[Josy]

Originally Posted by Jack_

A-list (worldwide famous)
Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Simon Cowell

B-list (UK famous)
Ant and Dec, Dermot O'Leary, Chris Moyles

C-list (known only to a smaller group of people)
Joe McElderry, Russell Howard, Nick Grimshaw

Z-list (famous through reality TV, i.e. to a small audience of people)
Frankie Cocozza, Brian Belo, Josie Gibson

Stole a few names from this thread because I couldn't think of many examples. Z-list is a tricky one, as sometimes you could say some of those people overlap into categories like C and B-list, but never A-list. I don't like it when people say people like Frankie Cocozza aren't celebrities or whatever though, because they are, and to suggest they're not would be stupid. If you are known by a fairly large number of people (no, that doesn't count circles of friends before someone mentions that) and through the media then you're a famous celebrity. Most X Factor contestants become celebrities overnight because of how popular the show is, if you mention their names to people most of them will know who they are, perhaps for the wrong reasons yes, but they're still a celebrity nonetheless.

Great post!

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Jack_

A-list (worldwide famous)
Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Simon Cowell

B-list (UK famous)
Ant and Dec, Dermot O'Leary, Chris Moyles

C-list (known only to a smaller group of people)
Joe McElderry, Russell Howard, Nick Grimshaw

Z-list (famous through reality TV, i.e. to a small audience of people)
Frankie Cocozza, Brian Belo, Josie Gibson

Stole a few names from this thread because I couldn't think of many examples. Z-list is a tricky one, as sometimes you could say some of those people overlap into categories like C and B-list, but never A-list. I don't like it when people say people like Frankie Cocozza aren't celebrities or whatever though, because they are, and to suggest they're not would be stupid. If you are known by a fairly large number of people (no, that doesn't count circles of friends before someone mentions that) and through the media then you're a famous celebrity. Most X Factor contestants become celebrities overnight because of how popular the show is, if you mention their names to people most of them will know who they are, perhaps for the wrong reasons yes, but they're still a celebrity nonetheless.

..not sure I agree, the word 'celebrity' would suggest they have a talent, ability, gift which is celebrated....being married to a celebrity or entering a popular talent contest may get you talked about but that doesn't make you a celebrity. I would say a Z lister is someone who has very minimum talent and success..not someone who has attracted gossip

[Jack_]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

On that premise then Jack: you would regard Fred West as a celebrity then?

Yes. As odd, weird, or as sick as that may be, all famous killers or criminals can also be classed as celebrities as people know who they are. The McCann's are famous, as are the Fritzl's. Like I said, there's people that are celebrities for perhaps the wrong reasons (as is evidently the case with these people), but they are celebrities nonetheless, as people know who they are.

Originally Posted by Ammi

..not sure I agree, the word 'celebrity' would suggest they have a talent, ability, gift which is celebrated

That might well have been the case 20/30 years ago, but it definitely isn't anymore, and people that think it is really are living in the past. Back then there wasn't really any other way of becoming a celebrity unless you were talented (as far as I'm aware anyway), but now in the age of reality TV and the like, there are many other ways of becoming famous, well-known and a celebrity. Whether or not you agree with the fact that people with no talent warrant becoming celebrities is an entirely different matter, I guess that's something that comes down to personal opinion, but whether or not these people are celebrities is not something that can be disputed.

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by Jack_

Yes. As odd, weird, or as sick as that may be, all famous killers or criminals can also be classed as celebrities as people know who they are. The McCann's are famous, as are the Fritzl's. Like I said, there's people that are celebrities for perhaps the wrong reasons (as is evidently the case with these people), but they are celebrities nonetheless, as people know who they are.



That might well have been the case 20/30 years ago, but it definitely isn't anymore, and people that think it is really are living in the past. Back then there wasn't really any other way of becoming a celebrity unless you were talented (as far as I'm aware anyway), but now in the age of reality TV and the like, there are many other ways of becoming famous, well-known and a celebrity. Whether or not you agree with the fact that people with no talent warrant becoming celebrities is an entirely different matter, I guess that's something that comes down to personal opinion, but whether or not these people are celebrities is not something that can be disputed.

