Comments on: Obviously the Standards for Fame are Rising http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Sun, 27 May 2012 00:43:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: tequila http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/comment-page-1/#comment-185439 tequila Wed, 31 Jan 2007 19:30:15 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/#comment-185439 How many here know who Andy Lau is? 1.5 billion Chinese people laugh at you. How many here know who Andy Lau is?

1.5 billion Chinese people laugh at you.

]]> By: Rory http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/comment-page-1/#comment-185412 Rory Wed, 31 Jan 2007 15:47:09 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/#comment-185412 Surely this requires a link to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4tDP-yMwXI" rel="nofollow">Hugh Laurie's definitive take on America</a>. Surely this requires a link to Hugh Laurie’s definitive take on America.

]]> By: Jacob Christensen http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/comment-page-1/#comment-185394 Jacob Christensen Wed, 31 Jan 2007 12:00:28 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/#comment-185394 If <a href="http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/P._G._Wodehouse#Wodehouse_on_writing" rel="nofollow">Wikiquote</a> is right, then P.G. Wodehouse actually has formulated the - if not best, then funniest - reaction: <blockquote>It just showed once again that half the world doesn’t know how the other three quarters live.</blockquote> <em>And yes, I knew who played Jeeves in the TV series. But do the NYT writers? ;-)</em> If Wikiquote is right, then P.G. Wodehouse actually has formulated the – if not best, then funniest – reaction:

It just showed once again that half the world doesn’t know how the other three quarters live.

And yes, I knew who played Jeeves in the TV series. But do the NYT writers? ;-)

]]> By: dearieme http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/comment-page-1/#comment-185391 dearieme Wed, 31 Jan 2007 11:37:08 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/#comment-185391 I saw Hugh Laurie get out of a sports car once. He is very tall and seemed to have two young sons with him. Rivetting, eh? I saw Hugh Laurie get out of a sports car once. He is very tall and seemed to have two young sons with him. Rivetting, eh?

]]> By: bad Jim http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/comment-page-1/#comment-185381 bad Jim Wed, 31 Jan 2007 10:18:44 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/#comment-185381 D², I encountered Jerry Garcia once or twice, and he actually did seem "a sane and not hugely narcissist celebrity". The few billionaires I've met also came across as down-to-earth (apart from the time-shared private jet) but none of them were young, either. D², I encountered Jerry Garcia once or twice, and he actually did seem “a sane and not hugely narcissist celebrity”. The few billionaires I’ve met also came across as down-to-earth (apart from the time-shared private jet) but none of them were young, either.

]]> By: Andrew http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/comment-page-1/#comment-185369 Andrew Wed, 31 Jan 2007 06:52:54 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/#comment-185369 Blackadder was mildly popular in America, and the NYT wouldn't have made a similar story about Watanabe Ken (for example) because they wouldn't have just assumed they would have heard of him if he were famous. Also, Oprah is shown here in Japan, and is mildly famous. Blackadder was mildly popular in America, and the NYT wouldn’t have made a similar story about Watanabe Ken (for example) because they wouldn’t have just assumed they would have heard of him if he were famous.

Also, Oprah is shown here in Japan, and is mildly famous.

]]> By: a http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/comment-page-1/#comment-185367 a Wed, 31 Jan 2007 06:19:12 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/#comment-185367 Other than for a amusing anecdote, is there a point? Are New Yorkers supposed to know everyone who is well known in England? Why not well known in France? China? Indonesia? Other than for a amusing anecdote, is there a point? Are New Yorkers supposed to know everyone who is well known in England? Why not well known in France? China? Indonesia?

]]> By: novakant http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/comment-page-1/#comment-185350 novakant Wed, 31 Jan 2007 01:29:22 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/#comment-185350 never heard of Hugh Laurie either, but vaguely remember watching Blackadder years ago, go figure, wish I'd never heard of Livingstone or Galloway for that matter yeah, and it's amazing how inquisitive people can get about the amount and sources of your income never heard of Hugh Laurie either, but vaguely remember watching Blackadder years ago, go figure, wish I’d never heard of Livingstone or Galloway for that matter

yeah, and it’s amazing how inquisitive people can get about the amount and sources of your income

]]> By: engels http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/comment-page-1/#comment-185348 engels Wed, 31 Jan 2007 01:08:44 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/#comment-185348 Or consider the memorable first line of Jed Rubenfeld's pH-0.1 <a href="http://www.yalelawjournal.org/pdf/115-8/Rubenfeld_Reply.pdf" rel="nofollow">reply</a> to Michael Stokes Paulsen in the Yale Law Journal: <blockquote>I do not know Michael Stokes Paulsen or his writings...</blockquote> Or consider the memorable first line of Jed Rubenfeld’s pH-0.1 reply to Michael Stokes Paulsen in the Yale Law Journal:

