Hollywood Hype Machine: Difference between revisions

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Ever since Hollywood has been in existence, it has tried to make new stars. A new big star can sell a movie, and once they're proven a success, they can sell many ''other'' movies. This is especially handy when the fickle viewing audience turns on a big-name actor with star power, or [[Real Life Writes the Plot]] and they [[Undermined by Reality|do something]] [[Contractual Purity|scandalous]]. Having a long line of replacements always pays off, and you can never have too many major stars.
Ever since Hollywood has been in existence, it has tried to make new stars. A new big star can sell a movie, and once they're proven a success, they can sell many ''other'' movies. This is especially handy when the fickle viewing audience turns on a big-name actor with star power, or [[Real Life Writes the Plot]] and they [[Undermined by Reality|do something]] [[Contractual Purity|scandalous]]. Having a long line of replacements always pays off, and you can never have too many major stars.


The [[Hollywood Hype Machine]] refers to the massive set-up that is in place to create said new stars, or new TV shows, books or movies. An aspiring, good-looking young actor or actress, after getting a few noteworthy roles in indie films, TV shows, or [[Limey Goes to Hollywood|their home country]] under their belt, will be chosen by a studio to be the "Next Big Thing" (or "It Girl" if they're female) and will thus get a major headlining role. They'll immediately appear in celebrity magazines and on entertainment programs and be touted as the Next Big Thing, and they'll give interviews in every medium possible. Several new roles will be announced at once. Tabloids will start following them around. Men's/women's interest magazines will be lining up to offer them [[Public Exposure|a sexy photo shoot]]. They'll show up to host ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''. They'll make ''People'''s list of the 50 Most Beautiful People and, if they're female, the "Top 100 Hottest Women" list of any men's magazine. Meanwhile, failed stars will suddenly drop off these lists. Did they suddenly become less good-looking? No, they're just not worth pushing any more.
The '''Hollywood Hype Machine''' refers to the massive set-up that is in place to create said new stars, or new TV shows, books or movies. An aspiring, good-looking young actor or actress, after getting a few noteworthy roles in indie films, TV shows, or [[Limey Goes to Hollywood|their home country]] under their belt, will be chosen by a studio to be the "Next Big Thing" (or "It Girl" if they're female) and will thus get a major headlining role. They'll immediately appear in celebrity magazines and on entertainment programs and be touted as the Next Big Thing, and they'll give interviews in every medium possible. Several new roles will be announced at once. Tabloids will start following them around. Men's/women's interest magazines will be lining up to offer them [[Public Exposure|a sexy photo shoot]]. They'll show up to host ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''. They'll make ''People'''s list of the 50 Most Beautiful People and, if they're female, the "Top 100 Hottest Women" list of any men's magazine. Meanwhile, failed stars will suddenly drop off these lists. Did they suddenly become less good-looking? No, they're just not worth pushing any more.


If the resulting push succeeds, great. [[Star-Derailing Role|If it bombs...]]? Well, the star will linger for a year or two before disappearing, as people wonder "what the hell ever happened to...?". At best, they will continue working in indie flicks, low-key studio pictures, and television, and may even be able to [[Career Resurrection|mount a comeback later]]. At worst, they will be in rehab, unemployment lines, and "Where Are They Now?" specials ([[Bleached Underpants|or]] [[The Internet Is for Porn|worse]]). Sometimes the actors [[Celebrity Is Overrated|reject Hollywood]] for a normal life, get overwhelmed and suffer public burn-outs, or become too associated [[I Am Not Spock|with a particular role]].
If the resulting push succeeds, great. [[Star-Derailing Role|If it bombs...]]? Well, the star will linger for a year or two before disappearing, as people wonder "what the hell ever happened to...?". At best, they will continue working in indie flicks, low-key studio pictures, and television, and may even be able to [[Career Resurrection|mount a comeback later]]. At worst, they will be in rehab, unemployment lines, and "Where Are They Now?" specials ([[Bleached Underpants|or]] [[The Internet Is for Porn|worse]]). Sometimes the actors [[Celebrity Is Overrated|reject Hollywood]] for a normal life, get overwhelmed and suffer public burn-outs, or become too associated [[I Am Not Spock|with a particular role]].
