Back in the 1980's, there were two singers who here known as "bubblegum pop princesses." Both Debbie Gibson and Tiffany were considered serious lightweights in the music business, and I believe both got their start by singing in malls. At the time, I didn't care much for either, but had a smidgen more respect for Gibson because she wrote her own material, while Tiffany simply did covers of other people's work. Neither of them went beyond "flavor of the month" in the music biz, however.
Fast forward a little over a decade (Correction -- about two decades. Happy now, Ian?) , and let's check back in with both of them. Gibson, now going as "Deborah," having turned her back to the fickle recording industry, is a up-and-coming Broadway musical star. Tiffany, on the other hand, is desperately trying to recapture her brief, barely-existent moment of glory and following all the standard desperation moves, including breast implants and a (ahem) "spread" in Playboy.
CBS is often referred to as the "Tiffany" network. This originally was in reference to the jewelers Tiffany & Co., reflecting its status as the "crown jewel" of the Big Three broadcast networks. Now, however, I think of it in the above context -- aging and irrelevant, but desperately trying to recapture its past brilliance and doing whatever it can to get the attention of the public, no how matter how pathetic and disgraceful.
Is there anything sadder than the deafening silence of a former giant falling to the earth?
CBS is raging against the dying of the light, but we all know how that poem ends.
J.
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Comments (12)
CBS...the cubic zirconia ne... (Below threshold)1. Posted by bill | January 11, 2005 2:20 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
CBS...the cubic zirconia network?
1. Posted by bill | January 11, 2005 2:20 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 11, 2005 02:20
2. Posted by Ian Hamet | January 11, 2005 7:09 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Uh, Jay? Gibson and Tiffany were both has-beens by 1986.
This is 2005.
"A little more than a decade"?
2. Posted by Ian Hamet | January 11, 2005 7:09 AM |
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Posted on January 11, 2005 07:09
3. Posted by Jay Tea | January 11, 2005 7:11 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Ian, I am proud -- PROUD -- that I didn't have that info readily at hand. You, on the other hand, should be ASHAMED to know that much about those two.
J.
3. Posted by Jay Tea | January 11, 2005 7:11 AM |
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Posted on January 11, 2005 07:11
4. Posted by Jack Tanner | January 11, 2005 8:15 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
What possesses you to post crap like this?
4. Posted by Jack Tanner | January 11, 2005 8:15 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 11, 2005 08:15
5. Posted by Jay Tea | January 11, 2005 8:22 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
The sheer desire to annoy you, Jack. You and only you. Thank you for confirming my success.
J.
5. Posted by Jay Tea | January 11, 2005 8:22 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 11, 2005 08:22
6. Posted by Jack Tanner | January 11, 2005 8:46 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
De Nada. You got it.
6. Posted by Jack Tanner | January 11, 2005 8:46 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 11, 2005 08:46
7. Posted by Eric | January 11, 2005 8:52 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Actually, Ian, Tiffany's album "Tiffany" was released in 1987, while Debbie Gibson's "Electric Youth" was released in 1989. (Don't worry, I did have to look those up. I just remember their popularity coming during my college years, not my High School years.)
7. Posted by Eric | January 11, 2005 8:52 AM |
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Posted on January 11, 2005 08:52
8. Posted by Ben | January 11, 2005 9:30 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I get the impression you think of breast implants as being a bad thing?!?
8. Posted by Ben | January 11, 2005 9:30 AM |
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Posted on January 11, 2005 09:30
9. Posted by Woody | January 11, 2005 9:48 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
While I wouldn't recommend a spread in any magazine for Black Rock, an "implant" or two might not be a bad idea. If they really want to recapture their old "crown jewel" status, they should start with a new set of cojones.
Just sayin'.
9. Posted by Woody | January 11, 2005 9:48 AM |
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Posted on January 11, 2005 09:48
10. Posted by CGHill | January 11, 2005 5:07 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
As the resident DG fan, let me point out that "Lost in Your Eyes," the Debster's biggest hit (which was a track from, yes, Electric Youth), came out as a single at the beginning of 1989, and her last single to reach Billboard's Hot 100, "Losin' Myself," was released in 1993.
Yes, I have these. Why do you ask?
10. Posted by CGHill | January 11, 2005 5:07 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 11, 2005 17:07
11. Posted by shark | January 11, 2005 5:17 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Tiffany is either a strippers name or the name of a failed teenybop pop star.
Take your pick as to which is more appropriate for CBS
11. Posted by shark | January 11, 2005 5:17 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 11, 2005 17:17
12. Posted by Kim Scarborough | January 14, 2005 5:34 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Not to mess up your analogy, but when I was in New York I saw posters for an 80's-themed nightclub that was celebrating the New Year with a live Debbie Gibson show. So she's not above re-living her salad days.
12. Posted by Kim Scarborough | January 14, 2005 5:34 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 14, 2005 17:34