Four years ago (!), I wrote the second in a series of Pings predicting which celebrities would be no names in two years. I forgot to write a follow-up in 2004 (whoops), so let’s review how I did predicting the year 2004 before I get to 2008’s no names.
Gwen Stefani: Wishful thinking on my part, I guess. I was hoping that Gwen’s rise to mediocrity would be stemmed by 2004. Clearly it wasn’t, as she was up for a Grammy (or two, whatever) in 2006.
Jerry Springer: Given the grip that reality shows have on America, Jerry’s stuff seems like child’s play. I’m going to take this one as a victory. His show is still in syndication, but Springer is culturally irrelevant.
Jennifer Lopez: Pretty much. The media still jokes about her no-longer-existant (and not even large) large derriere now and then, but Lopez’s days in the sun are over.
Nelly Furtado: No name. She had a polarizing first single (“I’m Like a Bird”) and started claiming to be as versatile and talented as Beck. Beck’s still putting out albums. Nelly might be too, but people have moved on.
Ryan Adams: Mostly, outside of indie rock circles. He’s still putting out between 18 and 45 albums each year. But he’ll be remembered only for that “New York” crap song that became popular after 9.11.01, and nothing else. Hooray!
Limp Bizkit: “Who?” “Exactly.”
Now, without further ado, my predictions for no names of the year 2008!
Eva Longoria
Every American Idol Winner (Except for 2007’s)
Coldplay
The Black Eyed Peas
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
Kanye West
Posted in Pop Culture