She's a public mystery, craving attention but shying away from private interviews. She is a human being Andy Warhol would have created, a painter (of) herself. She ran for Hollywood City Council in 2002, joined the much-parodied 2003 California gubernatorial recall election (previously), and most recently tried to become Mayor of Hollywood (archive of her Mayoral site). She is still loved by snark-mongers. She is Angelyne. She is ... [more inside]
posted by filthy light thief on Nov 5, 2009 - 44 comments

You Are Not Going to be Famous. On Metatourism. How NOT to Raise a Chimp in Your Home: the Legacy of W. N. Kellogg. [more inside]
posted by anotherpanacea on Jul 20, 2009 - 7 comments

"Conquer English to Make China Stronger!" is the philosophy of Li Yang, founder of the Crazy English school (and style) of language, described by some as "English as a Shouted Language" for its main method of shouting English words in public to overcome shyness. Li Yang has achieved Elvis-like popularity in China, not just through his public lectures but also through the sales of books, media, teaching materials, and a memoir titled "I am Crazy, I Succeed". Li Yang's unorthodox methods - which include encouraging students to "lose face" and cope with embarrassment on the way to success - have earned him fame and fortune, including headlining the 5th Beijing Foreign Language Festival and being the main English teacher for China's Olympic volunteers. Li Yang's secret to success: "... to have them continuously paying—that’s the conclusion I’ve reached."
posted by divabat on Dec 31, 2008 - 10 comments

Tim Gunn on an airplane, Tommy Lee at a restaurant, Mike Tyson at the Waldorf, and other Brushes with Fame.
posted by Navelgazer on Dec 6, 2008 - 107 comments

He laughs and leaves. I sit alone in the room, staring at the walls, just about every inch of which is covered with more memorabilia: a photo of him with Lennon, a photo of the Beatles circa 1965, a photo of Muddy Waters.... After maybe five minutes, Richards wanders back into the room, laughing. “Sorry, mate,” he says. “I got lost. I don’t come here often!”]... Why do you think some people live and some die..? ...there’s that line between recklessness and stupidity, and you— "No, you bring up a good point...."
posted by Huplescat on Mar 30, 2008 - 21 comments

Excuse me, Ms. Ono, Mr. Gehry, Sen. Wellstone—pardon me Mr. Chomsky, Mr. Castellanetta, Gov. Ventura—would you mind signing this paper?
Oh no, don't sign your name. Sign mine.
posted by Partial Law on Feb 29, 2008 - 18 comments

She is intelligent enough to understand what the world wanted of her: that she was created as a virgin to be deflowered before us, for our amusement and titillation. She is not ashamed of her new persona — she wants us to know what we did to her.
posted by dhammond on Feb 26, 2008 - 147 comments

Brad Laidman critiques the findings from the Centre For Public Health at Liverpool John Moore University report [pdf] 'Elvis to Eminem: quantifying the price of fame through early mortality of European and North American rock and pop stars.' [more inside]
posted by tellurian on Sep 14, 2007 - 25 comments

Movie stars. What have they got that you haven't got? A professional retoucher. (via YesbutNobutYes) [more inside]
posted by Dave Faris on Sep 12, 2007 - 78 comments

Of the many Halls of Fame, try these: Beyond Zamfir, People who blow Giant Bubble Gum, Highest honor awarded to individuals in the insurance industry, Antique Whiskey Bottles, Fruit jars, and other antique bottles Hall of Fame, The Cheap-Ass Cereal Hall of Fame, Heroes of the American YO-YO Association, the 2007 Ukulele Hall of Fame Inductees, Interviews from the Official Jewish Mothers' Hall of Fame, "Bagism" Hall of Fame (people who have achieved eternal fame by answering at least 300 quiz questions about Lennon correctly), National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum, Fostering the inventive spirit in all of us, Toy Halls, Bookstores, Etc. The Hall of Fame Hall of Fame & the traditional list from wikipedia
posted by growabrain on Jun 30, 2007 - 8 comments

Famousr is a sort of celebrity hot or not.
posted by cgc373 on Apr 10, 2007 - 57 comments

"Spotlight Live ... puts guests in the limelight in a way that will surpass their wildest dreams. Guests can walk in the door for dinner and walk out the door a star" In the age of American Idol, why go to see a show on Broadway, when it's your birthright to be a show on Broadway, complete with your own professional back-up singers and dancers?
posted by stagewhisper on Mar 17, 2007 - 9 comments

