The Icon & the Twit

More than 40 years ago, Andy Warhol postulated that "everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes". In some respects, that's true, but some of the ones getting their time in the sun now have no idea that their time has run out.

This is certainly true of Tila "Tequila" Nguyen, former MTV reality show starlet, who was back in the news over Labor Day weekend, claiming that she was being choked by San Diego Chargers star Shawne Merriman. Early reports assumed that Nguyen was Merriman's girlfriend. That is not the case. Nguyen, according to Merriman's lawyer, was intoxicated and Merriman was trying to help her. To paraphrase Barry Manilow, some kind of friend she turned out to be.

Even though her MTV series, A Shot of Love, was cancelled after 2 seasons, Nguyen is making sure she stays near the celebrity radar by indulging, some say excessively, in the popular social networks like Twitter and Facebook. She's getting her side of the story out, however skewed it might turn out to be. Merriman, on the other hand, now has to deal with this distraction as he prepares to return to action after missing most of the '08 season with an injury. This time, his comeback could be curtailed if the NFL's Marshal Dillon, Commissioner Roger Goodell, decides to sit Merriman down for a few games in light of the criminal charges brought against him. We'll just wait and see, but we already know who stands to benefit the most from this drama, and it's Nguyen, gaining sympathy points while she plots her comeback.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the fame spectrum, game show legend Bob Barker was lured out of retirement to emcee WWE Monday Night Raw on Labor Day. Barker, promoting his autobiography, "Priceless Memories", was introduced to a loud, lengthy standing ovation by the fans in Chicago. Barker, 85, retired from The Price is Right 2 years ago, but the show was built around Price anyway, just as it could again down the road if current Price host Drew Carey, is brought in for a similar gig.

There was a point, though, where Barker's age became a factor, as he couldn't immediately discern the conclusion of one particular match while still on stage. That should come as a warning sign to WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, 64, that his own time as a viable presence in the WWE is nearing an end. Whereas McMahon at present needn't worry about his eyesight, it's the mind's eye that would be of greater concern. Back to Barker. He appeared to be legitimately flattered and happy with the reception he got, and did his level best to keep his segments from dragging too far off point. Not quite the best guest host Raw's had so far (that would be Shaquille O'Neal), but pretty close.

The difference between the legendary Barker and the attention-starved Nguyen couldn't be more obvious. Nguyen wants to stay in the spotlight, even though MTV is unwilling to enable her any further. Barker, doubtlessly, will hit the talk show circuit to plug his book, and then return to the quiet of retirement. The odd thing is, most casual viewers didn't realize that Barker, who'd made a return visit to Price last year, was still alive. It's not that Barker had been forgotten, it's that his retirement didn't require any unnecessary fanfare, and when he passed the torch, shall we say, to Drew Carey, he walked off gently into the sunset, content. Would that today's generation of instant celebrities would learn from his example.