DISGRACED CELEB. OF 2009 (& Zooey too…)

« Death in Hollywood Anonymity- The Tragedy of Brittany Murphy By Libby Cudmore

Tiger ‘Wins’; Zooey Wins (& who’s teeing up behind them?) »

DISGRACED CELEB. OF 2009 (& Zooey too…)

December 29, 2009 by easearle

Will Zooey Deschanel be our Blog's 'Hit Girl' of 2009?

What a year it has been in the anals of Disgrace. And now the time has come to pick Disgraced Celebrity of 2009. On a lighter note, we’ve also been counting blog-hits and it looks as if our Hit Girl of the Year may well be Zooey Deschanel, star of our ‘It Girl’ post. More on Zooey soon.

First let’s visit the Dark Side and our Race for Disgrace. Not only did 2009 mark the birth of this Disgraced-Celebrity-Enabling blog, but the birth of a whole new mutant breed of Balloon Boy celebrities, who arrise out of thin air, talentless, bourne aloft by nothing more than high-octane cases of Attention Desiring Disorder.

Levi Johnston bares his armpit in PLAYGIRL

The Heenes, the Salahis, the (now ‘ex’) Gosselins. From thin air they came and soon will vanish. Then at the other end of the celebrity spectrum, we have the SuperStars who SuperStumble. Take Tiger.

Will he join the likes of Disgraced Celebrity of the Summer, Sarah Palin, or Disgraced Dudes of the Fall, Levi Johnston & Jon Gosselin?

Chris Brown took an early lead in the year's Race for Disgrace

(All of these worthies, BTW, still eligible to take the year-end prize). Don’t count out Chris Brown(right), Roman Polanski, Mark Sanford, Kayne West– & Charlie Sheen.

Cast a vote in COMMENTS, before they all fade into thinnest air. As wise woman Judith Podell wrote to us: “Tiger Woods in terms of magnitude of Fall From Grace, but Levi Johnston is so much more entertaining. On the other hand, there’s the Schadenfreud factor with Tiger…it’s been a good year.”

PS: To jog our memories, look at the year’s Celebrity Arrests…as well as Celebrity Shockers.
PPS: Check out new FICTION by ANGELA STILL on our StarLit. page!
… (photos: Levi: blogzap2; Chris B.: justjared.buzznet.com; Zooey D: Blogtown & cbc.ca)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Balloon Boy, Chris Brown, Jon Gosselin, Levi Johnston, Mark Sanford, Method Man, Ron Wood, Salahis, Tiger Woods, Zooey Deschanel, Zooey Deschanel photos | 31 Comments

31 Responses

on December 29, 2009 at 4:13 am | Reply caitlin

“Tiger. He snuck in at the last minute, but BOY! Did he win the grand prize of Disgraced Celeb of the Year. Talk about fall from grace.

Charlie Sheen is running a close second right now. He’s always been sketchy, but there’s nothing like threatening wife number 3 with a knife on Christmas. He deserves permanent coal in his stocking for that one.

Jon Plus 8 guy is so over. Levi has become a bore, too.
on December 29, 2009 at 4:15 am | Reply easearle

Right on the money, as always Caitlin–

So true that Jon G. & even Levi feel so ‘last year’–

Yes, Charlie Sheen is making a last-minute entry into the sweepstakes, but no one fell so far, so fast as Tiger–

it’s his to lose!
on December 29, 2009 at 4:36 am | Reply livvy

yes, it is not that he has done the worst things
but he had the biggest and most spectacular fall

so my vote goes to tiger too.
on December 29, 2009 at 4:40 am | Reply easearle

Well-put– with this ‘award’ it’s not necessarily (as Roman Polanski & Chris Brown will be relieved to know) the worst behavior but the ‘best’ disgrace that deserves to ‘win…’
on December 29, 2009 at 5:19 am | Reply Lisa

I’d like to offer an additional nominee: Courtney Love, sneaking in under the wire and losing custody of her daughter before the year is over!
- on December 29, 2009 at 3:59 pm | Reply easearle
  
  Interesting choice– ah, Courtney; too long out of the spotlight.
  
  Always good to hear from you, Lisa. Rock on–
  E
on December 29, 2009 at 1:23 pm | Reply Mary K.

