Top 10 American Entertainment Icons

[Adam's Apple]

Selected by Entertainment Tonight:

10. Martha Stewart
9. Lucille Ball
8. Michael Jackson
7. Ray Charles
6. Dick Clark
5. Elvis Presley
4. Johnny Carson
3. Frank Sinatra
2. Oprah Winfrey
1. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

 

[Dan]

Martha Stewart? What about Clint Eastwood or John Wayne? What about Martin Scorcese?

Also, how is Jacqueline Kennedy an American entertainment icon? If she's on there, surely her husband should be, too.

 

[Adam's Apple]

You'll have to ask Entertainment Tonight. Personally, I did not agree with the middle placement of Elvis Presley on the list. After all, he was responsible for rock & roll. I thought he should have been placed closer to the beginning of the list, as his contribution to music changed music world-wide.

 

[Dan]

Yeah I guess I shouldn't worry too much about a list compiled by ET.

 

[Adam's Apple]

Just depends upon how much credence you place in Entertainment Tonight, which compiled the list. I don't know the criteria they used for making their selections. Some of their picks I agree with (Lucille Ball, Johnny Carson, Dick Clark, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Oprah Winfrey). I would question the placement of Ray Charles, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Martha Stewart in the same category with the others, who, I feel, made great contributions to their particular genres in entertainment.

 

[Dan]

Ray Charles is great, but I think his recent death and the movie are making people a little over-praising of his work. Same thing happened when Johnny Cash died, I remember Snoop Dogg accepting some award and giving Johnny Cash a big shout-out. I love Johnny Cash and all, but I doubt Snoop listened to him too much.

 

[NATO AIR]

Ray Charles is great, but I think his recent death and the movie are making people a little over-praising of his work. Same thing happened when Johnny Cash died, I remember Snoop Dogg accepting some award and giving Johnny Cash a big shout-out. I love Johnny Cash and all, but I doubt Snoop listened to him too much.

You'd be surprised. There are a number of rappers and rap producers with broad musical tastes, able to enjoy a wide array of music just as much as the next person. Its not where you're from, its where you're at (mentally and emotionally). A lot of Johnny Cash's music, especially his lyrics, resonate well with many rappers. Tales of death, suffering and the long, hard road of life can be found as much in Johnny Cash's music as in rap music.

Ray Charles revolutionized R&B music (and black music) in a way no one else has or will. What other entertainer would follow up a successful R&B album with a country and western one? What other entertainer at the time could get the rights to his own masters (something most artists still don't have today, including some of the biggest names in the biz)? What other entertainer could do all this while addicted to drugs and blind? What other entertainer thought to mold gospel and R&B music? Last but not least, this entertainer did it while being a black man in a time when race was a severe drawback to one's chances at success in the world. And he stood up for America to live up to its creed of justice for all and equality of human beings. And he harbored little ill will towards those who had discriminated against him for so long in the 50's, 60's & early 70's.

 

[Adam's Apple]

You made a good case for Ray Charles' being on the list, Nato. Maybe that is how Entertainment Tonight saw his career as well.

 

[musicman]

Martha Stewart? What about Clint Eastwood or John Wayne? What about Martin Scorcese?

Also, how is Jacqueline Kennedy an American entertainment icon? If she's on there, surely her husband should be, too.

Or her brother-in-law, at the very least.

That guy's been splitting my sides ever since Chappaquiddick!

 

[Comrade]

Martha Stewart, wtf? Maybe one of the most notorious icons!

The idea that Martha or even Oprah are even on the same level as Elvis Presley is ludicrous. Sure, they're rich, but not especially talented or famous in a timeless way.

Here's a personal opinion based on real American history, from a global perspective on what constitutes American entertainment icons, given the peaks and valleys throughout their lifetimes:

10. Mickey Mouse
9. Ronald Reagan (famous for what he did after entertainment)
8. Tom Cruise
7. Charlie Chaplain
6. Michael Jackson
5. Marilyn Monroe
4. Frank Sinatra
3. Bob Hope
2. Arnold Schwarzenegger
1. Elvis Presley


Then again, this kind of analysis is open to personal introspection... :cof:

 

[Dan]

I wasn't trying to downplay Johnny Cash or Ray Charles, all I'm saying is this: before Ray Charles died, when was the last time anyone mentioned him? Now that he's passed on, everyone can't wait to sing his praises, and I think his inclusion on here has a lot to do with that. If he hadn't died, and if there wasn't a movie about him out, I don't think he'd be on this list.

