Why Charlie Sheen Keeps Winning and Lindsay Lohan Keeps Losing

By Jo Piazza Posted Mar 18th 2011 01:00PM

At first glance the similarities between Lindsay Lohan and Charlie Sheen seem to trump their differences. Both were wildly successful in their own rights -- she in teen flicks, he in sitcoms. Both have addiction and relationship dramas, both have daddy issues and both screw up. A lot.

But while Sheen seems to be encased in kryptonic armor protecting him and his bank account from all of his misdeeds, Lohan can't even keep a movie gig, and no one wants to pay her to do much of anything, even sell tights.

What gives? Is it a male/female thing? The age difference? I don't think so. Sheen has simply made better personal branding choices. He gives America the product they want.

Bret Easton Ellis wrote in Newsweek this week that Sheen simply gets modern celebrity. A modern celebrity is one that doesn't give a crap about what the public thinks about them. They are going to do it their way, whether you like it or not. The irony is that you do like it and you will end up paying good money for more of it. Using that construction, Lohan's problem is that she cares much too much. She desperately wants everyone to like her. She proves that she becomes offended when anyone, say the cast of 'Glee,' pokes fun at her expense.

How would Sheen respond in such a situation? We imagine if New Directions started in on the actor he would be the first one to come on the show to sing his latest anthem, 'Duh, Winning, in A Minor,' and he would demand $1 million to do it. Ryan Murphy wouldn't know why he was doing it, but he'd be signing that check.

Sheen has created a brand out of screwing up. He embraces what one of my favorite business coaches, Suzanne Evans, says: "Make your mess your message," when it comes to developing your personal brand. Sheen has become the king of this idiom. In fact his messy path has become his hero's journey.

Lohan hasn't been able to commit to a message, whether messy or otherwise in the past five years. She was almost in a lesbian relationship with DJ Sam Ronson, but never fully committed to the homosexual lifestyle. She posed nude for New York magazine, but has never committed to being a sex kitten. Her multiple rehabs haven't worked, yet she has never fully embraced her bad girl persona either. She never seemed to enjoy her benders very much. Not like Sheen.

Lohan is a commodity without a brand message and that is her problem. It's also why the American public doesn't know what to make of her. We know what Charlie Sheen is. He's crazy like a fox, and he has been bringing that crazy to everything he has done in the past three weeks. Each new Sheen's Korner is crazier than the last. His live show promises to be one of the craziest nights of one-man performance since Gallagher stopped smashing watermelons.

Because Lohan hasn't embraced any single brand message, she has become unlikable. Seriously unlikeable. In 2004, Lohan had a brand awareness of only 20 percent. Her positive Q score (a score advertisers and brands use to determine how well-liked a celebrity asset is) was a 19, and her negative was a 20. By last year 84 percent of those polled were familiar with Lohan. Her positive rating reached a low of 9, and her negative rating hovered at 52. More than five times more people despised Lohan than liked her.

Meanwhile, Charlie Sheen has never been more adored. They're both messy, but Charlie's decision to embrace his mess will prove to be the best business decision he has ever made. We never thought we'd say it, but Lindsay could learn something from the warlock.

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Tags: charlie sheen, lindsay lohan

Comments

(56)

Friday 18 March

By Andy

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Even Lindsay's twins couldn't help her.

Sunday 20 March

By themeeker

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Linzey is losing because Linzey is a loser.

By Rae

I disagree with the writer. Charlie's a man, that's why he's getting away with it.

By Richard

I don't know either of these personalities, but I'd guess it has more to do with older/smarter vs younger/more naive than gender.

By buffy

thank you!! Women do not get a good rep by pulling these stunts.

By stephanie

I agree.

By Ann

I totally agree. Sheen has a history of violence towards women. Many men, as well as many women, give him a waiver for that.

Men can behave in the most atrocious, antisocial manner imaginable, and often aren't held accountable for it.

The standards for men are much, much lower.

By Leila

I couldn't disagree more with this article. Charlie is NOT winning. And I do think he cares what others think, he just tries to pretend like he doesn't. At least you can say Lindsay is young and has a lot to learn. Charlie, on the other hand, has not learned over time and is a huge narcissist.

Monday 21 March

By TiredoftheBS

Agreed! People are laughing at him, not with him. If the author of the article adores his behavior then perhaps they should both seek professional help together.

By SonnyHaz

I agree that the author of this article is also in need of some professional help!

By mh

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Can everyone please give Charlie Scheen, a break!! I have a son, who looks like him, and talks, like him, they are still human. This hurts me alot, because everyone errors, no one is perfect. My son is 43, I hear Charlie is 45, or something.. go easy on him please. Thanks, no I am not crazy.

By MH

Yes, he is winning, he screwed up, hopefully he will get help!! He's still human.. please don't forget that! I wonder what month is his Birthday.. does anyone know? Underneath his exterior, I believe he has a heart of gold. And yes, is vey sensitive, to the world court,everyone want's to be loved, waay too harsh a things are being said, no doubt people have put spins on things to make them seem worse. It's wrong to crucify people in the media.. without really knowing the truth.

By Susan

There is a huge difference in age and I can remember a time when Charlie was not so different from Lindsay, say 20 years ago. Age and experience plays a big part in not caring what other people think of us.

By joan

One of the major problems is that Charlie has a good family that sticks by and stands by him to help him and Lohan has parents who have used her, financially abused her, especially mommy dearest Dina. For that reason, although I feel Charlie has gone totally bonkers mentally, his supportive family will help him stay on his feet. Lindsays family has done nothing to help this girl and have virtually destroyed her career chances....

By ickymcpooh

Being a screw up is one thing being a coke head is another.Sure we all like to see people act a fool but no onw wants to see these people OD.I hope "stars" dont think being a coke head is what people are drawn too.

By KS.

Hmmm..could ole Sheenie be playing everyone, like a violin?? Will he actually GET the last laugh?? I dont know....

By tony

k.s.,i think you hit the nail on the head,i think he is playing mind games and hes WINNING! no pun intended.

By Bubbles

The difference - She has an inny and he has an outty.

By Chris

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And if you know his past, you know he actually prefers outies.

Charlie likes the outie in his mouth.

By Big Mike

Re: Chris. Yes, there's a reason it's called two and half men. Charlie's the half. He likes to take it up the chute from transvestites.

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