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* Silent film actress Clara Bow was [[Trope Maker|the original]] "It Girl" (because she starred in [[Trope Namer|a movie called]] ''It''). Natural charisma and an earthy sexuality uncommon for that era made her a huge star in the latter 1920s. She was able to overcome a thick Brooklyn accent and transition to talkies, but an exceedingly fragile psyche combined with an adversarial relationship with Paramount Pictures led to a nervous breakdown in 1931. Paramount fired her, and after an abortive comeback attempt she retired from movies at the age of 28.
* Silent film actress Clara Bow was [[Trope Maker|the original]] "It Girl" (because she starred in [[Trope Namer|a movie called]] ''It''). Natural charisma and an earthy sexuality uncommon for that era made her a huge star in the latter 1920s. She was able to overcome a thick Brooklyn accent and transition to talkies, but an exceedingly fragile psyche combined with an adversarial relationship with Paramount Pictures led to a nervous breakdown in 1931. Paramount fired her, and after an abortive comeback attempt she retired from movies at the age of 28.
* Matthew McConaughey is a defining example. When ''A Time to Kill'' came out in 1996, he was basically called the "next [[Brad Pitt]]" and given a ''ton'' of new major roles. ''People'' Magazine covers soon followed, and he was expected to become the next A-list star. What ended up happening was a major string of box-office disappointments and minor roles, and he became instead known for appearing shirtless in "Celebrity Beach Body" specials, showing up in [[Direct to Video]] indie films, and being the romantic male lead in [[Chick Flick|Chick Flicks]]. Not quite what was expected.
* Matthew McConaughey is a defining example. When ''A Time to Kill'' came out in 1996, he was basically called the "next [[Brad Pitt]]" and given a ''ton'' of new major roles. ''People'' Magazine covers soon followed, and he was expected to become the next A-list star. What ended up happening was a major string of box-office disappointments and minor roles, and he became instead known for appearing shirtless in "Celebrity Beach Body" specials, showing up in [[Direct to Video]] indie films, and being the romantic male lead in [[Chick Flick]]s. Not quite what was expected.
** He could see a career resurrection though thanks to the critical acclaim on ''[[The Lincoln Lawyer]]'', which was his best reviewed film in years.
** He could see a career resurrection though thanks to the critical acclaim on ''[[The Lincoln Lawyer]]'', which was his best reviewed film in years.
** And ''Killer Joe'', which got quite rave reaction at early screenings at Venice Film Festival. He could very well be a next Brad Pitt if the future track records hold up. Even Brad Pitt had his first half of 2010s appearing in mostly mediocre flicks, then scoring a streak of serious and critically acclaimed movies in the latter half.
** And ''Killer Joe'', which got quite rave reaction at early screenings at Venice Film Festival. He could very well be a next Brad Pitt if the future track records hold up. Even Brad Pitt had his first half of 2010s appearing in mostly mediocre flicks, then scoring a streak of serious and critically acclaimed movies in the latter half.
* Kate Hudson had a huge star-making role as a drugged-out groupie in ''[[Almost Famous]]''. Immediately, she was given major role after major role in [[Romantic Comedy|romantic comedies]], all of which did middling business and resulted in critics (including [[Roger Ebert]]) hemming and hawing over how far she had fallen. Years of magazine covers, bikini shots, and other big movie roles haven't done much for her career, though that certainly hasn't stopped her from trying.
* Kate Hudson had a huge star-making role as a drugged-out groupie in ''[[Almost Famous]]''. Immediately, she was given major role after major role in [[Romantic Comedy|romantic comedies]], all of which did middling business and resulted in critics (including [[Roger Ebert]]) hemming and hawing over how far she had fallen. Years of magazine covers, bikini shots, and other big movie roles haven't done much for her career, though that certainly hasn't stopped her from trying.
* Alicia Silverstone wound up getting her career (built on the strength of ''[[Clueless]]'') kicked out from under her by ''[[Batman and Robin (film)|Batman and Robin]]''.
* Alicia Silverstone wound up getting her career (built on the strength of ''[[Clueless]]'') kicked out from under her by ''[[Batman and Robin (film)|Batman and Robin]]''.
