So You Want To Be A Celebrity

by Steve Allen

They say everyone today wants to be a celebrity. Certainly, we're all happy to watch them. From reality television and talent shows to tabloid splashes and gossip magazines, the road to modern fame is littered with the hopeful, the misguided, and, occasionally, the downright cynical. It's often a tale of rags to riches and then back to rags again. So why can't we stop looking? And who exactly buys the T-shirt, wears the perfume, visits the salon?In this witty and insightful tour of the underbelly of the celebrity world, LBC's Steve Allen takes us by the hand and leads us through the highs and lows of life as a modern-day 'sleb' - why they're there, and what we've all done to deserve this. Required reading for watchers and wannabes alike, this is your essential guide to one of the most bonkers aspects of modern Britain.

113 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

Stephen Valentine Patrick William "Steve" Allen was an American television personality, musician, actor, comedian, and writer. Though he got his start in radio, Allen is best-known for his television career. He first gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. He graduated to become the first host of The Tonight Show, where he was instrumental in innovating the concept of the television talk show. Thereafter, he hosted numerous game and variety shows, including The Steve Allen Show, I've Got a Secret, The New Steve Allen Show, and was a regular panel member on CBS' What's My Line?

Allen was a "creditable" pianist, and a prolific composer, having penned over 14,000 songs, one of which was recorded by Perry Como and Margaret Whiting, others by Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Les Brown, and Gloria Lynne. Allen won a Grammy award in 1963 for best jazz composition, with his song The Gravy Waltz. Allen wrote more than 50 books and has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Reviews

[Ruairidh Burras · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little redundant now, but fun as a nice little book-end having just finished Unreal (the podcast which I’ve spent the last month mentioning in every conversation).
I have decided I no longer want to be a celebrity. Sacking my agent on Monday.

[Jonny Brick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Diverting essay from 2015 which is almost a eulogy for a pre-Internet era of celebrity (Jade Goody, Jodie Marsh, Katie Price, The Beckhams). A successful argument against the nature of fame.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting observations about celebrity culture. I can hear Steve Allen’s voice as I read this, it’s like his radio show put on paper.

[William B · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Lbc radio talk show host has a lot of cutting (and rather repetitive) remarks about 'c' rate TV wannabes. Wonder what this book has to offer? More of the same I should think. Today's read, tomorrow's bin liner no doubt. I'll pass.