Nobody Here But Us Celebs

It’s been a source of puzzlement in recent years: Why are Americans so fascinated with celebrities who, by any objective standard, are unfascinating? The chart below points to a possible explanation: Maybe we’re indulgent toward celebrities because so many of us expect to be celebs ourselves, however briefly. The figures come from a Harris Poll conducted this summer. People who’ve made it to age 65 without becoming famous are mostly resigned to finishing their days in obscurity, though a burst of fame still seems “very” likely to 6 percent and “somewhat” so to 8 percent of this cohort.