* Gretchen Mol was touted as another "It Girl" when she debuted in ''Rounders''. It didn't pan out, with ''Rounders'' doing middling business, and even she (with newfound indie-cred from playing the lead role in ''[[The Notorious Bettie Page]]'') admits that it was a particularly bad example of the [[Hollywood Hype Machine]] building up an unprepared starlet. She is doing quite well with films and a recurring role on critical favourite ''[[Boardwalk Empire]]''.
* Gretchen Mol was touted as another "It Girl" when she debuted in ''Rounders''. It didn't pan out, with ''Rounders'' doing middling business, and even she (with newfound indie-cred from playing the lead role in ''[[The Notorious Bettie Page]]'') admits that it was a particularly bad example of the '''Hollywood Hype Machine''' building up an unprepared starlet. She is doing quite well with films and a recurring role on critical favourite ''[[Boardwalk Empire]]''.
* Most of the "New Brat Pack" (a pun on the [[Brat Pack]] of [[The Eighties]]) that emerged from the ''[[American Pie]]'' movies ended up like this. Many of them got star pushes of different levels, but in the end, only [[Alyson Hannigan]] went on to [[How I Met Your Mother|bigger fame]] -- and this most likely had more to do with her pre-''Pie'' exposure on ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' than anything else. Examples:
* Most of the "New Brat Pack" (a pun on the [[Brat Pack]] of [[The Eighties]]) that emerged from the ''[[American Pie]]'' movies ended up like this. Many of them got star pushes of different levels, but in the end, only [[Alyson Hannigan]] went on to [[How I Met Your Mother|bigger fame]]—and this most likely had more to do with her pre-''Pie'' exposure on ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' than anything else. Examples:
** Shannon Elizabeth became [[Ms. Fanservice|a sex sensation]] after ''Pie'' came out. She showed up in countless [[Public Exposure|men's magazines]] (including an all-nude shoot in ''[[Playboy]]'') and got a half-dozen roles in films like ''[[Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back]]'', ''[[13 Ghosts]]'', and ''Tomcats''. Just a couple of years later, she was a bit player and was essentially gone from any mainstream Hollywood attention. This may or may not have to do with her decision to no longer do nudity in film, even though that was [[Everybody Remembers the Stripper|what made her a star]] in the first place. She's since become more famous as a professional poker player and as a ''[[Dancing With the Stars]]'' contestant, and though she does still act, most of her films now go [[Direct to Video]] and it's unlikely she'll do anything noteworthy anytime soon.
** Shannon Elizabeth became [[Ms. Fanservice|a sex sensation]] after ''Pie'' came out. She showed up in countless [[Public Exposure|men's magazines]] (including an all-nude shoot in ''[[Playboy]]'') and got a half-dozen roles in films like ''[[Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back]]'', ''[[13 Ghosts]]'', and ''Tomcats''. Just a couple of years later, she was a bit player and was essentially gone from any mainstream Hollywood attention. This may or may not have to do with her decision to no longer do nudity in film, even though that was [[Everybody Remembers the Stripper|what made her a star]] in the first place. She's since become more famous as a professional poker player and as a ''[[Dancing With the Stars]]'' contestant, and though she does still act, most of her films now go [[Direct to Video]] and it's unlikely she'll do anything noteworthy anytime soon.
** Mena Suvari, between ''Pie'' and ''[[American Beauty]]'', got a decent push, but slowly vanished from the spotlight and is now best known for indie films.
** Mena Suvari, between ''Pie'' and ''[[American Beauty]]'', got a decent push, but slowly vanished from the spotlight and is now best known for indie films.
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** Rachel Bilson, Bosworth's co-star in the upcoming film ''BFF and Baby,'' which no one seems to expect much from, was something of a TV It Girl during her days on ''[[The OC]]''. Once that ended, Bilson did a few underperforming films and forgettable TV appearances and, like Bosworth, is now mostly known for attending various Hollywood functions and getting paparazzi photos of herself performing mundane daily tasks. However, she did score a TV series with ''[[Hart of Dixie]]'', which did at least get renewed for a second season.
