The Britney Spears fascination

I really don't care what ultimately happens to Britney Spears. It's just because I watch the news I am exposed to the constant updates of her insane dilemma. Part of myself is fascinated, but not because I feel a great humane story is on show here. Her children are in a most unfortunate situation but she herself seems opportunistic even in her descent to what looks like will be an ugly end.

There is something more to her situation though. In the world of celebrity today exists the importance of publicists. They are everywhere and hired by everyone to keep clients (aka celebs) out of tabloid magazines in disgraceful moments such as the one Britney Spears finds herself in everyday. Paparazzi is everywhere, but the job of the publicist is to keep things private. It happens because more clubs and resorts have become private. The Hard Rock Hotel in Vegas is opening an exclusive bungalow resort only for celebs seeking absolutely privacy. The world is trying to help celebs avoid paparazzi. Publicists are those who guide the celebs to do so.

Publicists haven't always been around. The days of Hollywood were much more open with their endeavours years ago when almost all stars had some kind of public substance abuse problem. The abuse became so embarrassing that many celebs couldn't do simple interviews without being intoxicated. A famous interview done by Roger Ebert in 1971 for Playboy Magazine had Ebert interviewing Lee Marvin. Whatever objective Ebert had to get Marvin to open up about his career was lost when Marvin was reduced to a muttering drunk. Marvin went on to make insinuations he impregnated his secretary and that Paul Newman wouldn't give a fifteen year old girl an autograph, but would buy her a drink. The interview ended with Marvin yelling at that same secretary to go to out to pick up more booze.

It's a really funny interview, but it was the end of an era. Ebert today says the interview was the last one of any major celeb before publicists controlled images of their clients. I've looked for other interviews like this but they don't exist anymore with large celebs. The world of Hollywood was cleaned up as far as public image goes. Behind the scenes I'm sure things remained the same, but the Britney Spears and paparazzi fascination says those days of public indecency may be coming back. The publicists can try to stop it, but the celebs who are seeking immediate attention, just want it too much.