You may class them as that. I don't. I regard them as infamous. Which is not the same as famous.

[Jack_]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

You may class them as that. I don't. I regard them as infamous. Which is not the same as famous.

Actually, perhaps that is the correct term. But still, infamous means famous for the wrong reasons...so my point still stands.

[Livia]

So, in summary... if you think you have to have some talent to be classed as a celebrity, otherwise you're just tabloid fodder for the rest of us to ridicule... and if you understand that there's a difference between famous and infamous... you're living in the past.

Okaaaaaaaay.

[Jack_]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

As does mine.

Which is? I said in my post that it can be argued that many people are celebrities for the wrong reasons, you said that killers are infamous (i.e. famous for the wrong reasons, as the term suggests), so therefore that proves the point I originally made, does it not? You just worded it differently.

Originally Posted by Livia

So, in summary... if you think you have to have some talent to be classed as a celebrity, otherwise you're just tabloid fodder for the rest of us to ridicule... and if you understand that there's a difference between famous and infamous... you're living in the past.

Okaaaaaaaay.

Not entirely sure what you're getting at...

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Ammi

..not sure I agree, the word 'celebrity' would suggest they have a talent, ability, gift which is celebrated....being married to a celebrity or entering a popular talent contest may get you talked about but that doesn't make you a celebrity. I would say a Z lister is someone who has very minimum talent and success..not someone who has attracted gossip

Dont forget to mention that Frankie hasnt even released music.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by jedward fever

Dont forget to mention that Frankie hasnt even released music.

..you just did JF....

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Ammi

..you just did JF....

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by jedward fever

Dont forget to mention that Frankie hasnt even released music.

He's not really done much in the way of very successfully singing anything musically either really....... tee hee.... so going on that, I categorise him as a non celeb.

[tweetypiebabe1]

Originally Posted by Jack_

A-list (worldwide famous)
Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Simon Cowell

B-list (UK famous)
Ant and Dec, Dermot O'Leary, Chris Moyles

C-list (known only to a smaller group of people)
Joe McElderry, Russell Howard, Nick Grimshaw

Z-list (famous through reality TV, i.e. to a small audience of people)
Frankie Cocozza, Brian Belo, Josie Gibson

Stole a few names from this thread because I couldn't think of many examples. Z-list is a tricky one, as sometimes you could say some of those people overlap into categories like C and B-list, but never A-list. I don't like it when people say people like Frankie Cocozza aren't celebrities or whatever though, because they are, and to suggest they're not would be stupid. If you are known by a fairly large number of people (no, that doesn't count circles of friends before someone mentions that) and through the media then you're a famous celebrity. Most X Factor contestants become celebrities overnight because of how popular the show is, if you mention their names to people most of them will know who they are, perhaps for the wrong reasons yes, but they're still a celebrity nonetheless.

Love this! Also people have to realise, a 'celebrity' is something entirely different from an artist or an actor or a performer. The Kardashians are 'celebrities' while someone like Adele who has a form of celebrity is an artist. I completely agree with you, people from reality tv shows do become celebrities of some sort or another, although a select few manage and rightedly deserve to move up from the Z-list.

[Me. I Am Salman]

A List - Charlie Sheen, Bruce Willis, Leonardo DiCaprio (Incredibly famous for doing movies etc. and who are still current)
B List - Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton (Incredibly famous for being pointless)
C List - Tara Reid, Macauley Culkin, Corey Feldman (Washed up A-Listers)
Z List - TOWIE crew, ex-reality show contestants (Wannabes to put it nicely)

[Jords]

Youtube video

[Benjamin]

His break down is accurate though. Frankie (and people lie him) would fall into the category Z-lister. He's a reality tv star, not much talent, but he is well known enough to be listed there.

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by ukturtle

His break down is accurate though. Frankie (and people lie him) would fall into the category Z-lister. He's a reality tv star, not much talent, but he is well known enough to be listed there.

