Something huge happened last week. It was such an important event that it dominated all of the major news channels, from FOX News to CNN to the evening news programs on ABC, NBC, FOX and CBS. Thousands of people across the nation tuned in to get the latest bit of information in regards to that huge news happening.
Was it continued violence in Iraq and the Middle East? Was it the sale of a major international sports team? Was it the spectacle that was the lust-struck lunatic astronaut that drove over 800 miles to face her competition? Or was it Barack Obama's official declaration for the 2008 presidential race? No-it was none of the above. I mean, after all, not a single one of the aforementioned events (well, maybe the last one) made headlines and drew in television ratings from the masses.
Anna Nicole Smith has died.
Even in death, our generation's epitome of the classic gold-digging blonde has more impact and influence on the attention spans of Americans than do global leaders and events. Moments after reports of Smith's death, CNN began sending camera crews to present live, 24-hour coverage of the buxom blonde's passing. Hours after CNN sent in its crew, all of the other major networks began catching on, as hundreds of reporters flocked to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla., in an effort to get that first scoop on the juicy details. After the initial calamity settled down, American news channels began offering theories as to how and why Anna Nicole died, with theories ranging from post-partum depression to drug overdoses to even faking her death. All theories that I read and watched were quite interesting but were also, quite frankly, gossip.
Scratch that, I don't mean to stop there. I mean to say, enough is enough. I don't mean to speak ill of the dead, but when did the death of one washed-up playmate become so important that it could command more news coverage than violence and bombings in the Middle East? When did pop culture begin to overshadow politicians that could become the next FDR, or JFK, or Ronald Reagan?
I understand that respects should be paid to observe the passing of major icons. What I don't understand is why our society has become so obsessed with finding out the latest and dirtiest gossip. Our fascination with the celebrity has gone too far. VH1, E! and MTV have all cashed in on our recent obsession with "Celebreality," as networks have been racing to cast B- and C-list celebrities to host and participate in shows such as "The Surreal Life," "Hogan Knows Best," "Flavor of Love" and "The Simple Life." The late Smith even had her own show, "The Anna Nicole Show."
Such shows can be entertaining, but again, enough is enough. In the age of reality television, society has become fixated on living the lives of the rich and famous. It's understandable for viewers to want see celebrities live lives of glamour. Perhaps it's the closest that many of us will ever get to that type of lifestyle. But when a celebrity known primarily for her good looks, marital affairs and lawsuits overshadows meaningful events and people that have global implications, one must wonder if something is wrong.
In actuality, Hogan probably doesn't know what's best, life really isn't that simple, love isn't a flavor-tasting affair, and a surreal life isn't anything like real life. In short, entertainment should be entertainment; the news should be informative and meaningful, not littered with gossip and speculation.
Allen Xu is a sophomore in the Kogod School of Business.
