Almost Famous Not

Fame. Popularity. Recognition. Since he hasn’t called, I’ve been searching for updates on my #2 boyfriend, Harlemm Lee. Unfortunately, I haven’t found much on his…

by j. brotherlove

Fame. Popularity. Recognition.

Since he hasn’t called, I’ve been searching for updates on my #2 boyfriend, Harlemm Lee. Unfortunately, I haven’t found much on his whereabouts and such. I was expecting more fanfare on the web especially since I was excited when he won the Fame competition. I don’t get excited often.

But, now that I think about it, even the American Idolers have cooled down for a bit. Maybe it’s off-season for reality show celebrities. Every “star” has its season, I suppose. That sobering fact (coupled with my finances being twisted like pretzels) got me to thinking about winning and success and how difficult it is to come out on top (although, at this point, I’d settle for the middle).

In fact, once you do “win”, the luster from that accomplishment fades like cheap silver. I’m struggling with that desire, right now. Wanting to be more successful, popular, famous - if you will, but apprehensive of the work needed to maintain the momentum, lest I end up un-Google-fied six months later - like Harlemm.

Vaguely Reminiscent
Three questions asked of B. D. Wong from the June 10th issue of The Advocate (where it was un-shockingly revealed that Wong is gay):

So you’re not as successful as you’d like to be?
Every once in a while, when you’re at low ebb, you say to yourself, Why can’t I have that? Why can’t that be me? Like Adrien Brody [accepting his Best Actor award at this year’s Oscar ceremony]. With that one speech, he’s a household name.

You’d like to be more famous?
I’m already more famous than I want to be. And yet at the same time, fame feeds your potential as a creative person. You’re in a vacuum if you don’t have a certain amount of fame.

Meaning?
Meaning you cannot be not famous and say to people, “Read my book.” They just don’t go together.

“They” truly don’t. With all of the struggling artists out there churning out creating passionate, provocative work, “they” are more excited to hear about P. Diddy running in a fucking marathon.

Please know that I am not hating (I have a draft about ‘hating’ if you’re interested). I’m just wondering what do you have to do to get noticed around here. By “here”, I mean work, family, relationships, etc. I left off weblogging since I already got a taste of web popularity with my Joe No Go post (google it, Mary). I realized then that one has very little control over what readers respond to and how they respond (as Steven is learning).

So I’m dusting off my personality and giving this shoulder-rubbing technique a shot. It can’t hurt and my hermit tendencies are not paying off. While I’m at it, I’ll attempt to apply that philosophy to my web presence, as well. You never know when you’ll get an opportunity to shine.

seems that people will always remember you. whether or not they make any kind of effort to contact you is another issue altogether.

i didn’t even know that B.D. Wong was in the Advocate. i hate how i miss eveything!

I told Taurean when I first saw Harlemm that he reminded me of this Asian guy fromt he 80’s named Gerry Woo. Then again, he was only four or five at the time.

I was seven. Grown, baby.

And B.D. Wong’s, gay? Hell, I knew that when he was on Margaret Cho’s sitcom.

quite frankly, i always thought you were famous.