Quick US Pop Culture Question

smallthunder · Mar 20, 2007

I don't watch TV or listen to current music, and rarely go to the movies (and then it's usually to see a foreign or indie film). In other words, I'm woefully ignorant about US pop culture.

But ... I need the name of a celebrity who has a "squeeky clean" image for my WIP. Someone who has a saintly reputation. I originally thought of Marie Osmond -- which tells you how out of it I am.

And it doesn't have to be a female celebrity, by the way -- just someone relatively current, famous, and who is heading to Heaven (so to speak).

Any ideas?

I just need a name for a certain paragraph -- so no need to go into details or direct me to fan sites. I'll go with the consensus.

alleycat · Mar 20, 2007

Carrie Underwood, Oprah, Tom Brokaw.

Rich · Mar 20, 2007

Reba MacInitire(sp?)

smallthunder · Mar 20, 2007

Hmmm ... Oprah sounds like a possibility. She certainly thinks of herself as a saint ...

I'm afraid I don't know who Carrie Underwood is, so I can't respond -- let's see what others think, though.

alleycat · Mar 20, 2007

Beverly Sills, Jimmy Carter (?), Arnold Palmer.

The Scip · Mar 20, 2007

I would say Oprah too (even though she annoys the hell outta me)

alleycat · Mar 20, 2007

Billy Graham (them, not me), Michael Jordan (?), Katie Couric (them, not me).

katiemac · Mar 20, 2007

What's your age range? Are you looking for a role model for adults or teens?

smallthunder · Mar 20, 2007

katiemac said:
What's your age range? Are you looking for a role model for adults or teens?

That distinction doesn't matter, for the purposes of my WIP -- just has to be somebody who is famous enough to be known to most people, with a reputation for being "squeeky clean."

Jersey Chick · Mar 20, 2007

Sandra Bullock

Tom Hanks

How sad is it that they are the only two I can think of?

The Scip · Mar 20, 2007

alleycat said:
Michael Jordan (?), Katie Couric (them, not me).

Michael Jordan wouldn't be squeaky clean He has a HUGE gambeling problem and I think he cheated on his wife before he got divorced.

Katie Couric is a good one though.

Sage · Mar 20, 2007

smallthunder said:
That distinction doesn't matter, for the purposes of my WIP -- just has to be somebody who is famous enough to be known to most people, with a reputation for being "squeeky clean."

Go with Oprah then. There was a pop culture show on a couple of years ago (on MTV or VH1 maybe?) which stated she was the #1 most recognized pop culture icon in the world. Beat Superman & Micky Mouse

smallthunder · Mar 20, 2007

Oprah, then?

So, is there a general consensus that Oprah, besides being famous, is well known for her good/saintly qualities?

That most people, if they believed in Heaven/Hell, would naturally expect her to head to Heaven after she passes away?

[I personally have never watched her TV show, but what I've heard of it -- & the fact that she has a magazine named after herself -- gives me the impression that she has an enormous ego. If she really doesn't come across that way to most people -- i.e. she really has the saintly rep -- she'd be perfect for the reference in my WIP.]

Oh, wait a minute -- I know who Katie Couric is! She is very much in the "Marie Osmond" mode, in terms of celebrityhood. She'd be good, too.

Better than Oprah, in terms of positive reputation?

alleycat · Mar 20, 2007

Yes, most people would believe Oprah would go straight to heaven . . . right after helping herself to the buffet line. ;-)

I'm sure she has a big ego (it's hard not to if you make that much money and are that adored); however, she's about as good as it gets for a well-known celebrity. By the way, I've run into her (sort of . . . from a distance) at the Nashville Farmers Market a time or two. She grew up and went to school here.

By the way (and if it makes any difference to you), I don't think the Bible says anything about anyone going to straight to heaven. I think that comes at the "end of days". Others would know this detail better than I would. But, in novels and movies, people get their wings right away so I wouldn't worry about it.

scarletpeaches · Mar 20, 2007

That Britney Spears seems like a clean-living kinda girl.

veinglory · Mar 20, 2007

Um, I read women's magazines and they have plenty of stuff about Oprah's outrageous spending and secret lesbian relationship etc etc

Jersey Chick · Mar 20, 2007

Oprah also was just in the news for opening that school in Africa (South Africa?) - people were a little puzzled why she went there instead of helping out in Chicago. Personally, I think you're better off with Katie. If there are skeletons in her closet, they're well hidden under the linens.

Rabe · Mar 21, 2007

John Heder. Probably the most famous Mormon actor right now.

Steve Young was also pretty clean. Again, LDS.

Julia Roberts (except for the Vera Wang thing)

Olivia Newton-John

As for Katie Couric - there's a lot of reports about her diva like attitude.

Will Ferrell, bad actor but not a lot scandals.

Jessica Simpson. But a bit of an airhead.

Rabe...

katiemac · Mar 21, 2007

Can you go with someone fictionalized, or must it be a real person? I.e., someone mentioned both Mickey Mouse and Superman (probably more Clark Kent, though). Fictional characters may give you a better comparison, especially since they're unlikely to change with time.

C.bronco · Mar 21, 2007

Wow, better check the Mormon papers.

Southern_girl29 · Mar 21, 2007

How about Will Smith? I don't think I've ever heard anything bad about him. He and his wife seem to have a great reputation.

smallthunder · Mar 22, 2007

Thank you all for helping me get more up to speed here on pop culture -- I've decided to go with Katie Couric.

Cat Scratch · Mar 22, 2007

I don't think of Katie Couric as saintly or heading-straight-for-heaven. If that's the conclusion you want your readers to leap to upon hearing the name, you may want to pick someone else.

Faith Hill is pretty well known for her squeaky-clean reputation.

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