Summer is officially over. Boo.The Times recently uncovered a frightening seasonal phenomenon. And no, it’s not about the rain. It’s about celebrities.
They kinda keep dying. Making this… (cue spooky music) The Summer of Death.
Morbid? Yes. But also true! The AP is in a bunch over the number of celebs who kicked it in the Summer of 2009 too. And New York Magazine, puts the number at 29 which nearly doubles their 1993 record of 15.
Numbers aside, the wattage of these stars are above average. Here’s the 11 I’ll miss most:
Walter Cronkite: What's the coolest thing you can say about the Most Trusted Man in America? He was made into a Muppet -- a grouchy journalist called Walter Cranky!
Best Quote: “Objective journalism and opinion column are about as similar as the Bible and Playboy magazine.”
Dominick Dunne: He was driven by the murder of his own daughter (and the slap on the wrist her boyfriend received for killing her), so I loved his coverage of high-profile criminal trials. It’s rumored that he got his big break in the literary world by being seated next to Vanity Fair editor, Tina Brown, at a dinner party. I really need to start eating out more.
Best Quote: “I’m sick of being asked to weep for killers. We’ve lost our sense of outrage.”
Farrah Fawcett: I saw the world's most popular pinup in Newark Airport years ago, coming off the red-eye from California. She really did have great hair.
Best Quote: “The reason that the all-American boy prefers beauty to brains is that he can see better than he can think.”
John Hughes: Man, I still can’t get over this one! This guy made me want to spend my teenage years in the suburbs of Chicago -- riding a parade float while singing Twist & Shout, blowing out the candles on my 16th birthday cake, and sitting in detention with a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and a criminal. He WAS the 80's.
Best Quote: “I don’t think of kids as a lower form of the human species.”
Michael Jackson: I’ve already told you how I feel about this one. But to me, June 25th was more than just the day the music died. It's also the day my boyfriend and I went on our 2nd date. We visited 5 Napkin Burger, where he ordered a delicious bacon burger and I ordered... a burger salad. Lame choice. Surprised he didn't tell me to beat it.
Best Quote: “Through it, my music, I know I will live forever.”
Billy Mays: What can I say about this densely-bearded fellow that I haven’t already said? His sales pitches were irresistable! I now have a Big City Slider Station in his honor, which I keep at my parents house in Florida because my apartment is too small.
Best Quote: “I don’t take on a product unless I believe in it. I use everything that I sell.”
Frank McCourt: I had the pleasure of meeting this kind man after the success of his memoir, Angela's Ashes, when I worked in book publishing. He truly was as charming, humble, and utterly delightful as you'd imagine.
Best Quote: "I wasn't prepared for America, where everybody is glowing with good teeth and good clothes and food."
Ed McMahon: It’s true, his face got a little freaky looking towards the end, but how can you not want to hug this affable late-night sidekick? He was like a human laugh track. I even enjoyed his Cash for Gold commercials with MC Hammer!
Best Quote: “Johnny once described our relationship by saying we were as close as two people could be without being married.”
Les Paul: You've got to admire a guy who never learned how to read sheet music, yet he invented the sound of rock and roll. His Gibson electric guitars sell for thousands. And bonus points because he lived in Mahwah, NJ for many years… bada bing!
Best Quote: "My first guitar came from Sears & Roebuck and I believe it was $3.95."
Patrick Swayze: Loved him in Dirty Dancing, Youngblood, Road House, The Outsiders and Point Break (Ghost? Not so much). But you know my favorite PSwayz role? Orry Main in the TV miniseries, North & South. His views were questionable, but he really rocked that mullet.
Best Quote: “Nobody puts Baby in the corner.” (c’mon, did you REALLY think I’d choose anything less?)
The Taco Bell Dog: Little Gidget (who assumed the role from a Chihuahua named Dinky) was a sombrero-wearing face of controversy in the Hispanic community for reinforcing bad stereotypes. But the next time I chow down on a MexiMelt, I’ll think of you…
Best Quote: “Drop the chalupa!”
Honorable mention also goes to Dom DeLuise (loved his cookbook Eat This -- never trust a skinny cook!) and Bea Arthur (snarky Dorothy Zbornak was my fave Golden Girl). They technically passed on before the summer began, but were still pretty cool peeps.
So, Celebrities, do yourselves a favor and stay home this fall. Get a nice Netflix subscription, a Snuggie, and a soothing chai latte.
The world will thank you.
Did I miss any of YOUR favorites? Add them below!
2 comments:
What about Ted Kennedy?
Anon, I left him out because this is a list of celebrities I'll miss. Do what you will with that...
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