They have been defined as untalented, stupid, and airheads amongst other unflattering descriptions. No matter what you call them, there’s one thing they all have in common: They are all laughing themselves all the way to the bank. As long as they hear the Cach-ing! Cach-ing! Cach-ing! of the money they don’t care what you call them.

These celebrities or personalities claim their fifteen seconds of fame and some of them for just being themselves. There was a show starring Paris Hilton (She was already very wealthy) and Nicole Richie (who was the daughter of Lionel Richie – as far as I know that was her only claim to fame at the time). I can’t even remember the name of the show, but there were two celebrities who were supposedly best friends who left their life of luxury for a short period time to live with ordinary families. Even though the show lasted a short period of time, it made Ms. Hilton even wealthier and gave Ms. Richie an identity apart from her famous father. They both turned that opportunity into something bigger. All of a sudden Paris Hilton was being paid just for showing up at parties. How many people do you know of who can make a career out of that?

Yes, we know about a Hilton’s infamous tape that she made and her bad girl antics, but in the long run she cashed in on those who became her fans and bought what she was selling. So in essence when people call her an “air-head” and “untalented” perhaps she is just cagey and a good businesswoman. She was already set for life, but even if she was disinherited, she still made enough money on her own to keep her comfortable for the rest of her life. The only way she could blow it is if she follows the suit of some other celebrities who could not handle fame and destroy their lives.

Let’s take a look at the reality shows that made those who stared in those shows famous. Let’s start out with a show that hits close to home called, “The Jersey Shore.” I’ve never seen one complete episode since I don’t own a television. I’ve seen bits and pieces of it when I’ve been at someone’s home and they’ve had it on. The cast of the show were not even Jersey residents but were from Staten Island which in itself is ironic. So you have characters such as “Snookie” and “The Situation.” They are the ones that seem to be the most well-known and the ones I hear about the most.

Here you have two ordinary people. Because of their crazy antics they parlayed them into a capital venture via merchandise they have marketed. Snookie took home a tidy sum of $32,000 on a twenty minute speech at a Rutgers University which took place during one of the events taking place during commencement week. The major part of her speech consisted of those memorable words, “Study hard but party harder.”

Air-head, stupid, crazy or smart businesswoman taking it to the bank and making the most out of fifteen minutes of fame. In the past celebrities or well known personalities may have done things that they were ashamed of and did not want exposed but at the time they needed the money.

Since the people who star in “The Jersey Shore” are making money for being off the wall. They will not be ashamed when photos or articles are written about them years from now because this is what they were known for. It’s a whole new ballgame in this era.

Let’s wrap this up with the Kardashians: famous for being famous. Former Olympic Track Star Bruce Jenner is the patriarch in the TV Series “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” Jenner because of his claim to fame of being an Olympian was the only one I was familiar with in this show. He soon became a prop and a backdrop. His three oldest stepdaughters and their mother, Kris became the stars. The late Robert Kardashian who was one of the defense lawyers for O.J. Simpson (in his first trial) was Kris’ first husband. Kris later married Jenner.

Kim Kardashian is the most famous of the three girls. Let’s see how smart she is: all three girls went into business together with a clothing line and opened up stores. Consumers bought their merchandise and then Kim decided she wants to get married (again) and hooks up with a professional basketball player, Kris Humphries. Of course, rights were sold to magazines for the wedding photos. After seventy days of marriage she decides that they were not compatible – but she keeps the ring, the money from the photos. Again – Who is the smart one?

You must be wondering how do I know so much about these celebrities, if I don’t watch their shows and I haven’t had a television in the last couple of years. But I do have a radio and an android cell phone. The magazine and newspaper covers are sold all over and all of this is right in your face — you can’t avoid it!

I’m not saying the people I talked about are bad or good. I’m just saying that it takes regular people to make those I mentioned in this editorial celebrities.

Carolyn Maxwell