** Rachel Bilson, Bosworth's co-star in the upcoming film ''BFF and Baby,'' which no one seems to expect much from, was something of a TV It Girl during her days on ''[[The OC]]''. Once that ended, Bilson did a few underperforming films and forgettable TV appearances and, like Bosworth, is now mostly known for attending various Hollywood functions and getting paparazzi photos of herself performing mundane daily tasks. However, she did score a TV series with ''[[Hart of Dixie]]'', which did at least get renewed for a second season.
* [[Rachael Leigh Cook]] first came to fame thanks to her role in a famous anti-heroin [[Public Service Announcement]] ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMwxWHaZUro in which she demolishes a kitchen]) and became a star proper when ''[[She's All That]]'' came out. The flop of 2001's ''[[Josie and the Pussycats (film)|Josie and The Pussycats]]'' (and to a lesser extent ''[[Anti Trust]]'' and ''Texas Rangers'' in which she had supporting roles and which unluckily came out the same year) derailed her career and she spent the following decade playing bit parts on television and various forgettable straight to DVD flicks. In recent years, however, she has had some success as a voiceover artist and plum guest roles in the likes of ''[[Psych]]'' and ''[[Ghost Whisperer]]'', and (like many on this list) is not a junkie, criminal, or laughing stock so unlike some names on this list a comeback isn't an entirely unrealistic prospect.
* [[Rachael Leigh Cook]] first came to fame thanks to her role in a famous anti-heroin [[Public Service Announcement]] ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMwxWHaZUro in which she demolishes a kitchen]) and became a star proper when ''[[She's All That]]'' came out. The flop of 2001's ''[[Josie and the Pussycats (film)|Josie and The Pussycats]]'' (and to a lesser extent ''[[Anti Trust]]'' and ''Texas Rangers'' in which she had supporting roles and which unluckily came out the same year) derailed her career and she spent the following decade playing bit parts on television and various forgettable straight to DVD flicks. In recent years, however, she has had some success as a voiceover artist and plum guest roles in the likes of ''[[Psych]]'' and ''[[Ghost Whisperer]]'', and (like many on this list) is not a junkie, criminal, or laughing stock so unlike some names on this list a comeback isn't an entirely unrealistic prospect.
* [[Pia Zadora]] is a notorious example from [[The Eighties]]. After years of bit parts (including a small role in ''[[Santa Claus Conquers the Martians]]'' as a child), her bid for fame started when she married billionaire Meshulam Riklis in 1977. Her career peaked in 1981, when she won the Golden Globe for Best New Star of the Year for the film ''Butterfly'', which was largely financed by Riklis. However, it has long been rumored that Riklis had [[Screw the Rules, I Have Money|"bought"]] Pia her Golden Globe by financing lavish trips to [[Viva Las Vegas|Vegas]] for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, and her performance also wound up winning her two Razzies (for Worst Actress and Worst New Star). She won the Worst Actress Razzie ''again'' the following year for her performance in ''[[The Lonely Lady]]'' <ref>and would go on to be named "Worst New Star of the Decade" in 1990 and being nominated for "Worst Actress of the ''Century''" in 2000</ref>, a film that essentially killed her acting career and left her doing small parts and cameos. She wound up having far more success as a singer, even earning a Grammy nomination in 1984.
* [[Pia Zadora]] is a notorious example from [[The Eighties]]. After years of bit parts (including a small role in ''[[Santa Claus Conquers the Martians]]'' as a child), her bid for fame started when she married billionaire Meshulam Riklis in 1977. Her career peaked in 1981, when she won the Golden Globe for Best New Star of the Year for the film ''Butterfly'', which was largely financed by Riklis. However, it has long been rumored that Riklis had [[Screw the Rules, I Have Money|"bought"]] Pia her Golden Globe by financing lavish trips to [[Viva Las Vegas|Vegas]] for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, and her performance also wound up winning her two Razzies (for Worst Actress and Worst New Star). She won the Worst Actress Razzie ''again'' the following year for her performance in ''[[The Lonely Lady]]'',<ref>and would go on to be named "Worst New Star of the Decade" in 1990 and being nominated for "Worst Actress of the ''Century''" in 2000</ref> a film that essentially killed her acting career and left her doing small parts and cameos. She wound up having far more success as a singer, even earning a Grammy nomination in 1984.
