Celebrity has become an addiction

By Greg Purvis
The Times-Journal

Published January 23, 2007

Last week, a 28 year-old woman in Sacramento, Calif. died of water intoxication after drowning her system in H20 to win a radio station contest. The prize for winning the contest: a Nintendo video game system.

We are living in an era where celebrity status is something people are willing to die for. It has often been said celebrities are the American equivalent to royalty. And it is certainly true that, unlike European royalty, you don’t have to be born into celebrity. American nobility can be achieved by anyone, for nearly anything.

Achieving celebrity has become a social addiction. So-called “reality shows” bestow celebrity status, creating American idols from average joes. Guests reveal embarrassing secrets on “The Jerry Springer Show.” Contestants compete for notoriety by eating maggots and jumping into snake-filled pools on “Fear Factor.” On Mtv’s “The Real World” college kids become celebrities for merely being roommates.