I do not know Michael Stokes Paulsen or his writings…

]]> By: kb http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/comment-page-1/#comment-185347 kb Wed, 31 Jan 2007 00:47:07 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/#comment-185347 richard, I hope you're aware that what your co-workers were doing had a lot more to do with the great New York sacrament of making fun of Jersey than it did with actual parochialism. Regarding Hugh Laurie's turn as the father in Stewart Little slipping under the radar, all I can say is <i>thank god</i>. I was at Bennett's Q&A session at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts around the time of the <i>History Boys</i> premiere. The extent to which the audience treated him like a performing seal there for their amusement was really rather astonishing. The prize has to go to the woman who asked a ramblingly incoherent and patronizing question attempting to link a throwaway comment of Bennett's about medieval armor to the war in Iraq. And Kieran, let's be fair. That's not Manhattan parochialism -- that's <i>Los Angeles</i> parochialism. Not that parts of my adopted city don't spend most of their lives plumbing the depths of self-absorption, but that article is a case of Hollywood's obsession with itself, not New York's.* *. Anyone want to see if they can scrounge up a movie-industry trade rag being similarly patronizing about, say, Amitabh Bachchan?† It must be out there. †. Yes, I only know who he is thanks to Colbert, but I'll take my trivia wherever I can get it. richard, I hope you’re aware that what your co-workers were doing had a lot more to do with the great New York sacrament of making fun of Jersey than it did with actual parochialism.

Regarding Hugh Laurie’s turn as the father in Stewart Little slipping under the radar, all I can say is thank god.

I was at Bennett’s Q&A session at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts around the time of the History Boys premiere. The extent to which the audience treated him like a performing seal there for their amusement was really rather astonishing. The prize has to go to the woman who asked a ramblingly incoherent and patronizing question attempting to link a throwaway comment of Bennett’s about medieval armor to the war in Iraq.

And Kieran, let’s be fair. That’s not Manhattan parochialism—that’s Los Angeles parochialism. Not that parts of my adopted city don’t spend most of their lives plumbing the depths of self-absorption, but that article is a case of Hollywood’s obsession with itself, not New York’s.*

*. Anyone want to see if they can scrounge up a movie-industry trade rag being similarly patronizing about, say, Amitabh Bachchan?† It must be out there.
†. Yes, I only know who he is thanks to Colbert, but I’ll take my trivia wherever I can get it.

]]> By: dsquared http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/comment-page-1/#comment-185346 dsquared Wed, 31 Jan 2007 00:46:08 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/#comment-185346 <i>I would think a sane and not hugely narcissist celebrity</i> If you ever meet one, Michael, shoot him and have him stuffed - I'll pay good money for one as a conversation piece. I would think a sane and not hugely narcissist celebrity

If you ever meet one, Michael, shoot him and have him stuffed – I’ll pay good money for one as a conversation piece.

]]> By: Andrew Lloyd Webber (Sir) http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/comment-page-1/#comment-185345 Andrew Lloyd Webber (Sir) Wed, 31 Jan 2007 00:17:25 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/#comment-185345 Who's Jerry Fodor? Who’s Jerry Fodor?

]]> By: a very public sociologist http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/comment-page-1/#comment-185341 a very public sociologist Tue, 30 Jan 2007 23:31:31 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/#comment-185341 *Wonders if celebrities ever visit the timber* Wonders if celebrities ever visit the timber

]]> By: Matt http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/comment-page-1/#comment-185339 Matt Tue, 30 Jan 2007 22:53:14 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/#comment-185339 I'm still more impressed by Jerry Fodor, in his LRB review of the Tim Rice and Elton John version of Aida, to have had no idea who Rice or John were before seeing the version. (Perhaps he'd not have gone if he did.) I thought that surely this could not be true, given that Fodor was fairly young in the late 60's and 70's but he swore to me that it was true and he really had no idea at all who they were. I’m still more impressed by Jerry Fodor, in his LRB review of the Tim Rice and Elton John version of Aida, to have had no idea who Rice or John were before seeing the version. (Perhaps he’d not have gone if he did.) I thought that surely this could not be true, given that Fodor was fairly young in the late 60’s and 70’s but he swore to me that it was true and he really had no idea at all who they were.

]]> By: Maynard Handley http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/comment-page-1/#comment-185332 Maynard Handley Tue, 30 Jan 2007 21:56:39 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/01/30/obviously-the-standards-for-fame-are-rising/#comment-185332 All Jeeves and Wooster; no Bit of Fry and Laurie? WTF??? All Jeeves and Wooster; no Bit of Fry and Laurie? WTF???

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