* Elizabeth Berkley was supposed to be the Next Big Thing with ''[[Showgirls]]''. Too bad that trainwreck of a film completely derailed whatever film career she may have had. The fallout was so bad that when she requested $2,500 to be interviewed for the V.I.P. DVD edition of the film, she was ''turned down''. Ouch.
* Elizabeth Berkley was supposed to be the Next Big Thing with ''[[Showgirls]]''. Too bad that trainwreck of a film completely derailed whatever film career she may have had. The fallout was so bad that when she requested $2,500 to be interviewed for the V.I.P. DVD edition of the film, she was ''turned down''. Ouch.
* The [[Virtual Celebrity|CGI actress]] Aki Ross from ''[[Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within|Final Fantasy the Spirits Within]]'' was supposed to have a long "career". The intention was for the computer model created for the movie to be used in projects unrelated to ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' and spanning multiple media formats (movies, games, etc.). "She" even got [[Public Exposure|a photo spread]] in ''Maxim'', including a plot on their "Hottest Women" list, and was promoted as the very first in what would be a long line of virtual actors. The failure of the movie to even recoup its astronomical production costs, and the subsequent [[Creator Killer|collapse of the studio that financed it]], resulted in a somewhat shorter career than numerous magazines had been predicting. It also ensured that the trend of "virtual actors" was stillborn, no doubt leading many [[Unions in Hollywood|SAG]] members to breathe sighs of relief (and ensuring that the Hype Machine would remain necessary for the foreseeable future).
* The [[Virtual Celebrity|CGI actress]] Aki Ross from ''[[Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within|Final Fantasy the Spirits Within]]'' was supposed to have a long "career". The intention was for the computer model created for the movie to be used in projects unrelated to ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' and spanning multiple media formats (movies, games, etc.). "She" even got [[Public Exposure|a photo spread]] in ''Maxim'', including a plot on their "Hottest Women" list, and was promoted as the very first in what would be a long line of virtual actors. The failure of the movie to even recoup its astronomical production costs, and the subsequent [[Creator Killer|collapse of the studio that financed it]], resulted in a somewhat shorter career than numerous magazines had been predicting. It also ensured that the trend of "virtual actors" was stillborn, no doubt leading many [[Unions in Hollywood|SAG]] members to breathe sighs of relief (and ensuring that the Hype Machine would remain necessary for the foreseeable future).
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* [[Martin|Martin Lawrence]] was one of the fastest rising comedian stars of [[The Nineties|the '90s]]. His sitcom, ''Martin'', was incredibly popular and then in 1995 he starred along with Will Smith in ''[[Bad Boys]]'', which was the [[Star-Making Role]] for both actors.<ref>For extra irony, Lawrence was actually the top billed actor at that.</ref> Unfortunately, real life drug issues and a sexual harassment suit would cause the ending of the popular sitcom. On the film side, while [[Will Smith]] went on to star in other [[Men in Black|smash]] [[Independence Day|hits]], Lawrence stuck with acting in comedies that only produced lukewarm responses (the first ''Big Mamma's House'' film and ''[[Wild Hogs]]'' arguably being exceptions).
* [[Martin|Martin Lawrence]] was one of the fastest rising comedian stars of [[The Nineties|the '90s]]. His sitcom, ''Martin'', was incredibly popular and then in 1995 he starred along with Will Smith in ''[[Bad Boys]]'', which was the [[Star-Making Role]] for both actors.<ref>For extra irony, Lawrence was actually the top billed actor at that.</ref> Unfortunately, real life drug issues and a sexual harassment suit would cause the ending of the popular sitcom. On the film side, while [[Will Smith]] went on to star in other [[Men in Black|smash]] [[Independence Day|hits]], Lawrence stuck with acting in comedies that only produced lukewarm responses (the first ''Big Mamma's House'' film and ''[[Wild Hogs]]'' arguably being exceptions).


