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In light of my last column on "The Era of the Human Superstar", I stumbled across an article by Seattle columnist Misha Berson (a person with whom I once exchanged choice words when she erroneously wrote a Seattle Times review) on the current low-standards for celebrity status. And of all people, she mentions none other than Paris Hilton:

So, you want to be a Broadway leading man. Or a beauty queen. Or a top athlete.

Good news: It may not take years of study, great genes or even talent to reach these pinnacles. If you believe the mounting hype of our shortcut society, you could just zoom to the top.

The not-so-subliminal message Americans are getting now is: Slow and steady does not win the race. Neither does skill acquisition, necessarily, or mastery of craft. But speed rules.

"Success and celebrity have become de-linked from virtue and ability," says David Callahan, a fellow at Demos (a New York think tank) and author of the 2004 book "The Cheating Culture: Why More Americans Are Doing Wrong to Get Ahead."

"You have total nobodies who have accomplished nothing and are suddenly rich and famous, so people think getting to the top is not about hard work and making sacrifices," Callahan notes. "It's just about playing the game and being in the right place in the right time."

Society-gals-turned-stars such as Paris Hilton. Plain Janes transformed into Living Dolls. Warp-speed literary lions. Such whiz-kids have it so much better than the rest of us. Or do they?

Along with the hyper-flash of this new world order comes cutting corners, missing nuances and risking a crash-and-burn landing after a speedy ascent. Whether it's having a breakneck makeover, or waging a quickie war, there are social consequences for all of us.

Berson goes on to list potential consequences of a society that exalts short-cuts. Additionally, she names the artist formerly known as "Puff Daddy" AKA Sean Combs as a top perpetrator when he was awarded the role Sidney Poitier originated in the recent Broadway re-mount of "A Raisin in the Sun".

I'm not entirely against the short-cut syndrome because I hope to take advantage myself, however in the cases Berson mentions, I'd have to concur. If anything, I think promoting too many people who haven't paid their proper dues can fill an entire industry with immaturity and lack of wisdom and humility.

I need to find the documentation, but some time ago, an investigation was launched into potentially harsh and extreme practices at the United States Military Academy at West Point. It was said that the cadets were subjected to extreme and unnecessary brute force. The academy denied nothing, but rather reinforced their procedures by explaining their rationale: graduates from West Point were young 20-somethings who often had more rank than 10-year officers. In order for them to appreciate the sacrifice others would have to go through to gain the position they'd earned so young, they employed practices of "humbling".

I'd say they're on to something.

I've heard this complaint often: Why can't LeBron and 'melo go to college, be around kids their own age, mature, and get an education to fall back on? How come Ice Cube gets to star in movies? Why is Richard Williams keeping his daughters out of amateur tournaments? Arnold doesn't know the issues in Cali. Pres. Bush II wouldn't have gotten into Yale if his father wasn't an alum. We live in an information age within a free market economy. People are only accepting the opportunities the market will bear. In our era of disposable celebrity (Brandi begat Britney begat Beyonce), fame is fleeting anyway. No one has to buy Madonna's children's book, rock P-Diddy's sportwear, or watch Paris & Nicole (the tube has 200 channels).

BCB

If anything, I think promoting too many people who haven't paid their proper dues can fill an entire industry with immaturity and lack of wisdom and humility.

ie Hip-Hop, Professional Sports, Silicon Valley between '95-2000

ehhh...partially valid, partially crap. The only thing that determines whether a shortcut is a good thing or a bad thing is what actually happened. Could another actor have been Doughboy? I can't call it. Besides, Doughboy led to Craig. Friday is worth any number of out-of-work actors to me.

Well, Serena, LeBron and even some of our presidents (actors, millionaires, average senators) have exceeded expectations.

Barbra Streisand ('Funny Girl") and Diana Ross ("Lady...") were both nominated f/ Oscars in their first movies. I bet the veteran actresses were in a huff.

My theory is (and I could be way off the mark) that the producers or people who are otherwise in control set out to test the limitations of their own abilities. Now, they can sit back, knowing that they can create something where nothing existed at a moment's notice. There is no need to worry about seeking out talent because it is essentially irrelevant and hype and over-exposure can be substituted. They don't have to worry about "divas" or egos anymore, because it is understood from the beginning that the producers are giving the "artist" an opportunity, not the other way around. The moment Ashanti was placed on stage with Aretha Franklin, I knew things had changed.

Agreed, our standards have definitely lowered for what is to be admired talent-wise. At the same time, there are definitely the younger ones who just have "it" and deserve all the alloades they've been given. Bijan named a few of them.

Avery, to your point, agreed, there's nothing like raw talent. But c'mon, Puffy on Broadway? Completely loss of points. Ashanti and Aretha? You're killing me!

Avery,
But Friday led to Next Friday, and Friday after Next.

Taking a chance on people based only on raw undeveloped talent may reveal surprises. but when you do that as a matter of course you usually just end up with crap.

eg "House party" - surprise !!
House Party II III & yes IV crap !!