Jenny Nicholson is a video essay star, what is an A-Lister, Ben Affleck's on-set focus and gendered expectations, Angelina Jolie's 'Without Blood' (or a date), Karla Sofía Gascón’s fight, and more
I almost feel like A-Listers are their own category apart from Legends and Superstars, because they often inhabit specialized or rarified little worlds that large subsets of people enjoy, but they haven't necessarily infiltrated the monoculture. More than movie stars, I'm thinking of athletes, classical musicians, fashion designers, and artists who are gigantic in some parts of the world and only really famous in others.
The first example I can think of is Kylie Minogue, who is like GOD-tier famous in Oz, and in the States, she's still a very, very famous person with a few hits, but she's not on the same level. I would personally say that she's A-List on every continent, but in her home country she's worshipped. She's waaaaay more than merely A-List, just like I feel Madonna surpasses that label by a stretch.
And I think the definition largely hinges on generational perception. And maybe some admitted self-centeredness. My A-Listers are people like Julia, Angie, Salma, Sandra, Uma - i.e., all of the Gen-Xers who've aged (or not, in Salma's case) alongside me. :-)
But then there are Legends, and that's another category. Julie Andrews, Madonna, Mick Jagger, and Stevie Wonder are the first ones to come to mind. I think Beyonce hit that point about a decade ago. People who are *that* famous are in their own pantheon (Princess Di, if she were still alive, would be there). It their career longevity, but also the fact that I feel most people around the world with sporadic access to media outlets could nod their head in recognition, and maybe even name them.
ANYHOO, I wouldn't *personally* call Jenna Ortega an A-Lister, but that's because she hasn't saturated enough of my pop culture-rabid world yet. Two or three years ago, I wouldn't have said that about Timothee Chalamet, but I'll sure as shit say it today. Zendaya? Welcome to a lifetime of superstardom, chief.
Generational and cultural (to me). Julia is an A-List American film star (and many other places), but anonymity is the only thing that never heard of Michael Jackson (Janet is not far behind, but they have been in everyone's eyeballs before they could have a say). I think Hui was trying to make the comparison with Asian A-listers maintaining their positions and I think you are circling the point. Can't go anywhere in America or most of the globe? I think that's why my eyes burn every time Benito (world famous) has his name listed after his situationship. She is not good at her job (not a smize to be seen, and she had Tyra on the TV teaching her... what is the reason?? Not saying Tyra was doing nice things, but she was constantly talking about the power of the eyes *sigh*), but I'm off the focus. Lainey makes a point about BTS and other KPop groups because they're reach is beyond one country. I don't think Sandra Bullock is getting mobbed in Chad, but she is my national fav. There's a bit on Real Househusbands about Black famous and I always keep that in mind. Sometimes I read the social media post and it feels heavily beige most of the time to the point where Tisha Campbell was posted, but the point of the gossip wasn't Tisha. Felt like a Paula Abdul song. It's not intentional, but it speaks to perspective. Rock, Mindy, Gabrielle, JLo, Salma and Kerry can be joined by MJ Blige (+ many kinds of kinds of people)and her incredible boot deal. Jennifer Myer sells hoops to famous people, but so does Simone Smith. Mary wears it! The other people in pictures with Ms Tina are CONNECTED. Bianca Lawson is the daughter of a GORDY and Richard Lawson *Dre's voice from Brown Sugar*. She's not A-list, but is she about the same talent level as her fellow nepo Dakota Johnson. I'm still upset Tracee Ellis Ross was hawking their movie and selling it like she was a prominent character. I hope it was because she was a producer. Dakota was dry. I hope she improves. Meanwhile, someone else is loving the info on Jennifer Myer. I've gotten off track. I do agree that Zendaya and Law are going into the stratosphere on the back of good taste (fashion is work). Plus going to the opening of an envelope (his old school words). My algorithm showed me Joe Lin today, and I am thankful.
I'm so happy to see Jenny Nicholson mentioned here!! I got sucked into her channel during the lockdowns, and I felt it was a smaller niche corner of the internet that no one I know ever talks about. She is one of the few people out there who can LOVE something and still objectively critique it, while still being balanced. I was subscribed to her Patreon for a few years, and followed her journey with the Star Wars hotel pretty closely -- she underplays it but she is actually a GIANT Start Wars fan. She was on a YouTube series called the Millennial Falcon... and she WORKED at Disney parks for several years.
If you're looking for an entry point, Dear Evan Hasen and the Hallmark channel video are 10/10. Edited to add -- so is the Bronycon video! A deep dive into the My Little Pony fandom, super fascinating and very very engaging.
Hallmark and 20min got my attention. She's probably a good listen for getting things done. Her having $6k to try a hotel makes me think her business is fruitful.
seeing the mention of Jenny Nicholson made me so happy!!! Her video about the church Easter plays has now become what I watch instead of going to church on Easter. I laugh so hard. I'm a big youtube essay fan. There's such great actual criticism going on there, but done in such an entertaining way.
The plagiarism video is legendary. That's why I reject the YouTuber label for some of these people. Their work is top notch, so well researched and crafted.
Thank you! Burned my weekend watching Jenny Nicholson deep dives. My SIL is a Disney adult and I was like “What do *you* think about corporate greed causing the collapse of the Star Wars hotel?” As if I have any idea what I’m talking about. But Jenny’s breakdown makes me feel so informed!
I almost feel like A-Listers are their own category apart from Legends and Superstars, because they often inhabit specialized or rarified little worlds that large subsets of people enjoy, but they haven't necessarily infiltrated the monoculture. More than movie stars, I'm thinking of athletes, classical musicians, fashion designers, and artists who are gigantic in some parts of the world and only really famous in others.
