ABOUT TEST PATTERN

Don't touch that dial: Test Pattern tunes into television, movie, music and pop culture links, as well as gossip and idle chat from around the Web.

Every week, msnbc.com entertainment producers Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, Denise Hazlick, Paige Newman, Kurt Schlosser and Anna Chan weigh in on topics ranging from TV commercials to movie hype to the latest celebrity blunder. We're not ashamed to admit our love for bad TV or reveal what's on our iPods, and invite you to join the conversation via your comments.



Not that I'm against mindless entertainment ...

Posted: Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:30 AM by Denise Hazlick
Filed Under: , ,

As the entertainment editor at msnbc.com, it's my job to keep up on the latest celebrity news, from Heather Locklear's arrest to Britney's tour plans, possible move to New York, continuing court appearances ... well, you get the idea. And while gossip and celebrity news are not the only stories we produce for our section, it is among the most viewed content on the entire msnbc.com site.

So each day, I troll through the various celebrity news Web sites and blogs. For the most part, it's entertaining, and occasionally informative. It also can be disturbing, and has upon occasion forced me to question my role in this ever-expanding area of "news."

Wednesday morning, I stumbled upon this link on TMZ.com. It's just your garden variety paparazzi chasing a celeb (in this case, Keanu Reeves) down the street, yelling remarks at him as he tries to go to an appointment, pick up his dry cleaning, what have you. It was the remarks, however, that caught my ear. Insidious, hostile, cheap shots solely intended to provoke a reaction from Reeves, resulting in (Tah-duh!) a brilliant video moment that would equal a big payday for the photographers in hot pursuit. Reeves did not take the bait, but I wondered aloud to one of my colleagues, "How does he keep from popping that jerk in the mouth?"

For many in Hollywood, this scenario is all too familiar. Some celebs seek it out, while others take it as part of their daily lives, and bite their tongues and keep moving.

The paparazzi are doing this because magazines will buy the photos, because YouTube will get millions of clicks on the video, because you will buy it, read it, watch it -- because it sells.

Hey, I read it too, and I'm not trying to put myself out of a job, but it does give you pause. Msnbc.com does not buy paparazzi photos or video, but we often cover the stories that bloom from such encounters. We get comments from readers all the time saying they are tired of reading about the tawdry details of celebrity lives. The high number of clicks on such stories would seem to indicate otherwise.

So during this election season, if you are really tired of it, vote with your mouse, and your wallet. 

MAIN PAGE

Email this EMAIL THIS

Comments

There was once footage of Rebecca Stamos getting badgered by the paps only days after the announcement of her divorce to John Stamos.  The scumbag photogs were calling her names, saying she was a b!tch and that her husband was smart to divorce her.  I have a feeling we don't have a clue as to just how ruthless some of those guys can be.  I also saw a report on E! recently that showed Sienna Miller being literally mobbed by photogs, forcing her against an elevator door, basically trapped, calling her names, etc.  That is one heck of a way to make a living isn't it?

I agree that we fuel the obsession by clicking on the entertainment stories but I don't go to TMZ or any of the other 'stalker' websites.  I don't want to support that type of entertainment coverage. Is there a difference?  I hope so.

Rori, Nebraksa (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 10:36 AM)

hear hear! there was a fabulous interview with Patrick Stump and Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy the other day on XM's Ethel, and even they admitted that as much as they HATE the celeb gossip (and frankly, Wentz has a reason to..) but they can't stop reading it. It's so ingrained in our culture that it's an unstoppable trainwreck habit. I wish I could stop looking at this stuff, but in a culture where even our Presidential nominees/VP nominees are treated in this manner, it's impossible. :(

Carolina, Houston (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 10:50 AM)

Amen! I almost never read or watch anything about celebs these days. I was curious what your story was about, and you are absolutely right. We are the ones who have to stop watching the trash they are putting on TV and stop buying the magazines and stop clicking on the stories on the internet. I only hope enough people start doing it so the paparazzi won't make money on these awful stories anymore. Thanks for a great story.

MJ, PA (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 10:50 AM)

I agree with the article. As a "pop" culture that we live under, we are so interested in lives that don't pertain to ours. We love to see the rich and famous either live normal lives or be corrupted to do funny and stupid things so that we feel better about ourselves. Look America, yes they are famous, but they are human, and they don't nearly care as much about you as you care about them. Stop buying the magazines, stop keeping the websites up, stop watching the entertainment networks, and stop keeping useless pepole more rich. Other peoples' misfortunes shouldn't be your happiness.

Robert Killeen,TX (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 11:10 AM)

One problem is that the stories often have provocative headlines which make them seem like they might be news, but when you click on them you realize that they are just stupid.

I remember reading a story about some actor being hurt on the set of their movie.  This is news, right?  The actor has been hurt, maybe the movie I'm looking forward to won't be made, has his career ended?  Anyway, he stepped out of a hummer and hurt his ankle so had to rest up and was able to resume filming the next day.  I feel like an idiot for reading the fluff, but I can't take my click back.

fletc3her (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 11:25 AM)

I agree, as a web developer i dont think enough people know how sites like the arrange content. An article like this, IN THE ENTERTAINMENT section not only gives me a chuckle, but i also give a nod to the writer.

Joseph, Oklahoma (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 12:14 PM)

i remember when natalie wood died and at the end of her funeral there were pictures of robert wagner kissing a red rose and laying it on her coffin...i can still hear myself saying out loud "how dare someone take pictures of such a private moment" and i don't think i would have ever imagined where we are today...

cindy dawn, awestun, taxes (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 12:41 PM)

The way I see it, if those photographers are going to resort to name calling and harassment just to sell photos and get on websites, then they deserved to be stomped into a mudhole.  Our society seems to live their lives by what they see celebrities do because it's on TV all the time.  I for one do not give a rip about who is in rehab, who is dating who and who is the weeks current jailbird, but they should be able to walk down the street like everyone else.

BC, Rockville MD (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 12:43 PM)

It would be interesting if paparazzi had to be licensed by the state of California.  Then anyone not behaving well could be ticketed, have their revoked or be arrested depending on the offenses.  Anyone without a license could be arrested and fined.  Then the celebs would have options when faced with obnoxious paparrazi.  Right now their options are few and far between.  Of course some provision would have to be made for tourists and fans...might be a potential loop hole.

Heather, Texas (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 1:12 PM)

Oh please!  If no one paid any attention to some of these "celebrities"--who knows what they would do.
Most of the stuff these attention-seekers do is to get attention.  They want it, and thrive on it.  If the paparazzi quit hastling them, they'd do anything outrageous to get them back.  How do some celebrities manage to not be engulfed with paparazzi--they behave themselves. I read some of it just to get a chuckle out of what the lame-brains, shallow dopes are up to next.

Ilah, Rhinelander, Wi (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 1:24 PM)

the news media is no different "Presidential debates MUST SEE" when nothing happens they rehash how boring the debates were "It's what they didn't say" Vice-prez debates ? boring but they will constantly advertise their coverage and play over and over wonder why WE don't vote? tired of the commercials yet This election started 4 yrs ago thanks to the MEDIA

Lee farmington NM (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 1:55 PM)

I've never understood why anyone cares about the details od stars' lives... I watch their shows and movies and listen to their songs and watch their games, and that's it.  It's a simple question of demand and supply... if you read this crap you're only encouraging them and you and partly guilty iin their excesses.  It's as simple as that.

Carl in CT (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 2:08 PM)

How is this kind of behavior not assault?

silverslipper, Washington State (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 2:42 PM)



SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.): 

 Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private)

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://testpattern.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=1475930