Alas, I am one who likes, OCD, to have criteria. At the cries naming Carlos Estevez (to use his real name, as booked), and even Tiger, I tend to protest: but, it’s disgraced celeb of the YEAR, not of this month. Yet Tiger’s seems the greatest (at least in public knowledge) fall from the grace in “disgrace.” But memory is short- where’s our hiker on the Appalachian Trail? From Bible beater to blatant cheater overnight.
And Charlie’s knife-wielding esp. given his Christmas timing, is giving a good run at the worst behavior sub-category cited, then dismissed, by easearle above. But in that area, Roman Polanski’s drugging and raping a child (and then fleeing a ridiculously light sentence!), yet garnering worldwide support from his fellow “artistes,” ranks as worst “behaved” (as if rape is a mere lapse in etiquette) and most chutzpah-filled defense (“I’ve suffered enough, all these years,” he snivels.)
Added to “the harder they fall” & most egregious disgrace, is a 3rd possible factor– the ones who dragged out their lame, inane claim to fame and shame, ad nauseum ad infinitum ’til we couldn’t stand another look at their sorry mugs (or other parts). Those would be Levi (“don’t nobody need to SEE that!”) Johnson and Jon “why are you even HERE?!” Plus8 Guy.
Decisions, decisions… And such an important one, too… Well, the worst felon, Polanski, has been disgraced in my book for all these years, not just 2009, so his fall is out of bounds. And Jon & Johnson are epic fails in even BEING legit celebs, so they’re out. Tiger, yeah, baby-faced Tiger fell so far so fast, and for the 1st dozen mistresses, I yawned “Why do I CARE?!” But now he’s impairing golf & sports TV revenues AND, apparently, “working on his marriage” by partying w/ his mistress #1 on his yacht! But Sheen, he deserves something for his end of the year sprint for the finish.

Aw, geez, Coz Liz, can I split my vote between Tiger and Carlos E? If not, put me down for the mean Sheen, then, just b/c I’m sick of Tiger Woods’ colossal ego.
on December 29, 2009 at 3:55 pm | Reply bill

Sarah Palin because she is a public figure who influences the idiot vote
on December 29, 2009 at 3:57 pm | Reply easearle

Hi Bill–
very good point– yes, Sarah P. sure does effect more people than Tiger W. ever could….
on December 29, 2009 at 5:01 pm | Reply matthewquinnmartin

Tiger is a billionaire who wacks around a little white ball…who cares?

and I still want to point out THE disgraced celebrity of 2009 is CONVICTED CHILD RAPIST ROMAN POLANSKI (…although a lot of the disgrace should fall on those who make apologies for his crime…what if it was your sister? daughter? ask yourself that).
on December 29, 2009 at 5:44 pm | Reply easearle

Yes, I hear you and agree: Roman is the ‘worst’ in terms of deeds– yes, lock him up for sure and throw the key away.

In terms of Disgrace of the year, we have interesting interpretations– as ‘Livvy’ posted, it’s not always the worst deeds but the most spectacular fall, which gives Tiger who had the furthest to fall, the edge.

But Roman P. deserves infamy more– we shall see and thanks for adding perspective here–

Little white balls are as nothing compared to young women, I agree….
- on December 29, 2009 at 10:38 pm | Reply easearle
  
  PS on Polanski:
  Another thought I have on Roman is that he and Chris Brown and the others who really committed criminal acts are just too darn depressing and disgusting to contemplate for long.
  
  One reason the Tonya and Nancy scandal that I have milked for all its worth has endured is that no one died; Nancy wasn’t crippled; the bad guys went to jail. So we can look back and cringe and laugh even though it was a dreadful violent incident.
  
  The same is not true for Roman and co., so I think the blog-readers in choosing Disgraced Celeb. of the Year are also considering which scandal they most ‘savored,’ if that makes sense– and Roman may be too foul a taste…
  
  But we shall see!
on December 29, 2009 at 5:45 pm | Reply myra

Has to be Tiger–Falling from the very top.
on December 29, 2009 at 5:46 pm | Reply easearle

Myra:
You put it very succinctly; yep, furthest to fall, top to bottom in a breathtaking month…
on December 29, 2009 at 10:39 pm | Reply Debbie

Janet Napolitano
on December 29, 2009 at 10:41 pm | Reply easearle

Hi Debbie:
Thanks for this serious choice– we are flying this week and scared of it all, for sure. Hopefully they will get to the bottom of the blame, but the buck does stop with Janet…
on December 29, 2009 at 11:49 pm | Reply Mary K.

