The Hollywood Walk of Fame Refuses to Add Reality Stars

It’s nice to know that someone, somewhere is putting their foot down when it comes to rewarding high cultural honors to reality stars.

Reality stars have been accepted as culturally important famous people for a while now. They can win Emmys, score book deals, star in spin-off shows, and in the case of Snooki from “Jersey Shore” appear on the New York Times bestseller list —all for getting fall-down, slobbering drunk on camera at least once per week and possibly getting punched in the face.

The dominance and predominance of figures like Snooki, The Situation , Paris Hilton and the entire Kardashian family is something that most of us have, at some point over the past few years, come to accept and even begrudgingly enjoy. We may not want to see Kate Gosselin standing next to John Hamm on the red carpet, but we know on some level, that we put her there. And a bunch of people had to buy Snooki’s “A Shore Thing” for her to be referred to as an “author” (let alone a best-selling one) in the New York Times.

This is why I think Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has balls. Last week, a sassy employee at Hollywood Walk of Fame announced in a Facebook post : “Someone asked if we give reality show characters stars? Hell to the No!”

By saying “no” they’re bucking the trend of canonizing reality stars, and doing so at a price. Recipients of the stars have to pay $30,000—a fee I’m sure many would happily fork over—to have their name inserted into the city street.

But the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce won’t be collecting those fees from reality stars, at least for now. As CNN reported:

Ana Martinez, Vice President for Media Relations and Producer for the Hollywood Walk of Fame, notes that nominees have to meet the committee’s criteria: longevity in their field of entertainment, awards and other honors, and philanthropic work. She also points out that the Facebook post reflects her personal opinion – “It’s just not on the radar for us right now.”

It’s nice to know that someone is putting their foot down when it comes to the place of reality show stars in our culture. And it’s also nice to know that we won’t be putting our feet down on Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi on Hollywood Boulevard anytime soon.

Unless she gets drunk there and falls down.

Source: http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com