Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Five Minutes of Notoriety

Watched the "Singapore Idol" snippets on TV? Noticed all those people hamming it up for the camera and talking about their soft toys and all.Now if you can, refer back to Saturday's edition of Today.A couple of the judges recalled having loads of "talentless" people turning up for the auditions and a number of people declaring that they want to be the next "William Hung".Now,let's look at one of the hottest blogs in Singapore. Miss Xiaxue.Funny and smart she might be but she's so crude,I wonder what her mum thinks of the language she uses on the blog(I don't believe for a second she's like this in real life).Is it something to be proud of,something you'd teach your daughter?What's up with these people?It seems like the allure of celebrity on this tiny island (and beyond)has given birth to a whole generation of media whores.People who would do anything to get noticed.People who believe stardom and fame should be the ultimate goal in life.It makes me wonder what the values of these people are...if they have any.
 
I don't know.Who's to blame for this?The media?With the avalanche of celebrity mongering by the media,actors,singers and the what-have-yous in the entertainment industry have sometimes being elevated to demi-god like status.Lifestyles of the rich and famous,they say.The celebrity halo can be blinding.
 
And what about reality shows?Brings ordinary people right to the forefront of television and gives everybody the hope that,yes,they can be celebrities too...without being really good at anything.I am not against a show like the "Idol" series because they DO bring forth some undiscovered talents in the heartlands that may otherwise go unnoticed.But the "Willaim Hung" episode has brought about a whole group of people who aim to follow in his footsteps.Now,I can understand that there are probably some people out there who CANNOT hold a tune but DOESN'T know it.But now, people who DO know are also going for the auditions.Going there to get humiliated?I think not!Going there to get pointers on how to improve?Maybe,but way too painful.Going there for the experience?Possibly.Going there to appear on TV?... And what's the point of a reality series like "Survivor"?See the worse of people and promote gaunt fashion?People from these shows have become stars because of their mean-spiritedness (it's bad enough in the first place that some of them became millionaires because of it.)
 
And what about Xiaxue and her blog?I have to admit I found it mildy entertaining then my interest fell flat after 5 minutes.It's good that her target audience (probably chi koh peks because she is reasonably pretty or people who just want to read crude stuff) is not me.I don't really know what to make of her,seriously.After all,she's just a miserable intern.Maybe she could become a full-pledged journalist with her new-found fame...doing horse-racing articles in WanBao or Xin Ming.
 
I guess I saw what I suppose is the psyche of the young when I watched a talent show on Channel U over the weekend.A 14-year-old girl came on this show hosted by quan Yifeng and Kym Ng and said that she wanted to be an actress.Dressed more like a 24-year-old lass,she then talked about gaining valuable lessons by working in the entertainment industry and enriching her life.She was swiftly rebuffed by two of the jedges:Bryan Wong and veteran HongKong actor Chen Guan Tai(I can't remember what the third judge said).14 year-old.Shouldn't she be in school concentrating fully on her studies?
 
Now now,to each his own.Live and let live.I will shut up now and comment no more.To all those people seeking fame (more like notoriety) by exposing their shortcomings and ugly sides in the public arena,good luck!I hope your five minutes on TV,your blogs or whatever you are on leads you onto mainstream fame and bigger things in life.But if you fail to make anything out of your efforts,try doing something useful with your life.Go be a doctor or nurse and save some lifes.Go be a policeman and catch some crooks.Go be a volunteer and help mentally challenged kids lead their lifes.Or go be a cab-driver and fetch me back from work.