=== Examples that ''did'' hold up: ===
== Examples that ''did'' hold up ==
* [[Angelina Jolie]]. Years of indie-cred roles in ''[[Gia]]'', ''[[Hackers]]'', and other films paid off with a big push from ''[[Girl, Interrupted]]'' in 1999, which won her the Best Supporting Actress Oscar and resulted in a near-endless push that got her big roles in such films as ''[[Lara Croft: Tomb Raider|Lara Croft Tomb Raider]]'' and ''[[Mr. and Mrs. Smith]]''. When the latter got her together with [[Brad Pitt]], the "Brangelina" media juggernaut was born. Clearly a major success story for everyone involved, as her films do generally well (though she stopped making them so quickly and focused on her home life and activist work), and the magazines get to make money off of her image (proof that being tabloid-bait isn't ''always'' a bad thing -- only if that's ''all'' you're known for). Ironically, Jolie has stated on several occasions that she wants to give up acting for her growing family.
* [[Angelina Jolie]]. Years of indie-cred roles in ''[[Gia]]'', ''[[Hackers]]'', and other films paid off with a big push from ''[[Girl, Interrupted]]'' in 1999, which won her the Best Supporting Actress Oscar and resulted in a near-endless push that got her big roles in such films as ''[[Lara Croft: Tomb Raider|Lara Croft Tomb Raider]]'' and ''[[Mr. and Mrs. Smith]]''. When the latter got her together with [[Brad Pitt]], the "Brangelina" media juggernaut was born. Clearly a major success story for everyone involved, as her films do generally well (though she stopped making them so quickly and focused on her home life and activist work), and the magazines get to make money off of her image (proof that being tabloid-bait isn't ''always'' a bad thing—only if that's ''all'' you're known for). Ironically, Jolie has stated on several occasions that she wants to give up acting for her growing family.
* [[Tom Cruise]] got a big push in [[The Eighties]], and tons of film roles. Virtually every one proved to be a success. Obviously, he kept on being famous and having huge box office smashes until he royally screwed up and [[Creator Breakdown|went crazy]] in the mid-2000s, with the infamous couch-jumping incident on ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'' being the telltale sign of his downfall. Twenty years? A pretty good run. Currently, he and the Hype Machine are going into overdrive to re-make him as a successful A-Lister, as he [[Adam Westing|pokes fun at himself]] with humorous roles, and tries to fit back into the "romantic Action Hero" archetype once again. Now that ''[[Mission Impossible (film)|Mission Impossible]] IV'' is out to rave reviews, a [[Career Resurrection]] may not be far away.
* [[Tom Cruise]] got a big push in [[The Eighties]], and tons of film roles. Virtually every one proved to be a success. Obviously, he kept on being famous and having huge box office smashes until he royally screwed up and [[Creator Breakdown|went crazy]] in the mid-2000s, with the infamous couch-jumping incident on ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'' being the telltale sign of his downfall. Twenty years? A pretty good run. Currently, he and the Hype Machine are going into overdrive to re-make him as a successful A-Lister, as he [[Adam Westing|pokes fun at himself]] with humorous roles, and tries to fit back into the "romantic Action Hero" archetype once again. Now that ''[[Mission Impossible (film)|Mission Impossible]] IV'' is out to rave reviews, a [[Career Resurrection]] may not be far away.
* [[Nicole Kidman]] received a big push after earning critical praise for her role in ''To Die For'', and her career has held up pretty well since then. Though her career didn't really take off until Tom Cruise dumped her and she won an Oscar for her role in ''[[The Hours]]''.
* [[Nicole Kidman]] received a big push after earning critical praise for her role in ''To Die For'', and her career has held up pretty well since then. Though her career didn't really take off until Tom Cruise dumped her and she won an Oscar for her role in ''[[The Hours]]''.
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* [[Julia Roberts]] got her huge push with ''[[Pretty Woman]]'' in 1990, and Hollywood got behind her as they rarely ever do for a female star not known for nudity. Twenty years later, she's still a bankable A-List star, though with less "legit" cred as she sticks to more mainstream, pedestrian "[[Chick Flick|chick flicks]]" than serious films. Still, movies like ''[[Erin Brockovich]]'' gave her ''some'' critical acclaim (and in ''Erin'''s case, a Best Actress Oscar).
* [[Julia Roberts]] got her huge push with ''[[Pretty Woman]]'' in 1990, and Hollywood got behind her as they rarely ever do for a female star not known for nudity. Twenty years later, she's still a bankable A-List star, though with less "legit" cred as she sticks to more mainstream, pedestrian "[[Chick Flick|chick flicks]]" than serious films. Still, movies like ''[[Erin Brockovich]]'' gave her ''some'' critical acclaim (and in ''Erin'''s case, a Best Actress Oscar).
