Most Reality Stars Would Be Smart to Keep Their Day Jobs

By Emily Hall Posted Mar 31st 2011 02:10PM

While reality shows have made superstars out of scores of regular people, those aspiring to loftier heights may want to reconsider it as a route to fame. After all, has there been a single reality star who has come close to being the next Meryl Streep, Al Pacino or Britney Spears? We think not.

Pursuing a legitimate career in entertainment takes dedication, patience and study with experts. Not everyone is talented enough to make it work, even after years of preparation, and just being a well-known reality star doesn't entitle you to a career as a singer or actor.

For example, take Kourtney Kardashian, who has enjoyed major success in three wildly popular E! reality shows: 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians,' ' Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami' and 'Kourtney and Kim Take New York.'

Recently, Kardashian, who studied acting in college, was offered a guest role on the ABC soap 'One Life To Live.' While it was filmed for a segment of 'Kourtney and Kim Take New York,' and the reality star did study her lines, she managed to flub them when the big moment came.

"I thought I would have two lines, but the script was so long," she complained of the mishap.

Should the beautiful star continue trying to become a bona fide actress? The oldest Kardashian sister graduated from University of Arizona in 2001 with a degree in theater arts, but at the time, real work in showbiz wasn't her cup of tea. "I hated acting classes and called in sick," she admitted. "I was more into clothes."

When she returned to Los Angeles, she joined the cast of E!'s 'Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive,' a 2005 reality show featuring celebs living together in Colorado.

And what about 'Jersey Shore' star Michael "The Situation" Sorrentino? He attempted comedy at the recent 'Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump' in New York and was, um, less than well-received.

While The Situation usually comes off as a genuinely nice guy, he just wasn't funny when attempting to insult Trump with the bawdy humor typical of the roasts. He even got booed.

When the reality star put down women and talked about having sex with models while bags of money amassed on the floor, he made a fool of himself. In short, The Situation should stick to weight lifting, tanning and washing clothes.

Speaking of GTL, The Situation's 'Jersey Shore' co-star Vinny Guadagnino made his acting debut on the March 28 episode of MTV's comedy 'The Hard Times of RJ Berger,' which is now in its second season. While the guido was professional and freshly funny, he basically played himself while explaining the GTL lifestyle.

Since Vinny seems to have jettisoned law school for showbiz, he now has the opportunity to study acting. Maybe he will excel at playing someone else. But he can't parlay a roll in the hay with Snooki into a role in 'The Taming of the Shrew.' He has to work at it.

For many young female reality stars lusting after the limelight, singing has become a favorite pastime regardless of their ability to carry a tune. Paris Hilton spent big bucks to hire the best of the best to make her a singing sensation, and we all know how that worked out. More recently, Kim Zolciak of 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta' got lashed by critics when she released her singles, 'Tardy for the Party' and 'Google Me.'

And now it's Kim Kardashian, who released a single called 'Jam (Turn It Up).' She intrigued her fans by practicing vocals on her current reality show. The tune is a kicky piece of dated dance music with electronically charged takes on Kardashian's voice. Not bad, not great.

Like Hilton, Kardashian hired her own dream team to make her a star. But like others before her, she would fare better keeping up with her day job.

Tags: reality tv

Comments

(12)

Thursday 31 March

By Ladybug

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Although I think there are exceptions to this. There have been people who began as reality stars and now have legitimate careers in show business. A good example of this exception to the rule is Jacinda Barrett who was on The Real World London. She's gone on to have a successful acting career. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it happens for many or that it's a smart route to take, but there have been a few who've made it work.

By Mike

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WTF?! PopEater/AOL could not resist throwing in yet ANOTHER Kardashian reference (2 and counting today alone!) "Jam" wasn't great but not "bad?" Really?! Stop your sickening obsession with this tool!

By kay

If you include American Idol as a reality show, I would say yes and her name is Carrie Underwood!

By JohnRL

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American Idol isn't a reality show.

It's a talent show showcasing singers.

By Frank

This is a joke

By loubeoh

I don't know what's worse. The fact that the media keeps reporting on these "never weres" or the fact that so many American's area apparently stupid enough to give them the time of day. Their only talent is to get attention for themselves. If we ignore them, they will go away and maybe we can slow down the process of trashing down the country.

By deej0123

YOU TOOK THE WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH! I AGREE 100%

The headline of this story is very misleading. "Reality Stars"?! There's no reality in these programs and these horrible people are not stars.

By larry

The only reason these morons are on TV is because of cable........With hundreds of cable channels they need shows to put on the air and fill air time.......Since there are not enough really talented people for all these channels you get this reality crap............but it only works because the brain dead are watching it..................

By Adrianne

I would like to point out Kim was a Fashion Stylist for multiple stars and also she and her sisters had multiple clothing stores open and doing quite well before they were ever on a reality TV show.

By MJ

WHAT day jobs ?

By Jack

Kim K will have no trouble getting work in more porn videos; shes a nasty girl!

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