Sometimes you have to take a step back and look at the state of entertainment. I myself have dedicated a good portion of my life to it. One-third, to be exact, and the older I get, the more of my life that is. I can say, at the moment, the state of entertainment is boring. We are in a weird transition where television is no longer the preferred medium. Social media has not figured out how to monetize for entertainers in a meaningful way, and movies seem to fall off and simmer on streaming platforms outside of once or twice a year, when Hollywood seems to make a comeback and feel real again.
The internet seems to control much of what we are allowed to like, and it forces us to conform. As younger generations feel this is a way for them to be seen and heard, all I see is people conforming to the sway of big brands and nation-state agendas, all under the guise of “we’re rebellious and cool.” If you’re a nepo baby, you have to discuss your privilege to be accepted. If you have braids, you have to apologize to indigenous braid-wearing humans. It’s so conforming and anti-original, I find it nauseating.
As we exist in this in-between time, waiting for new celebrities to emerge in whatever medium is next, I long for someone to just say fuck it and fuck you, put their middle fingers up and just do whatever the hell they please. A comedian who’s just funny for the sake of being funny. No agenda, no politics, not a role model, just funny.
The more this plays out, I feel like the next big thing will be live, in-person voyeurism, and I hope I’m right. Someone who we only hear of when others post. Someone who we know nothing about, who is mysterious and talented enough to catch our attention, who doesn’t exist on TV or phones, who we have to go out to see in a live public place. An experience, something sacred for people to take home and tell their families, their grandkids… “I saw them!”
I guess we’ll see, but if I could talk to the young entertainers today, I would say: I know 15 minutes of fame and a payday sounds cool, but what is cooler is not selling out and having artistic integrity. Not for the greater good, just for you, and in turn, for everyone.