 

[Dan]

10. Mickey Mouse
9. Ronald Reagan (famous for what he did after entertainment)
8. Tom Cruise
7. Charlie Chaplain
6. Michael Jackson
5. Marilyn Monroe
4. Frank Sinatra
3. Bob Hope
2. Arnold Schwarzenegger
1. Elvis Presley

I'd agree with this list a lot more, although I don't know about Tom Cruise. He's a good actor and all, but if you're looking at it through a contemporary viewpoint, then yeah, I could see him on there.

Also, why all this love for Elvis and no mention of Chuck Berry? Not to stir up a big discussion, but didn't Elvis basically take Berry's music and make it accessible to white people?

 

[Comrade]

I'd agree with this list a lot more, although I don't know about Tom Cruise. He's a good actor and all, but if you're looking at it through a contemporary viewpoint, then yeah, I could see him on there.

I couldn't think of any other actor celebrated worldwide as much as either Cruise or Schwartzenhagger. Normally demure Japenese girls will strip for Cruise in public!

Also, why all this love for Elvis and no mention of Chuck Berry? Not to stir up a big discussion, but didn't Elvis basically take Berry's music and make it accessible to white people?

Honestly, I can't remember what Berry is popular for.. Jazz? I'd imagine only the more cultured in the world would know of Berry, but just about EVERYONE knows who Elvis was.

 

[Comrade]

I wasn't trying to downplay Johnny Cash or Ray Charles, all I'm saying is this: before Ray Charles died, when was the last time anyone mentioned him? Now that he's passed on, everyone can't wait to sing his praises, and I think his inclusion on here has a lot to do with that. If he hadn't died, and if there wasn't a movie about him out, I don't think he'd be on this list.

Very good point.

 

[Dan]

I'd imagine only the more cultured in the world would know of Berry, but just about EVERYONE knows who Elvis was.

Very good point, yourself!

 

[Adam's Apple]

Comrade, I like your picks of Bob Hope, Mickey Mouse and Ronald Reagan to be on such a list. I read that Ronald Reagan's political philosophy was formed during his tenure as president of the Screen Actors Guild, where he constantly had to deal with the Hollywood socialists/communists, and also by his long tenure as host of the General Electric Theatre, where he traveled around the country a lot and mingled with all classes of people who make up the corporate world.

 

[Comrade]

Why thank you good sir.

 

[Adam's Apple]

My pleasure! Keep sending those good ideas to the board for consideration.

 

[fuzzykitten99]

it is highly doubted that Snoop listens to ANY country music, but i am sure he has heard it from time to time.

call me racist, bigoted, whatever, but most blacks don't listen to country. to them (from what i have been told by a few) it's the white man's r&b, and they are fine with keeping it that way, because they have their own style. i am sure there are some that DO listen to it, but most likely less than 1% of the black population. when's the last time you saw or heard a black country singer, male or female?

that said, when johnny cash died, i don't think it was a bad thing for Snoop to acknowledge Cash's accomplishments, and praise someone of a totally different culture, age, race, etc. You can know who a famous person is, especially in the same line of work, but not enjoy/use the product that the person produces.

does that make sense? sometimes the message and what i am thinking don't exactly match.

 

[dilloduck]

it is highly doubted that Snoop listens to ANY country music, but i am sure he has heard it from time to time.

call me racist, bigoted, whatever, but most blacks don't listen to country. to them (from what i have been told by a few) it's the white man's r&b, and they are fine with keeping it that way, because they have their own style. i am sure there are some that DO listen to it, but most likely less than 1% of the black population. when's the last time you saw or heard a black country singer, male or female?

that said, when johnny cash died, i don't think it was a bad thing for Snoop to acknowledge Cash's accomplishments, and praise someone of a totally different culture, age, race, etc. You can know who a famous person is, especially in the same line of work, but not enjoy/use the product that the person produces.

does that make sense? sometimes the message and what i am thinking don't exactly match.

I don't know percentages but a hell of a lot of blacks in Texas can twang some country with the best of the white folk .