A rchive Date
[ 09-08-2000 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ Mass Media ]
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[Scandals are our lifelines
By RACHEL SA
Toronto Sun
Tuesday, August 8, 2000
You know, I had no desire to look beyond the funky monochromatic suits and consider the fact that Regis Philbin even has a penis, let alone what he might do with it. Alas, that terrifying notion is now floating around in my brain, thanks to the latest news about Regis' sex scandal.
Yes, I did just use the name "Regis" and the word "sex" in the same sentence. Ewww!
I'm sure this whole embarrassing scandal will eventually become an integral part of public consciousness (like Kathie Lee and the alleged sweatshops or Meg Ryan's supposed dalliance with Russell Crowe) but for those of you who still remain blissfully ignorant, allow me to bring you up to speed.
It has been reported that the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? host was involved in an extramarital sort-of affair with a former L.A. Rams cheerleader named Maria Majarek in 1991. (No, that wasn't a typo. This all happened in the early '90s - almost a decade ago. This isn't news - it's nostalgia.)
Oh the horror! Will the government collapse? Is this the end of life on Earth as we know it?
Who cares?
All right, so I'm sure Regis' wife Joy will care. Although she can take comfort in the fact that, according to the diary Majarek kept which chronicled the affair, Regis and Majarek, who was also married, never actually had sex. (I'll bet Joy feels heaps better about this whole situation now).
But the debate of what does or does not constitute sex is another topic for another (pardon the pun) tongue-in-cheek column. Tee hee.
Seriously though, I don't understand the rabid public interest in these types of stories, whether they be scandals of sex or the lack thereof. Okay, when Bill Clinton got it on with Monica Lewinsky, that sort of involved the public because he was compromising his position as president of the United States, yadda yadda yadda. We all felt we had a right to tune in.
But how does the fact that Regis Philbin reportedly engaged in some extra-curricular activities when I was 10 years old affect the rest of the world in any way, shape, or form? Unless the resulting scandal causes him to miss hosting a few episodes of Millionaire, it really doesn't.
Are we, the public, drawn to scandals like this because we put our celebrities on a pedestal? Is it that we assume they're somehow a higher form of life than we lowly mortals and it's therefore a great shock to realize they're only too human? Or do we just take a sort of sadistic pleasure in watching someone better off than us take a fall?
Whatever the reason, I think we as a society need to collectively refine our tastes a little.
Of course, the bright side of scandals is the free publicity they generate. I wouldn't be surprised if more people tune in to Millionaire or Live with Regis just to get a look at the guy on TV who allegedly sort of cheated on his wife.
Heck, look at someone like Britney Spears. She seems to be caught up in a cleverly crafted mini-scandal each and every week, many of which turn out to be hoaxes after making the front page (this week she's apparently stalking Prince William). A little embarrassing, sure, but great publicity.
Still, it makes me wonder what future generations might think about us when they look back and discover that our idea of earth-shattering news was that the host of a TV show may have (sort of) fooled around on his wife.
That's not to say that the public doesn't benefit from learning about the hardships of certain celebrities.
Take Charlton Heston, for example. His publicist recently revealed the 76-year-old actor and National Rifle Association president has a problem with alcohol. I'm sure Americans everywhere are sleeping better at night, knowing that juicy tidbit about the guy who's a role model for gun-lovers everywhere.
Letters to the editor should be sent to editor@sunpub.com
 World Fact Book (CIA)]
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