Alas, I am one who likes, OCD, to have criteria. At the cries naming Carlos Estevez (to use his real name, as booked), and even Tiger, I tend to protest: but, it’s disgraced celeb of the YEAR, not of this month. Yet Tiger’s seems the greatest (at least in public knowledge) fall from the grace in “disgrace.” But memory is short- where’s our hiker on the Appalachian Trail? From Bible beater to blatant cheater overnight.
And Charlie’s knife-wielding esp. given his Christmas timing, is giving a good run at the worst behavior sub-category cited by easearle above. But in that area, Roman Polanski’s drugging and raping a child (and then fleeing a ridiculously light sentence!), yet garnering worldwide support from his fellow “artistes,” ranks as worst “behaved” (as if rape is a mere lapse in etiquette) and most chutzpah-filled defense (“I’ve suffered enough, all these years,” he snivels.)
Added to “the harder they fall” & most egregious disgrace, is a 3rd possible factor– the ones who dragged out their inane claim to fame and shame, ad nauseum ad infinitum ’til we couldn’t stand another look at their sorry mugs (or other parts). Those would be Levi (“don’t nobody need to SEE that!”) Johnson and Jon “why are you even HERE?!” Plus8 Guy.
Decisions, decisions… And such an important one, too… Well, the worst felon, Polanski, has been disgraced in my book for all these years, not just 2009, so his fall is out of bounds. And Jon & Johnson are epic fails in even BEING legit celebs, so they’re out. Tiger, yeah, baby-faced Tiger fell so far so fast, and for the 1st dozen mistresses, I yawned “Why do I CARE?!” But now he’s impairing golf & sports TV revenues AND, apparently, “working on his marriage” by partying w/ his #1 on his yacht! But Sheen, he deserves something for his end of the year sprint for the finish.
Aw, geez, Coz Liz, can I split my vote between Tiger and Carlos E? If not, put me down for the mean Sheen, then, just b/c I’m sick of Tiger Woods’ colossal ego.
on December 29, 2009 at 11:53 pm | Reply easearle

Hi Mary K–
THANKS for this very thorough and thoughtful analysis–
you cover all the bases here–
Yes, it’s fine to split your vote between Tiger & Carlos E.– hadn’t thought of him, and Sheen thrown in there too for good measure. Good to hear there is someone else out there who mulls these things over as much as I do–

I like hearing from a kindred spirit– E
on December 30, 2009 at 2:22 am | Reply MaryHarwood

Tiger immediately springs to mind, along with that dufus who jumped on stage during the Emmies. Then there’s our gal from Alaska who is a disgrace every time she opens her mouth! Hi Elizabeth!
on December 30, 2009 at 2:24 am | Reply easearle

Good to hear from you Mary–
yes, let’s not forget Kayne West & Sarah Palin!
on December 30, 2009 at 4:04 am | Reply litotes

The sovereign state of Lurkerstan proudly casts its vote for … Mark Sanford!

Three cheers for “hiking in the Appalachians”, on Father’s Day no less.

Three more cheers for that interminable press conference. As David Rees (of Get Your War On fame) points out, that’s where we met South Carolina’s only Emo governor.

Against stupidity, the gods themselves contend in vain. In 2009 at least.

So … may I also nominate an UNdeservedly UNdisgraced celeb of the year? Who else but Sarah Palin?

Hopefully time marches on (they do have “time” up there in Alaska, don’t they?) and eventually stupid will out.

I’m looking forward to something along the lines of a Michael Jackson nose job. Or better, a botched “hit contract” on Levi.
on December 30, 2009 at 4:20 am | Reply easearle

I can’t improve on this observation:

“Against stupidity, the gods themselves contend in vain. In 2009 at least.”
- on December 30, 2009 at 12:24 pm | Reply litotes
  
  Credit where credit is due …
  
  “Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.” – Friedrich Schiller (Talbot in Maid of Orleans)
  
  Recycled by Isaac Asimov, as the title of a sci fi novel about indifference to the sun about to go nova. Relevant to the climate brouhaha, wouldn’t you say?
  - on December 30, 2009 at 1:29 pm easearle
    
    Thanks Litotes & Fredrich S. for that quote which I should post on the Blog banner!
on December 30, 2009 at 12:57 pm | Reply Mary K.