Buck O'Neil, 94, was a star player for the Kansas City Monarchs, of the The Negro Leagues, the first black coach hired by Major League Baseball, one of the founders and current Board Chairman of The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, a scout, who signed such stars as Ernie Banks, and Lou Brock, was denied his last chance to enter baseball's Hall of Fame this week. Considered by many to be the unofficial " Ambassador of Baseball", Buck was most diplomatic in his response, saying: "Shed no tears for Buck," he says. "No, no. Ol' God's been good to me. You can see that, don't you? If I'm a Hall of Famer for you, that's all I need. Just keep loving ol' Buck." ", and " You think about this,' he said. "Here I am, the grandson of a slave. And here the whole world was excited about whether I was going into the Hall of Fame or not. We've come a long ways. Before, we never even thought about anything like that. America, you've really grown and you're still growing." Keith Olbermann is outraged...I am just sad.
posted by lobstah on Mar 3, 2006 - 37 comments

How to Watch the Grammys. The drummer for "Closing Time" Semisonic writes an amusing bit on The Grammy Awards, for those unsophisticated as to watch.
posted by Mean Mr. Bucket on Feb 13, 2005 - 42 comments

Perhaps you had a one-hit wonder in the '80s, with more people remembering your mohawk and nose chain than your actual music. Fear not, as you can now have your own ponderosa where you don't have to fall in love. Or perhaps you were a backing musician for Prince, known more for your penchant for playing in surgical scrubs. You too can find solace online. The Internet: helping musicians everywhere.
posted by solistrato on Aug 30, 2004 - 8 comments

Extra, extra! Think your job is bad? Film extras (or 'background' as they're commonly referred to) just stand around waiting all day, have to bring their own wardrobe, and must always obey the unspoken rule of not chatting up the real talent. It's the job that's pretty much 'about nothing', with no guarantees, no glamour, no money. Yet, with that said, there are already many who do it, and more trying to break in every day. Are movie extras merely suckers for punishment, or are they hoping to find fame and fortune?
posted by debralee on May 26, 2003 - 20 comments

Yesterday's NYT magazine section (reg req'd) featured a profile of Jack Osbourne---whose family's show premieres its second season tomorrow---and discussed the unpleasant repercussions of his new fame: a prescription to Zoloft, a discontinued high school education and severe threats that warrant his own eye-patched bodyguard. Is this kind of exposure (especially in a reality TV context) too much for a 17 year old kid to handle?
posted by adrober on Nov 25, 2002 - 17 comments

There's no escaping Britney I take this to be a sign that she is in the 14th minute of her warholian fame.
posted by BentPenguin on Dec 20, 2001 - 18 comments

How many recent metafilter threads can you spot in this story? It seems no matter you become famous (or infamous) you need a spokesperson. Just in case you are ever sans spokesperson and standing naked before the ravenous third estate this article gives you a few canned sound bites. Look in a mirror and say these six lines with a straight face: "The best thing for everyone involved is to achieve closure and move on..."
posted by rdr on Jul 31, 2001 - 2 comments

Q: What's the best thing you can do for your career, if you're a musician?
A: Die.
(warning, page designer has used really small fonts)
posted by darukaru on Jun 28, 2001 - 6 comments

Cal Ripken's farewell tour. Here are the numbers: 2,632 consecutive games, 3,107 hits, 421 homers, 1,652 RBI. Even though some argue he shouldn't be an all-star this year, I think his ticket for Cooperstown is pretty much punched. And to top it all off, his final game will be at Yankee Stadium. I think Lou Gehrig would smile.
posted by trox on Jun 19, 2001 - 22 comments

Nothing too big, exciting, scandalous, ironic or wacky, but in this article, several famous people who might be considered "American Achievers" are listed:

"The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; Michael Jordan; Jonas Salk; Steven Spielberg; Oprah Winfrey, Martha Stewart, the home fashion guru; Dorothy Hamill, the ice skater; Frederick W. Smith, the founder of Federal Express; and Steven Case, chairman of AOL Time Warner."

My question is: what criteria did the reporter, Elaine Sciolino, use to determine which famous people get an explanation and which don't? I know all of those names, except for Smith. My guess as to why more aren't defined is because it would sound crass to define some of the more impressive careers in just five words: "Jonas Salk, creator of the polio vaccine" or "The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., slain civil rights leader."
posted by Mo Nickels on May 10, 2001 - 11 comments

Eric Schulman from the Annals of Improbable Research asks, Can Fame Be Measured Quantitatively?.
posted by tdecius on Oct 9, 1999 - 0 comments