It more the change of mind from warranting some talent, to simply being well known that had me wondering.

Personally, I don't agree that Jack's breakdown is accurate - as you said in your own post earlier: far as being a celebrity is concerned: many people attribute such recognition to someone who has earned the right to be regarded as a celebrity in the true sense of the word.

How we all see things very differently.

[Jords]

I think being a 'celebrity' and being 'famous' are 2 different things.

You can be famous and not a celebrity but you cannot be a celebrity and not famous. Fame to me is just public recognition, whatever the scale (A-list, B-list, C-list or Z-list).

Celebrities are famous people who lead their life fully under public eye. Many sportsmen and comedians are not celebrities. Also in general non mainstream musicians are famous but not celebrities and those that are mainstream tend to be.

All Z-lists are celebrities because they are famous simply for their lives being displayed constantly through media for whatever reason they got the opportunity to have it (mainly Reality TV, modelling).

Therefore criminals are famous (or infamous as its for wrong reasons) but are definitely not celebrities as its just for a period and its nothing on their lifestyle, just criminally-related stuff.

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by Jords

I think being a 'celebrity' and being 'famous' are 2 different things.

You can be famous and not a celebrity but you cannot be a celebrity and not famous. Fame to me is just public recognition, whatever the scale (A-list, B-list, C-list or Z-list).

Celebrities are famous people who lead their life fully under public eye. Many sportsmen and comedians are not celebrities. Also in general non mainstream musicians are famous but not celebrities and those that are mainstream tend to be.

All Z-lists are celebrities because they are famous simply for their lives being displayed constantly through media for whatever reason they got the opportunity to have it (mainly Reality TV, modelling).

Therefore criminals are famous (or infamous as its for wrong reasons) but are definitely not celebrities as its just for a period and its nothing on their lifestyle, just criminally-related stuff.

Well said Jords. Explaining the differences between the categories in a way that I totally agree with.

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

alanis is in her own list she is like A+ or something

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

this thread is about how amazing alanis is keep on topic or leave

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Scott

this thread is about how amazing alanis is keep on topic or leave

Actually, this thread is about the categorisation of celebrity.

But Alanis IS amazing... can't deny that.

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by Scott

this thread is about how amazing alanis is keep on topic or leave

[MTVN]

I don't think being a celebrity is about talent, it's about how relevant they are and how prominent a figure they are in the public eye. I'd measure it more by reputation and money because those are good indicators of how interested the public are in them so:

A List: Huge stars in the music and entertainment industry at the present time, household names like Gaga, Di Caprio etc.

B List: Those who have enjoyed a large amount of success but it's still quite possible not to have really heard of them, and those whos best days are behind them, I'd say Michael Madsen is in this category

C List: Those who's fame is mainly on a domestic level, or who haven't enjoyed a huge amount of fame as of yet, I'd probably say this includes TV presenters like Ben Shephard, Jimmy Carr and some actors and musicians like Dappy from N-Dubz

Z List: Those who are only really enjoying what's bound to be short lived fame, people who've had a one hit wonder song, or won Big Brother, something like that

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by MTVN

I don't think being a celebrity is about talent, it's about how relevant they are and how prominent a figure they are in the public eye. I'd measure it more by reputation and money because those are good indicators of how interested the public are in them so:

A List: Huge stars in the music and entertainment industry at the present time, household names like Gaga, Di Caprio etc.

B List: Those who have enjoyed a large amount of success but it's still quite possible not to have really heard of them, and those whos best days are behind them, I'd say Michael Madsen is in this category

C List: Those who's fame is mainly on a domestic level, or who haven't enjoyed a huge amount of fame as of yet, I'd probably say this includes TV presenters like Ben Shephard, Jimmy Carr and some actors and musicians like Dappy from N-Dubz

Z List: Those who are only really enjoying what's bound to be short lived fame, people who've had a one hit wonder song, or won Big Brother, something like that

That's a fair description, although I still struggle with Frankie as his main fame is for being thrown off a reality show

[InOne]

I'd honestly never heard of Frankie before BB 0_0