Hi Everybody,

Well, seeing as we went through Celebrity Deaths 2006 and an end of the year Celebrity Broken Hearts Rant; it only seems fitting that sitting here on New Year’s Eve 2006 we pay a little attention to the recent AOL poll which gathered data concerning the best and worst celebrities of the year, and, also, some interesting hero and villain data.

(big 2006 celebrity collage after the jump)

Now, as a perennial (at least it seems) student who’s spent a good bit of time in sociology classes, I’ll tell you what’s not often made clear about polling: that it’s, plain and simple, complicated and problematic… by definition. I begin exploring this idea in an article which questions the data indicating Seinfeld dvd sales were up after Richards’ hate rant.

So, before getting into the results of the recent best worst hero villain celebrity poll, let’s consider the actual poll methodology. Unfortunately, that’s a problem, because, all that’s indicated on the actual AOL site is that this is a AP-AOL News poll. And, CNN, no surprise, is no more illuminating in their coverage of said poll.

There are several interesting things: to begin, it always amazes me the level of respect that CNN receives… such a thoroughly biased, slanted, and, as you can see in this case, at times unsubstantiated source… Really, it’s remarkable to me that this way of doing business is acceptable. If you want us to consider the results of your poll, it would seem sensible to include some details about the poll methodology. Well, in my research today, no such luck…

Thus, I am going to analyze the results a bit, but, please understand, I give the results of this so-called “AP-AOL News poll” no credibility, and, neither should you. What they actually demonstrate is their arrogance: as if the simple designation of AP AOL is supposed to suffice. Arrogant indeed!

“Oh, it’s AP-AOL!!! Enough said!”

Well, not enough said for me… not nearly enough said! I want poll methodology! That means I want to see the details of how the data was gathered. There was a popular saying in the sociology classrooms in which I sat: “A poll can show whatever you want it to show.” And, I’ve learned that this is the case.

So, moving along one thing that’s given their little poll some real legs… some real media coverage… is that in response to the polling for whom was the biggest hero of 2006 and the biggest villain, President Bush topped both lists. In fact, no surprise again, that’s the lead-off paragraph of their story. Well, of course it’s the lead-off. It’s a quirky, unexpected result and it grabs the imagination and attention. And, a poll can certainly show such a result! If you select the appropriate demographic (sample) to produce such a result. I’m not saying these folks are lying. I believe their data showed exactly that!

But, what of the methodology!

I’ll tell you this much based upon common sense. If you had a real balanced American sample it would not produce such a result. President Bush is largely unpopular at the moment. This has been confirmed by numerous polls: thus giving it more credibility. In addition, you can sense this information just by being a living breathing American going through the daily course of life. The whole never-ending Iraq thing, etc. etc.

So, just based upon common sense, it seems rather unlikely that the populous is split on whether they consider him a hero or a villain. That’s right… just not buying it! But, it does make a wonderful lead-off for a story… sure!

In the realm of entertainment celebrities, it seems Oprah Winfrey was slightly ahead of Michael J. Fox for best celebrity role model… well, we’ll play along with this murky poll for a bit: I’d say those are fair choices; though, they are open to criticism. Oprah Winfrey has been widely criticized for not exuding an authentic African American identity. Now, I’m just a white girl with a skinny heinie, so, I wouldn’t be so audacious to present that as my view. As a white American girl, I don’t believe it would be my right to have that view.

However, it is a view that I’ve seen expressed numerous times: that Ms. Winfrey isn’t truly down with her people and, instead, caters to middle class, middle-aged white ladies. Well, looking around her studio audience, that does often seem to be the case. Is there anything wrong with it? I don’t know. I just have this persistent vision of her awkward expression when that idiot was jumping around on her couch. That must be a tough position for a host to be in… in your gut, you very well might be tempted to say, “Cut the nonsense asshole and act like an adult.” But, you’re the host, and, you just can’t do that; and, besides, the middle class, middle-aged white ladies in the audience might not appreciate this sort of honestly. After all, they found it oh so charming. Barf.

Now, as far as Michael J. Fox… I’m really not sure whether I consider him an outstanding role model. Now, I don’t want to be offensive to any of my readers, but, I am obligated to express myself honestly, and, I can’t help but wonder: what is it exactly that makes Mr. Fox a role model? That’s a fair question… right?

It seems to me Mr. Fox has a serious illness, and, he’s trying to save his own ass. Now, I can appreciate that… certainly… if I were in his shoes, I’d be doing the exact damn thing… but, I’m not sure that makes one a role model hero. Show me an advocate for a cause who stands to personally gain nothing from the cause. That’ll be my celebrity role model hero!

Now, in the realm of worst celebrity role models, Britney Spears took top honors. Considering this is America and her recent pussy-flashing debauchery antics, I don’t think there’s anything too shocking about this result. I said that I think we should pray for Britney’s sanity, and, it appears that these antics might also be an attempt to further her career. And, I agree that she’s not a very outstanding role model.

Britney’s brief pal Paris Hilton was bestowed the second worst celebrity role model distinction. I like Paris, but, they got this one right… the whole drunk driving thing: not good. Mel Gibson was in third place (for obvious reasons). And, it’s interesting to note that Mr. Michael Richards finished with a paltry 6 percent of the vote. I don’t know about you… but, where I’m from, yelling “nigger nigger there’s a nigger” and elaborating about a lynching that also involves a fork-up-the-ass is just a wee bit worse than a young girl flashing her cunt, but, you know, call me crazy! La dee doo da day.

Happy new year everybody!
Yours truly,
Katie

Technorati Tags: celebrity, celebrities, 2006, end of year, Hollywood, Michael Richards, Michael J Fox, New Year’s Eve, hero, villain, poll, sociology, seinfeld, AP-AOL News poll, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, CNN, Oprah Winfrey

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