Rectums like Opie/aka Ron Howard are idolized and treated as leaders. Their opinions were sought on everything and they took themselves just as seriously — after all, if an entertainer/athlete is paid a million or more a year, he knows he/she/it is important … so he/she/its opinions of foreign affairs and domestic policies must be important, too.
Even though they proved them self to be both ignorant and subliterate every time they open their mouth.
(Most of there fans were/are just as ignorant and unlettered; the disease was spreading.)”
Robert A. Heinlein, To Sail Beyond the Sunset
Hollywood’s rich and famous are that because of their make-believe activities. Being directed to act as someone else, then becoming famous for pretending to be someone else, or for directing others’ pretend activities. And get filthy rich for it.
They know their fortunes are from make-believe. And most athletes fortunes are from playing a game with a ball.
No wonder so many actors and athletes desire to be known for something ‘real’, and punditry is easy, with fast feedback.