@litotes- And 3 cheers for the priceless David Rees quote– SC’s first emo governor! Love it!

Also gotta love the wisdom of Friedrich Schiller, a sage ancestor of my sons, at least according to their father, John Christopher (named for Johann Christophe S.) and his late father, Frederick Schiller. Much more eloquent than our modern “You can’t fix stupid,” both versions being the only plausible explanation for Palinistas and the “Birthers.”

As for Palin, please don’t be too harsh on the beautiful state of Alaska. I follow the Anchorage Daily News (long, sad story- since the 2008 murder there of my dearest friend, who used to gleefully keep me posted on how UNpopular Palin had become), & methinks the cold and dark aren’t the only reasons she’s fled the old homestead. There may still be plenty of rightist Repubs up there, but Sarah is no longer their darling; she is regularly flamed in the comment threads.
on December 30, 2009 at 1:33 pm | Reply easearle

Hi Mary K– yes, I so agree– LOL on Mark S. as Emo Guv– can an album be far behind? To strains of Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina, which my husband was quick to play the day of MS’s meltdown?

And yes, let’s not blame ALASKA for Sarah P– Alaska is full of cool (in every sense) people and it’s true that they were ‘on to’ her before anyone…

Cheers and happy to have you commenting, Mary K!
on December 30, 2009 at 2:34 pm | Reply Penny2

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/20/opinion/20rich.html

I yield my vote to New York Times Columnist Frank Rich who far more eloquently than I made the case that Tiger Woods should be Time’s Person of the Year instead of Ben Bernanke. This amazing two paragraphs compares Tiger’s fall from grace to Enron’s:

“What’s striking instead is the exceptional, Enron-sized gap between this golfer’s public image as a paragon of businesslike discipline and focus and the maniacally reckless life we now know he led. What’s equally striking, if not shocking, is that the American establishment and news media — all of it, not just golf writers or celebrity tabloids — fell for the Woods myth as hard as any fan and actively helped sustain and enhance it.

People wanted to believe what they wanted to believe. Tiger’s off-the-links elusiveness was no more questioned than Enron’s impenetrable balance sheets, with their “special-purpose entities” named after “Star Wars” characters. Fortune magazine named Enron as America’s “most innovative company” six years in a row. In the January issue of Golf Digest, still on the stands, some of the best and most hardheaded writers in America offer “tips Obama can take from Tiger,” who is typically characterized as so without human frailties that he “never does anything that would make him look ridiculous.”

*****

So I guess what I’m trying to say here is that I cast my vote for Tiger Woods as Disgraced Celebrity of the Year, not for what he IS but for the corporate excesses he EMBODIES.

And I once again mention my hope for the future of dramatic TV that is not reality TV with great shows like Flash Forward. And the real upswing in kids movies with great movies like Up and Walle and Where the Wild Things Are. I end 2009 on a very hopeful note!
on December 30, 2009 at 2:59 pm | Reply easearle

THANKS Penny 2– I loved that Frank Rich write-up too and I agree: a Tiger win would be symbolic of a whole year/decade of corporate and other ‘fakes’–

Also I love you wanting to end on a positive note– when we announce disgraced Celeb of the year we will also predict some Rising Stars– and will try to Flash Forward to the new year…
Cheers! Elizabeth
on December 31, 2009 at 5:14 am | Reply Cholla

For best celebrity of the year Bobbie Jeen Olson who is hosting a new TV show about local country music in Arizona called “Arizona Country” You can find out more about this TV Show on our webpage http://www.arizonacountrytv.com
on December 31, 2009 at 5:19 am | Reply easearle

Hi Cholla–
Sounds like a fun show–
and good to have a nomination for an UN-disgraced
celeb. of the year. Keep us posted on Bobbie Jeen
and the Arizona celebrity scene–
cheers–
Elizabeth
on December 31, 2009 at 5:58 am | Reply easearle

Hi Elizabeth
Yes I will keep you up to date on the “Arizona Country” TV show. I am working on it as the Production Supervisor and Editor through my Company Cholla Production LLC in Phoenix, AZ. You can view other projects that I have completed on my web page http://www.chollaproductionaz.com
thank you and Happy New Year!!!
take care
Bill