I was reading the polls about Paris Hilton and on MSN.com, 93% said she should go back to jail. I really don't know a lot of people who aren't happy that she's going back.

And then I hear about Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie, and I wonder - why are these women celebrities?

Making a celebrity 5 years ago was about someone becoming successful through a hit album or song or a hit movie. They had something useful that drove them into the spotlight.

Now it seems like paparazzi and the tabloids are hand feeding us these celebrities.

The people chose Marilyn Monroe, The people chose Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Brad Pitt - we all liked them for a reason. We loved their sex appeal in their films, we loved their romantic comedies, we loved something about them that was actually worth something.

And now it seems like if you walk on enough red carpets and sleep with enough people, you are automatically on E! News and on the cover of People Magaznie.

As David Spade said, these people aren't celebrities because they aren't 'celebrated', which is what a 'celebrity' is.

Like...who the fuck is Brody Jenner and why does he have a spread in Teen Vogue?

Does anyone else seem to agree?

And I agree - America eats it up. But it seems all hand fed. I just feel like we, as the people, used to pick the stars and now that's no longer the case.

Liking them has nothing to do with it.

One reason: they're not boring.

I don't think Paris should go back to jail, but not just because I pity her. They let her out after, what, three or four days? The rest of the sentence will mean nothing now, just because they caved so soon. It's like parents who keep telling their kids that they'll punish them for bad behavior, but never do. The kids learn quick that they can get away with it, as did Paris (assuming she has the intellect of a child).

Maybe the paparazzi makes them famous. These dorky horny lonely guys with their cameras and video cameras..with nothing better to do.
Also these girls look cute in clothes, and people like to look at fashion.

I don't think it's about talent or anything else. Like I once saw this 40 yr old man checking out the Paris Hilton book at Target. Hello. get a grip.

I actually wanted to start a similar thread.

it's a phenomenon.

But I believe it's an outcome of 2 other phenomenons, mixed:

a) it's 2007. the whole paparazzi thing isn't THAT old.

b) people have internet.

=> in 1970 a stupid blonde heiress wouldn't have caught your attention much, because you wouldn't be reading shitty yellow press online and because there were fewer tv channels and fewer magazines and therefore fewer paparazzi.

it's a thing that grows with media's capacity and accessibilty.