The word "celebrity" has to be among the most elastic and debased in the language. It's very root suggests that a celebrity is person who is celebrated, someone who is honored. The definition that I find in my Webster's is a "famous or well-publicized person," which unfortunately opens the gate to just about any clown in the news, especially if he has become more infamous than famous.
Such a one is Rod Blagojevich, the disgraced, former governor of Illinois, recently given the bum's rush by state lawmakers after he was indicted by the federal government on corruption charges. Yesterday he appeared in court in Chicago to plead not guilty, and he seemed as happy as a clam under his large shell of hair.
The Associated Press story included this sorry detail in describing his breezy and upbeat demeanor: "An attorney close to his legal defense said Blagojevich even wants the court's permission to leave the country to appear on a reality TV show in the Costa Rican jungle. The attorney spoke on condition of anonymity, saying the plan is confidential, but NBC said it wants Blagojevich to appear on "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!"
Some celebrity! As it happens, Blago is already in a reality show - his court appearance this week was one of the first episodes. The idea that NBC would pay this character to go to beautiful Costa Rica is an affront to his abused constituents who get to stay home because they, poor dopes, are just citizens and taxpayers, not "celebrities."
Ratings are everything, shame means nothing, decency doesn't count. Way to go, NBC! Maybe the dope who shot the Pittsburgh police officers can get an invitation too, now that the word "celebrity" is so promiscuously defined.
Posted
Apr 15 2009, 12:17 PM
by
Reg Henry