This is a list of the most overhyped people, trends, events and happenings of 2004. Most of the fault lies with the media, who follow a pack mentality and promote the same stories and people. In the rush to fill the 24-hour news cycle, there is no originality and content is recycled, repackaged and regurgitated to the public. Lindsay Lohan may be a very good actress, but we don't need to know about every club she vomits at, nor need to hear about more outraged parents after the Superbowl or another appearance by Mischa Barton.
1. Janet Jackson Superbowl controversy
2. Lindsay Lohan
3. Protesters
4. Poker on TV
5. The cast, music and fashion of "The O.C."
6. Jude Law
7. Star Jones wedding
8. Instant Messaging
9. The Apprentice
10. Blue State/ Red States
Runners-Up
Steroids, The Gap, Colin Farrell, the cast of "Oceans Twelve," John Edwards, Jesus, Security Moms, Vladimir Putin, Jay-Z
The previous winners from 2003 - Paris Hilton, Ashton Kutcher and Jessica Simpson need to take long vacations in 2005 as we are still sick of them. Britney, who was the winner of 2000, 2001 and 2002 also needs to go away for awhile.
Deserved the Hype:
Being negative and snarky is easy, sure, so who and what deserved their hype in 2004? Bill Murray, "Lost," Kanye West, Franz Ferdinand, Usher, mash-ups, blogs, Jamie Foxx, the iPod
More on my site at http://www.culturedrift.com
Article comments
1 - Eric Berlin
Wow -- what a great round-up of the year in hype.
I couldn't agree more -- the vulturous, insatiable media hype machine is like a constant loudspeaker that never shuts off (like the kind found in Communist prison camps).
Bravo!
Eric Berlin
Dumpster Bust: Miracles from Mind Trash
http://dumpsterbust.blogspot.com
2 - Chip Ross
Just checked your site Eric. Very cool. Good luck with the novel. I am aching to get fictional. Culture commenting is cool too. Just gotta find a way to make money at it.
3 - Eric Berlin
Chip,
Thanks very much, and best of luck getting fictional. A great man once said, "The hardest part is in the starting."
Couldn't agree more on the wishing to get paid part.... maybe one day.
Cheers,
EB
4 - Shark
MAJOR IRONIC MOMENT ALERT!
"...Culture commenting is cool too. Just gotta find a way to make money at it."
This... in a post complaining about the most overhyped 'stories' of 2004, all of which appear to be derived from an adolescent-level addiction to the fucking Idiot Box.
We've followed Alice into Wonderland, where one points out media oversaturation by constantly examining, commenting, and complaining about the very stories one purports to despise.
And you wanna get paid?
ahahhahah.
I can spit out my window and hit a culture critic.
My advice: there's a new invention that might be of interest to you: it's called "the OFF BUTTON."
5 - jadester
I don't have cable, and live in england, so for me most of your list doesn't stand true.
No. 10 for obvious reasons, although for us here it could easily be changed to "the US election in general", as our TV channels seemed to be almost as obsessed over it as they get over our own elections.
2,4,6,7 and 8 were not really hyped over here. There are certainly a number of other subjects/people that were more so.
Perhaps you should point out in your post that it's a list for US TV - after all, Blogcritics is international, and I'm sure I wouldn't be the only one wondering where you got some of your list from...
6 - Eric Berlin
I agreed with Chip's wish for getting paid for what both of us enjoying doing, "culture commenting," as it was put.
I can only speak for myself in saying that my goal is to raise the bar in writing about things that may be of interest to others. For example, my blog (I prefer online magazine, actually), Dumpster Bust, reflects upon politics, music, movies, books, the Internet, and includes forays into fiction and literary non-fiction. In the past week, it has looked at such diverse topics as the possibilities of a John McCain presidency, the intricacies of starting a ska-punk band, the finer points of the Campus Comedy, and the hypocrisy of American culture.
I consider what I do to be a worthy and fulfilling activity, even if only a few other people ever notice. Every additional person who reads my thoughts and ideas and adds their own into the mix is gravy.
Eric Berlin
Dumpster Bust: Miracles from Mind Trash
http://dumpsterbust.blogspot.com
7 - Chip
Hey Shark - Ever read "Details" or "GQ" or any other mag that does a cheeky end of the year list? That's all this is. Might be ironic, yes. Blogs are part of the reason these things are overhyped. Adolescence and the Idiot Box are two of my favorite things. Sorry they are not up to your high level of thinking. Instead of the "off" button, why not stay away from posts like these if it irks you so much?
8 - Eric Olsen
Chip, great list and as far as I'm concerned "cultural critic" is among the highest callings and fuck yeah you should get paid for it. We have a shitload of top cultural critic talent right here on Blogcritics.
Interesting that you listed blogs as far down as you did and on the positive side of the ledger
9 - Matt
No Scott Peterson trial?
10 - brian
lindsy lohan is the biggest wanna be of paris hilton even though they are friends lol yeah thats all i wanted to say