Entertainers

Entertainers

Flo

I admit to having an unfair bias toward the entertainment industry.  It bothers me that many people in this industry are given credit for their intelligence and empathy to an extent that their opinions seem to be held in higher esteem than that of “ordinary” citizens.

I think Cher is a very talented lady and I love her style and voice.  I’m sure she is intelligent, I suspect you need to be strong and intelligent to succeed in such a tough industry where there are so many talented people.  Still, I really don’t understand why her opinions are news.

Robert De Niro is a terrific actor with the depth to take a gangster, or a comedic role.  He is of course entitled to his opinions, but why are his opinions news?

I love Meryl Streep, perhaps the most talented actress of our or any other time.  She must also be very intelligent.  She is entitled to her opinions, but once again, why are her opinions news?

Why are entertainers held in such elevated regard?

Why do people complain that an NFL quarterback or MLB centerfielder gets paid millions when teachers get paid so little? 

“They are paid a fortune for playing a game and teachers are molding young lives!”

Fair enough, there are many occupations that may be socially more valuable than others that are rewarded less based on many economic and social factors.  It is an issue which I suppose communism attempted to solve with not such great results.  (I’m pretty sure Russian athletes were rewarded more than Russian teachers.)

But, if this social issue bothers people so much, why do I never hear complaints that Tom Cruise makes 15 million dollars per picture for pretty much just being ruggedly handsome in shoes with lifts?

Hmmm…I may have just slipped off the track, but so what, it’s my blog.

So, while I am miffed with all the adoration that is heaped on entertainers and the weight that is given to their opinions, it is not their fault, it is our fault for giving a damn about what these people think.  They live in a fantasy land.

Well, that feels better, I just had a rant building up and it needed release. 

Now after beating on these talented people who give themselves rewards almost every week, let me address those that started me on this rant. I would like to give praise to a group of entertainers who we see every day and yet are virtual unknowns.  I suspect they are rewarded financially, but they get no statues. 

Actors in commercials.*  

Not the famous ones we will probably see in this year’s Super Bowl, people that steal jobs from lesser actors because we will buy beer just because someone famous tells us to buy that beer…arghh…I still have more rant left.

Anyway, here is a shout out to the Progressive Insurance actress Flo, and AT+T’s Lily, and the Geico “Mayhem” dude.  These and many others are great character actors that deserve awards. 

Lily

Mayhem Dude 

And I wish to nominate my favorite commercial actor of the year, the Washington crossing the Delaware Turnpike dude.  I laugh every time I see his fantastic reading of the line,

“We’ve all got places to go!  We’ve all got places to go!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRZ4appHtQw

As we approach the greatest day of the year for commercials, Super Bowl Sunday, what are your nominations for best performances in a commercial?

*This is the subject I intended to address before I slipped into a rant, it is all part of my ADD.

TOMORROW (drum roll) Winners of Mrs. Cranky grocery list contest!