Pop-Ed: Lindsay Lohan Can Get Her Career Mojo Back

By Joel Keller Posted May 1st 2010 02:40PM

It wasn't that long ago that Lindsay Lohan was considered a rising young star, and a look at her IMDb profile reveals some surprises.

Remember how good she was in Tina Fey's 'Mean Girls?' That was only six years ago. Even in a clunker like 2005's 'Herbie: Fully Loaded,' you could see Lohan's star potential -- even if you were too distracted by her chest to care about whatever else was going on in the movie.

So, despite everything that's gone on in her life recently -- including getting dumped from her latest movie, 'The Other Side' -- there's still plenty of time for LiLo to get her career mojo back. However, it's going to take a few steps for her to do it. Here's what we think she needs to do to turn it all around:

1. Bow to the altar of Oprah. The quick path to career rehab almost always seems to go through Harpo studios. Lohan would be the latest in a long line of celebs with soiled reputations to go on Oprah Winfrey's show and get a tough, but fair and sympathetic, interview.

When Whitney Houston needed a boost in her comeback, she talked to Oprah. When Jay Leno needed to tell America that he didn't stab Conan in the back, he gave the big O a call. And when McKenzie Phillips decided to tell the world that she had a sexual relationship with her father, she didn't mess with some tabloid -- she broke the news on 'Oprah.' There's a precedent here that Lindsay needs to pay attention to. When you want the world to see your side of a controversial story, you pull up a seat on Oprah's couch.

Imagine a cleaned-up LiLo, looking fantastic and confident, answering questions from Oprah about what she was thinking, for instance, when she decided to step out on the town with some weird powder covering her feet. And imagine Lindsay actually answering Oprah honestly. If that's not a big first step, I don't know what is.

2. Take a cue from Sandra Bullock about controlling your image. Sandra Bullock is a huge star, just won an Oscar and is going through a very public and painful divorce. But, somehow, she's not only been in full control of who takes her picture and when, she also managed to keep the adoption of a baby boy a secret.

There's a lesson here, and it's one that most celebrities either don't or won't learn: you can be a public person and keep your private life private. Sure, it takes some street smarts and a lot of effort, but if Lohan wanted to go underground, she could. She could muzzle her wacky parents somehow, either by offering money, giving them a fake job to keep them quiet or threatening to sue. She could go where she knows there won't be any paparazzi, or she could simply stop leaking word to the paps where's she's going to be and when. When a celebrity takes control of her media exposure, the perceived tawdriness of their lives magically disappears.

3. Do more Funny or Die parody videos. Didn't you gain a little bit of respect for LiLo after she did this video for Funny or Die?

Lindsay Lohan's eHarmony Profile from Lindsay Lohan

She should do a few more videos like this. In the span of a minute and a half, she acknowledged and made fun of just about every sticky situation she's put herself in during the last few years. It's also a good way to show that her comedic chops are still in good shape. The more we think she has a sense of humor about herself, the more people will forgive her sins.

4. Shrug your shoulders and say, "Whaddya gonna do?" Again, it's about Lohan getting in front of the news, not trailing behind the tabloids and paparazzi. Even if she does the three steps above, there's still potential for her to screw up. When she does, all she needs to do is look the press straight in their lenses and say, "Oh, well. Lesson learned." The more she tries to hide from her "bad girl" image, the worse it is going to be portrayed.

What do you think it'll take for Lindsay Lohan to rehab her career? Or is she a lost cause?

Tags: career rehab, lindsay lohan, the other side

Comments

(25)

Thursday 29 April

By themeeker

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It's too late for her to win the fans back. She should have thought about all of this before her first car crash.

Sunday 02 May

By BTDT

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No need for her to jump through hoops.
And Oprah is about played.
Simply put, #1 grow up, #2 get a job.

By George Davis

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I never really left her as a fan but I keep my fingers crossed that sooner or later she'll get her act together.

By Dave

Nothing magical: Shut up. Show up. Clean up.

Saturday 01 May

By laine

Dave, add one more thing--drop her mom!

By daisy

She is just another Hollyweird freak with too much money and no character or morals. She and others like her no longer shock people, so therefore they probably get bored easily with their wealth and fame.

By Alysia

i like her i think she is cool.everyone goes through hard things in life, it isnt an excuss for immature choices, but hey, we all do them dont act like you dont. i think she should try out for a big movie and if she gets the part i think she will get her career back..and her life is "her" life...who cares how she lives it she's an adult. we shouldnt judge other people when we have many things to be judged for too

By Brianna

She may have to hit rock bottom like Robert Downey Jr did. It didn't seem like he was going to get his career back, but he appears to be in a better place and his career is better than ever.

By warcraffl6

Another pretty one that isnt worth the trouble bring a week man down.It looks like the drugs and alchol are takeing more of a effect on woman.The chemicals dont leave there body like mens.If she keeps it up i bet her organs shut down in her late 30s.I bet it effects there brain differnt to.

By kirkpolar3

Maybe, just maybe, Lindsay will rehabilitate her image around the time you learn to spell. I always find it amusing when someone, such as yourself, speaks so grandiloquently...yet doesn't even know the difference between there and their. After you learn the easy grammar rules, study the nuances effect vs. affect. I suggest utilizing spell check your next diatribe including multi-syllable words. Although, most of us really enjoy the good laughs provided from nugatory individuals such as yourself.

By shari

jeez, Popeater..who do you work for? You guys write SO much about saving this child. Let her go!

By nrwlbt

how many more days do we have to look at this loser?

By sotrue

Cant get something back you never had and I dont see where she ever had any MOJO! She was a terrible actress and her life has always been a mess. I think she better just get a job a real job and forget about acting, she didnt do it then and she cant do it now....

By Roger Thompson

Lindsay is a very pretty, and I'm guessing, but a very talented and skillful actress. She has an identity dilemma, and she just needs to get away from everything. Get a laywoman job and live in a layperson situation, avoiding all public scrutiny. And, then do some real soul searching...to rediscover her grandest version of the greatest vision of who she really is, and then make that her burning desire in her life.

By avispcc

give someone else a chance who appreciates it....obviously, the writer of this article cares more about Lindsay Lohan's career than Lindsay Lohan. Quite beating a dead horse so to speak....there are plenty of talented young actors and actresses that would love a chance at Hollywood!

By Bob E

Its a shame. She was a good looking kid who imo was a decent child actress with some promise of a career.

It seems at this point that only a miracle could turn things around for her.

Things happen and people lose track of where they are headed but unless they want and seek help well bad things happen.

By hoverZero

This is the result of the era of Britney Spears who glamorized farm life. You all unknowingly fell for her fake image & gave rise to more Hollywood trash. Luckily there are 13 million illegal aliens for them to hide in.

I blame Britney Spears & everybody who glamorized her, she was too old to change. Hollywood's image is now a cow pie.

By raymond harber

she is pretty much done as a human being,she is just a drunk lesbo crack HO.and i was beimg nice she is really not that good.

By amotisi

Boring why do people insist on keeping her in the spotlight.Go to Greece and get lost in the Island of Lesbo and take Kim and Paris with you.I run into more beautiful and interesting young women at the Coffee Bean or Starbucks on Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills every day of the week.

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