We’ve had a couple of post this year on The Movie Blog about some silly additions to the Walk of Fame. Godzilla?!?! Yesterday, Jim Slotek wrote an insightful article on the ridiculous state of the walk in Jam Showbiz.
In the article he recalls some of the true giants of the entertainment world who are immortalized there and then laments the fact that these days ANYONE can get on there. People like:
In recent years, further diluting the now-dubious “honour,” they’ve added David Spade, Britney Spears, the Olsen Twins, Michael Bolton, Regis Philbin and Journey.
And just when you thought the devolution of stardom had pretty much been achieved came last week’s latest inductee to the Hollywood Walk Of Fame: (drumroll please) Ryan Seacrest!
Ryan Seacrest!?!?! A guy who hosts a reality show?!?! You’ve got to be kidding me! No disrespect to Seacrest himself (hell, I don’t deserve a star on the walk of fame either!), but that is nuts.
The article goes on to talk about the diluting of the walk. No longer does it take a legendary career in entertainment to get on the walk… oh no. Here’s what it takes to get immortalized with John Wayne and Johnny Carson:
The fee down there is $15,000 U.S. — an inflation rate of 500% since way back when I first found out these things were for sale (all these details are laid out, along with an application form, on the website for the Hollywood Chamber Of Commerce, the businessfolk who administer the Walk Of Fame). What do they do with the money? It sure isn’t earmarked for urban renewal. And yes, I can hear Paris Hilton now (“Just $15,000? Ohmigod, I’ll take six!”).
Yeah, a lot of people have know for a long time the stars on the walk were just for sale… but like Santa Clause being a myth, or Pro Wrestling being fake… I just didn’t want to believe it.
It’s a good article that you should go give a read.
