison life for VH1 set to debut in December. The Washington Post reports that the rapper will also be releasing his first novel in October.

Glad to have you back T.I. Now please, STAY OUT OF JAIL!