Blog by Sean Gehon, Wednesday, February 28, 2007

The art of rekindling one’s career is a difficult task in Hollywood. Many celebrities have found their careers floundering in has-been status. From The Osbournes to our favourite Newlyweds, it doesn’t matter which generation of has-been you’re a part of, reality television has a place for you. Some stars find their star created out of a reality show. Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie wouldn’t be anyone today if it weren’t for The Simple Life. Musical superstars were made by American Idol a la Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson. Reality television has cemented its place in our culture, probably so we can laugh at those as pathetic as we are. For whatever reason we’re watching, one more celebrity is about to join the ranks.

Britain may be home to the royal family, but the tabloids have created celebrity royalty in David and Victoria Beckham. Victoria rose to fame in the 1990’s as one member of Britain’s highly successful Spice Girls. David Beckham is one of soccer’s most popular athletes, and he just signed a 250 million dollar deal with the LA Galaxy in the United States. With every new move comes new opportunities, and Victoria Beckham isn’t going to let her husband have all the American glory. It’s no secret that since the Spice Girls split up, no individual girl has achieved the level of fame the quintet once enjoyed. The couple have made a name for themselves as Europe’s answer to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. After launching a successful fashion campaign with Rock & Republic, Victoria is getting ready to bring her fashion style to this side of the pond by way of her own reality television series.

Little has been revealed about the upcoming realty series.  At this point, it’s only a rumour. We do know that it will focus on Victoria’s move to America and her attempt at launching a fashion line. Somewhere or another I read that it may be an attempt to compete with Tyra Banks’ reality series, Americas Next Top Model. Frankly, I’ve always enjoyed Victoria Beckham. Whether she was prancing around with the Spice Girls or making an attempt at her own solo career, I’ve been a fan. The tabloids often paint Victoria out to be some sort of ‘femme bot’ or other emotionless creature.  I, for one, don’t believe it. After watching many, and I do mean MANY, Spice Girls interviews, Victoria always came across as bubbly and energetic. It would be nice to see how Victoria behaves on a typical day. Will she be funny? Will she be Jessica Simpson dumb? Perhaps we’ll be pleasantly surprised and see an intellectual side of Posh.

I admire Victoria’s desire to find her own fame and not exploiting her family. Though we may see a cameo by David, the show will not focus on the Beckham clan. The Osbourne family may have been willing to sell out their entire lives for fame, but Victoria is playing it smart by putting only her own life on the small screen. We’ve seen a rash of celebrity couples put their lives on display for the world. From Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro to Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson, some of reality TV’s leading couples have found their way straight to divorce court. Can David and Victoria’s relationship survive their own reality TV adventure?

Only time will tell what is truly in store for the Beckhams on this side of the world. Victoria could wind up being a bigger star than she already is, or could find herself laughed back to England. Can David bring a greater awareness to the LA Galaxy? Maybe he’ll even be able to bring them to a world championship. David and Victoria Beckham have been married for nearly eight years.  If rumours of infidelity and constant paparazzi attention hasn’t torn them apart, I highly doubt a little bit of television will cause any more chaos.

I wish the Beckhams the best of luck. I’ll be watching David play soccer (mostly waiting for his shirt to come off), and you can bet, I’ll be there watching all of Victoria’s reality television adventures… if the show comes to fruition.

Sean (Let Your Head Go --- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8oRQEwpGHM )

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