Fame's Ladder Broken: Who's In, Who's Out?

The concept of fame has fundamentally shifted, leading podcast hosts Lindsey Weber and Bobby Finger to declare the ladder to stardom broken. In their recently released book, "I Want to Be Famous: When Everybody and Nobody Is a Celebrity," they delve into the evolving dynamics of celebrity status. They observe that in today's media environment, the lines between genuine stars and those merely presented as famous have become indistinguishable.

Weber and Finger propose a new classification system, dividing famous individuals into 'Whos' and 'Thems.' 'Whos' encompass lesser-known actors, reality TV personalities, influencers, and podcasters who occupy a lower tier of fame. In contrast, 'Thems' represent true household names like Beyoncé or Tom Hanks. The book uses the career trajectory of actor Glen Powell as a case study, illustrating how easily one can become a 'Who' but how exceptionally difficult it remains to achieve the status of a 'Them.'