Celebrity fatigue

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Oct 21, 2008

HANDS up if you're sick to death of reality TV shows starring so-called 'celebrities'.

It's a trend that's been spiralling out of control for years but after being bombarded with trailers for The Underdog Show and seeing snippets of this year's Celebrity Scissorhands, I've reached breaking point.

We all know the definition of 'celebrity' ain't what it used to be but when the best they can come up with are The Apprentice's Lucinda Ledgerwood (dippy beret-wearing blonde) and Raef ("words are my tool") Bjayou as their supposed stars it's time to switch off your set in protest.

Scissorhands must have one of the most depressing line-ups in TV history, with ex-EastEnders actress Shana Swash, R&B singer Jay Sean and Stedman Pearson from 80s pop group Five Star.

Altogether now, whooooooooooooooooooo?

Scraping the barrel is too generous a description.

These programme makers clearly haven't even got one.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not completely against celebrity reality shows.
I'd rather go without chocolate for a month than lose Strictly Come Dancing.

But Strictly is the Chanel of the genre, compared to bargain-basement bilge like Cirque de Celebrite; Celeb Air; Celebrity Love Island; Celebrity Wrestling, The Farm and Wags Boutique.

And with these pitiful excuses for entertainment rapidly taking over every one of our zillion channels, it's no wonder there aren't enough decent celebs to go round.

Almost by definition anyone who signs up for a reality show isn't that busy, so programme-makers generally fall back on those whose careers are in decline, if not over, and those notorious for their roles in previous reality shows.

The true meaning of celebrity became seriously blurred when Big Brother came on the scene in 2000 and we entered the Heat-inspired cult of non-celebrity.

All of a sudden ordinary people who should have disappeared after their 15 minutes of fame were being treated like stars.

Madness descended and before we knew it Jade Goody was a millionaire.
You can't blame the wannabes, Z-listers and has-beens for wanting to take part in shows like Dancing on Ice and The Games.

There's an obvious appeal.

Look how Myleene's career went stellar after showering in a white bikini in the jungle.

And Kerry Katona also has I'm a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here to thank for her return to the limelight – although most of us wish she had stayed in the rainforest for good.

And Jordan, or Katie Price as she now prefers to be known, first won over female hearts with her plucky efforts in the bush tucker trials.
But it's up to the producers to have a bit of quality control.

Certain boxes should be ticked before you can claim your show stars celebrities.

If shown a photo of said 'celeb' – can at least 25 per cent of the UK population name them?

Did they become famous for something other than starring in a reality TV show?

Have they been famous for more than a year?

If any answers are no, they don't make the grade.
But even better, for all those people who wish celebrity reality TV would eat itself, I've got a plan.

Source: Yorkshire Evening Post

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