Just a week away

[Michael Black]

When Ken posted about the upcoming contestants, I didn't see anything
obvous about when this Race would start.

I see from the listings that it starts a week from tonight, no more wild
Friday nights out now. And it waited till after the Superbowl.

Time to pack in the snacks in anticipation, though I can't remember what
gimmick was used to pick contestants this time, so I can't remember if
we're supposed to like this one or not.

Michael

[Brian Smith]

Post by Michael Black
When Ken posted about the upcoming contestants, I didn't see anything
obvous about when this Race would start.
I see from the listings that it starts a week from tonight, no more wild
Friday nights out now. And it waited till after the Superbowl.
Time to pack in the snacks in anticipation, though I can't remember what
gimmick was used to pick contestants this time, so I can't remember if
we're supposed to like this one or not.
Michael

It's starting before Survivor? Does that mean another case where the show
gets preempted two weeks in a row?

[Frosty]

Post by Michael Black
When Ken posted about the upcoming contestants, I didn't see anything
obvous about when this Race would start.
I see from the listings that it starts a week from tonight, no more wild
Friday nights out now. And it waited till after the Superbowl.
Time to pack in the snacks in anticipation, though I can't remember what
gimmick was used to pick contestants this time, so I can't remember if
we're supposed to like this one or not.

Internet stars.

[Michael Black]

Post by Frosty

Post by Michael Black
When Ken posted about the upcoming contestants, I didn't see anything
obvous about when this Race would start.
I see from the listings that it starts a week from tonight, no more wild
Friday nights out now. And it waited till after the Superbowl.
Time to pack in the snacks in anticipation, though I can't remember what
gimmick was used to pick contestants this time, so I can't remember if
we're supposed to like this one or not.

Internet stars.

Thanks, I remember now that you mention them.

So I guess nobody most of us here have heard of?

Michael

[Frosty]

Post by Michael Black
So I guess nobody most of us here have heard of?

I only know a couple of youtube people and i h8 them so :)

[Karen M]

Post by Michael Black
Thanks, I remember now that you mention them.
So I guess nobody most of us here have heard of?
Michael

Pretty much. I'm still intrigued by the concept of an "internet star". WTF?

Karen

[Michael Black]

Post by Karen M

Post by Michael Black
Thanks, I remember now that you mention them.
So I guess nobody most of us here have heard of?
Michael

Pretty much. I'm still intrigued by the concept of an "internet star". WTF?

Once upon a time, it meant the person who kept the faq for a newsgroup, or
someone like Ken posting his recaps every week. It was just someone who
made a bit more effort than the rest of us.

Now it means the same thing as offline, someone who has followers and
fame, and they haven't had to do much other than look good to get there.

Michael

[Karen M]

Post by Michael Black

Post by Karen M

Post by Michael Black
Thanks, I remember now that you mention them.
So I guess nobody most of us here have heard of?
Michael

Pretty much. I'm still intrigued by the concept of an "internet star". WTF?

Once upon a time, it meant the person who kept the faq for a newsgroup, or
someone like Ken posting his recaps every week. It was just someone who
made a bit more effort than the rest of us.
Now it means the same thing as offline, someone who has followers and
fame, and they haven't had to do much other than look good to get there.
Michael

Oh, I get that an "internet star" has about as much value to society as any given Kardashian. I just fail to see why anyone gives a damn about them. Really, Angelyne (Google her) should have been the beginning and end of the "I want to be famous for being famous so I'll make myself famous" nonsense. FWIW, I saw her in a local store a couple years ago--yes, she really tromps around like that even though time has not been kind to her. Scary.


Karen

[Rob Pyle]

Post by Michael Black

Post by Karen M

Post by Michael Black
Thanks, I remember now that you mention them.
So I guess nobody most of us here have heard of?
Michael

Pretty much. I'm still intrigued by the concept of an "internet star". WTF?

Once upon a time, it meant the person who kept the faq for a newsgroup, or
someone like Ken posting his recaps every week. It was just someone who
made a bit more effort than the rest of us.
Now it means the same thing as offline, someone who has followers and
fame, and they haven't had to do much other than look good to get there.
Michael

So which throwback "Internet Stars" should make an appearance?

I would start with the Mikkelsons from Alt.folklore.urban, who went on to start/own snopes.com?

James 'Kibo' Parry?

Of course Thor from rec.sport.golf!

[Questor]

Post by Michael Black

Post by Karen M

Post by Michael Black
Thanks, I remember now that you mention them.
So I guess nobody most of us here have heard of?

Pretty much. I'm still intrigued by the concept of an "internet star". WTF?

Once upon a time, it meant the person who kept the faq for a newsgroup, or
someone like Ken posting his recaps every week. It was just someone who
made a bit more effort than the rest of us.
Now it means the same thing as offline, someone who has followers and
fame, and they haven't had to do much other than look good to get there.

That's a pretty unfair characterization. Unlike the Kardashians or their
antecedents, the Gabor sisters, these so-called "Internet stars" have actually
done something. They regularly create videos which they post on sites like
Youtube. Their videos were entertaining enough and interesting enough that
their respective audiences have grown to millions of people. That's no small
accomplishment -- consider the viewership numbers of the average network
scripted drama in these days of 500 going on 5000 channels and on-demand
everything. (For the record, I've heard of just one of these teams, since they
are involved in an activity that I am also.)

W.R.T. the subject of recaps, back in the mid-'90s, a student at U. Penn started
writing episode recap/reviews of his favorite shows like NYPD Blue and posting
them in the appropriate newsgroups. His skill was evident and the write-ups
were very popular. This body of work helped him land a job as a television
critic for the Newark Star-Ledger. If you pay attention to by-lines, you may
have heard of Alan Sepinwall.

[Nancy Dooley]

Karen, most are YouTube "stars" with followers....I like the guy who
makes Vine videos; I have seen several of them played on other
programs like Ellen or GMA...his have some magic or optical illusions
created within them which makes them really fun to watch.

N.

[shawn]

On Sat, 13 Feb 2016 18:01:20 -0800 (PST), Nancy Dooley

Post by Nancy Dooley
Karen, most are YouTube "stars" with followers....I like the guy who
makes Vine videos; I have seen several of them played on other
programs like Ellen or GMA...his have some magic or optical illusions
created within them which makes them really fun to watch.
N.

The only one that I had actually seen before was the flight attendant
because her video of her giving flight safety instructions was really
popular a few years ago. I had heard of Rooster Teeth but never
watched any of their vids so didn't recognize those two. The others
are unknown to me even though I watch a fair number of YT vids but
there are just so many that's not surprising.

[Nancy Dooley]

I don't hang out on YT at all, so only know about some if they have been on
other shows I watch. I don't "do" social media in any form.

N.