A Phenomenal Career Suicide

National Review Online (The Corner feature) ^ | 3/15/03 | Rod Dreher

[WarrenC]

A PHENOMENAL CAREER SUICIDE [Rod Dreher]

This Dixie Chicks thing is getting very, very serious for the group. Mind you, I'm not a big one for boycotts; if I threw away CDs of artists whose politics I couldn't stand off my shelf, there'd be very little left to listen to (a reader wrote to say she'd taken her child to hear the great kids' musician Dan Zanes play recently, and he shared his anti-war politics with preschoolers. Asinine!). However, I completely understand country fans wanting to rebuke severely the Dixie Chicks for that disgraceful comment Natalie Maines made on foreign soil. This thing is turning into something huge. Read what reader Dave in Georgia wrote to me this morning:

Here in the Red Zone, the imminent demise of the Dixie Chicks is a topic of everyday discussion, not just a Internet thing. And every country radio DJ is being forced to take a stand. I came home yesterday, and my wife asked me if she was supposed to take her CDs to the radio station, or if I knew where she was supposed to mail them. Radio call-ins range for tearful pleas to pray for the Chicks, to heavily bleeped suggestion for new names for the group.

This thing is turning into a phenomenal case of career suicide. What on earth could Natalie Maines have been thinking, saying such an idiotic thing, given her fan base? Can anybody think of a similar case of a popular performer collapsing professionally virtually overnight because of something he or she said?

[FITZ]

For some reason Jerry Lewis always gets brought up when there's France bashing --because I think they look down on us for not recognizing his genius. Like mimes too ---the French think those are so cool but I think most Americans don't like mimes.

[MigrantOkie]

"there's enough Bush Haters out here to sustain them"

There's about enough of those country fans to fill a hole-in-the-wall. Great career.

[MigrantOkie]

"When I'm at work, out in the field, I represent my employers, and everything I do, good or bad, reflects on them. If I say something offensive to a client, I have to deal with the consequences of my statements. I know of cases where people have been fired for doing or saying something upsetting to a client."

I have unfortunately been there and done that. I have done something stupid off the job with a client. I threw myself on the sword when given the option. I have later worked with the same employer and the same client. The matter was dropped, but it was the client's choice and the client decided that if it wasn't mentioned it didn't matter and me and the actual individual involved worked together and did our jobs. It was my fault, it cost me money from time off work, I took responsibility for it. I've been there. I have no pity.

[Maximum Leader]

For some reason I remembered that Pickford endorsed Warren Harding in 1920 (sadly, my cranium is filled with odd bits of political trivia), I googled it and voila...

"In fact, many of the actors and the actresses who joined the "Harding-Coolidge Theatrical League" were making the transition from stage and vaudeville to the silver screen. They included Mary Pickford, Ethyl Barrymore, Pearl White, Lillian Gish and Pauline Frederick , Ethyl Barrymore, Pearl White, Lillian Gish and Pauline Frederick."

[jejones]

The "Uncle Don" story is an urban legend; see www.snopes.com for details.

[jejones]

Hmm. How about Jack Paar and the infamous "WC" joke?

[nygoose]

I remember when her line of exercise clothing came out in the late 70's or early 80's. It was after the phenomenal success of her exercise videos which were purchased by foolish and emotional young women.

Marshall Field and Company in Chicago promoted the clothing line heavily when it was introduced. The line was heavily discounted within about a week of introduction and was "remaindered" shortly thereafter.

[RipSawyer]

"The interesting thing is that over the last decade the line between "country" and "pop" is very blurred."

Real country music has been dead for years, just as the lifestyle it sprang from has been dead for years. You can't get real country music from kids who don't even remember a world without cell phones and computers, you get it from people who remember plowing mules and picking cotton and there aren't many of us left.

[RightOnline]

"Please correct me if I am wrong, but hasn't Jane Fonda only had moderate success as an actress?"

I think she won an Oscar for "Klute".

[Illbay]

Jane Fonda visited Hanoi in 1972. That same year she was awarded the "Best Actress" Oscar for her performance in "Klute."

In 1979 she was awarded the "Best Actress" Oscar for the anti-Vietnam movie "Coming Home."

I trust that answers your question.

[Illbay]

JF never reached "Dixie Twits" fame and fortune!

I guarantee you if you did a poll, asking "Who is Jane Fonda" and "Who are the Dixie Chicks?" Fonda would get a far higher "recogniition" number.

[RWG]

collapsing professionally virtually overnight because of something he or she said?...i did not have sex with that woman...never mind.

[luigi]

Thanks for the link to the eBay auction! I am surprised that it had no bids. Until I got there, that is.

[Dialup Llama]

Its like the Dixies Chicks woke up one day and thought they were Coldplay. But wait a second. They are a country band which is listened to in places like Texas of which are Dixie Chicks are ashamed. Hey everyone. We think our customers are dopes! Not a good idea.

[Dialup Llama]

>"The Hours will win BIG this year. It has everything that Hollywood considers sacred: self-centered feminism, the glorification of homosexuality, the noble AIDS victim. I haven't heard one person say he/she has seen that movie."

And to get completely OFF topic. Why is Frida still playing anywhere? Its a movie about some lesbo chick who dug Stalin. Its pure art house fare for the Volvo driving crowd. Why is it still is theaters?

[Mad Dawgg]

"Kurt Cobain's career came to a screeching halt when he shot his mouth off..."

Bwah hahahaha

[Aeronaut]

If you can explain to me why this never happened to Jane Fonda, but will happen to these folks, I'd be interested to hear.

She had a nice body and would get naked for the cameras.

[lonestar]

Chrissie Hynde

Who is that?

[merak]

The "Uncle Don" story is an urban legend; see www.snopes.com for details.

I don't view Snopes as an ultimate expert on this sort of thing. I've spoken with people who heard the broadcast.