The first example I can think of is Kylie Minogue, who is like GOD-tier famous in Oz, and in the States, she's still a very, very famous person with a few hits, but she's not on the same level. I would personally say that she's A-List on every continent, but in her home country she's worshipped. She's waaaaay more than merely A-List, just like I feel Madonna surpasses that label by a stretch.
And I think the definition largely hinges on generational perception. And maybe some admitted self-centeredness. My A-Listers are people like Julia, Angie, Salma, Sandra, Uma - i.e., all of the Gen-Xers who've aged (or not, in Salma's case) alongside me. :-)
But then there are Legends, and that's another category. Julie Andrews, Madonna, Mick Jagger, and Stevie Wonder are the first ones to come to mind. I think Beyonce hit that point about a decade ago. People who are *that* famous are in their own pantheon (Princess Di, if she were still alive, would be there). It their career longevity, but also the fact that I feel most people around the world with sporadic access to media outlets could nod their head in recognition, and maybe even name them.
ANYHOO, I wouldn't *personally* call Jenna Ortega an A-Lister, but that's because she hasn't saturated enough of my pop culture-rabid world yet. Two or three years ago, I wouldn't have said that about Timothee Chalamet, but I'll sure as shit say it today. Zendaya? Welcome to a lifetime of superstardom, chief.
Great point about every industry having its own a-list, as well as there being a generational element.
Generational and cultural (to me). Julia is an A-List American film star (and many other places), but anonymity is the only thing that never heard of Michael Jackson (Janet is not far behind, but they have been in everyone's eyeballs before they could have a say). I think Hui was trying to make the comparison with Asian A-listers maintaining their positions and I think you are circling the point. Can't go anywhere in America or most of the globe? I think that's why my eyes burn every time Benito (world famous) has his name listed after his situationship. She is not good at her job (not a smize to be seen, and she had Tyra on the TV teaching her... what is the reason?? Not saying Tyra was doing nice things, but she was constantly talking about the power of the eyes *sigh*), but I'm off the focus. Lainey makes a point about BTS and other KPop groups because they're reach is beyond one country. I don't think Sandra Bullock is getting mobbed in Chad, but she is my national fav. There's a bit on Real Househusbands about Black famous and I always keep that in mind. Sometimes I read the social media post and it feels heavily beige most of the time to the point where Tisha Campbell was posted, but the point of the gossip wasn't Tisha. Felt like a Paula Abdul song. It's not intentional, but it speaks to perspective. Rock, Mindy, Gabrielle, JLo, Salma and Kerry can be joined by MJ Blige (+ many kinds of kinds of people)and her incredible boot deal. Jennifer Myer sells hoops to famous people, but so does Simone Smith. Mary wears it! The other people in pictures with Ms Tina are CONNECTED. Bianca Lawson is the daughter of a GORDY and Richard Lawson *Dre's voice from Brown Sugar*. She's not A-list, but is she about the same talent level as her fellow nepo Dakota Johnson. I'm still upset Tracee Ellis Ross was hawking their movie and selling it like she was a prominent character. I hope it was because she was a producer. Dakota was dry. I hope she improves. Meanwhile, someone else is loving the info on Jennifer Myer. I've gotten off track. I do agree that Zendaya and Law are going into the stratosphere on the back of good taste (fashion is work). Plus going to the opening of an envelope (his old school words). My algorithm showed me Joe Lin today, and I am thankful.
I'm so happy to see Jenny Nicholson mentioned here!! I got sucked into her channel during the lockdowns, and I felt it was a smaller niche corner of the internet that no one I know ever talks about. She is one of the few people out there who can LOVE something and still objectively critique it, while still being balanced. I was subscribed to her Patreon for a few years, and followed her journey with the Star Wars hotel pretty closely -- she underplays it but she is actually a GIANT Start Wars fan. She was on a YouTube series called the Millennial Falcon... and she WORKED at Disney parks for several years.
If you're looking for an entry point, Dear Evan Hasen and the Hallmark channel video are 10/10. Edited to add -- so is the Bronycon video! A deep dive into the My Little Pony fandom, super fascinating and very very engaging.
Hallmark and 20min got my attention. She's probably a good listen for getting things done. Her having $6k to try a hotel makes me think her business is fruitful.
seeing the mention of Jenny Nicholson made me so happy!!! Her video about the church Easter plays has now become what I watch instead of going to church on Easter. I laugh so hard. I'm a big youtube essay fan. There's such great actual criticism going on there, but done in such an entertaining way.
Shout out to Jenny Nicholson for making a four-hour video essay as compelling as hbomberguy's four-hour one on plagiarism on YouTube.
The plagiarism video is legendary. That's why I reject the YouTuber label for some of these people. Their work is top notch, so well researched and crafted.
Long youtube videos are more my jam that streaming services are. I don’t know why I’m more obsessed with the analysis than the fictional movies
In some cases, the deconstruction is more entertaining than the source text.
I definitely fall under that category. I just cancelled my subscriptions so I can catch up on more analysis videos on youtube😅
Just here to say I LOVE MICHAEL MICROPHONE and was so excited to excited to see him mentioned here. When he posts a 2 hour recap of Lost I am SEATED.
Thank you! Burned my weekend watching Jenny Nicholson deep dives. My SIL is a Disney adult and I was like “What do *you* think about corporate greed causing the collapse of the Star Wars hotel?” As if I have any idea what I’m talking about. But Jenny’s breakdown makes me feel so informed!
Thanks Sarah for (kind of) answering my questions 😀