* Cameron Diaz got tons of publicity after ''[[The Mask (film)|The Mask]]'' became a Top 10 box-office hit and for several years after she was in many critically and/or commercially successful films such as ''[[My Best Friend's Wedding|My Best Friends Wedding]]'', ''[[Gangs of New York]]'', ''[[There's Something About Mary|Theres Something About Mary]]'', and ''[[Being John Malkovich]]''. She is the second actress to earn $20 million for a film, after [[Julia Roberts]]. Also branched out into voice work and struck gold with the ''[[Shrek]]'' film series.
* Cameron Diaz got tons of publicity after ''[[The Mask (film)|The Mask]]'' became a Top 10 box-office hit and for several years after she was in many critically and/or commercially successful films such as ''[[My Best Friend's Wedding|My Best Friends Wedding]]'', ''[[Gangs of New York]]'', ''[[There's Something About Mary|Theres Something About Mary]]'', and ''[[Being John Malkovich]]''. She is the second actress to earn $20 million for a film, after [[Julia Roberts]]. Also branched out into voice work and struck gold with the ''[[Shrek]]'' film series.
* Gwyneth Paltrow got a huge amount of hype right from around ''[[Se7en]]'' and several high-profile romances with major Hollywood hunks (including [[Brad Pitt]] and [[Ben Affleck]]). Unlike most flash-in-the-pan hotties with famous boyfriends, she proved her acting chops and won an Oscar for ''[[Shakespeare in Love]]'', had several hits (enough to offset the occasional bombs -- and she was in her fair share, enough to derail almost ''any'' career), and has managed to become a legitimate star in her own right. Her movies are rarely blockbusters (''[[Iron Man (film)|Iron Man]]'' notwithstanding), but she has artistic cred and enough of a name to get almost any role (it's unlikely anyone regrets her being on ''[[Glee]]'', especially after she won an Emmy).
* Gwyneth Paltrow got a huge amount of hype right from around ''[[Se7en]]'' and several high-profile romances with major Hollywood hunks (including [[Brad Pitt]] and [[Ben Affleck]]). Unlike most flash-in-the-pan hotties with famous boyfriends, she proved her acting chops and won an Oscar for ''[[Shakespeare in Love]]'', had several hits (enough to offset the occasional bombs—and she was in her fair share, enough to derail almost ''any'' career), and has managed to become a legitimate star in her own right. Her movies are rarely blockbusters (''[[Iron Man (film)|Iron Man]]'' notwithstanding), but she has artistic cred and enough of a name to get almost any role (it's unlikely anyone regrets her being on ''[[Glee]]'', especially after she won an Emmy).
* [[Reese Witherspoon]] certainly worked out well. After being a fairly run-of-the-mill actress in the early [[The Nineties|'90s]], she all of a sudden got this massive push, first with the critically acclaimed ''[[Election]]'' and then commercial success with the ''[[Legally Blonde]]'' series and various [[Chick Flick|Chick Flicks]]. She effectively became the next [[Julia Roberts]], and even got an Oscar for her trouble (for ''[[Walk the Line]]'').
* [[Reese Witherspoon]] certainly worked out well. After being a fairly run-of-the-mill actress in the early [[The Nineties|'90s]], she all of a sudden got this massive push, first with the critically acclaimed ''[[Election]]'' and then commercial success with the ''[[Legally Blonde]]'' series and various [[Chick Flick]]s. She effectively became the next [[Julia Roberts]], and even got an Oscar for her trouble (for ''[[Walk the Line]]'').
** Though she hasn't seen quite as much success in recent years; ''Rendition'', ''How Do You Know'', and ''[[Water for Elephants]]'' were all box-office flops (especially ''How Do You Know'') that received mixed reviews.
** Though she hasn't seen quite as much success in recent years; ''Rendition'', ''How Do You Know'', and ''[[Water for Elephants]]'' were all box-office flops (especially ''How Do You Know'') that received mixed reviews.
* [[Robert Downey, Jr.]] has been a [[Zig Zagged Trope|Zig Zag]] with the Hype Machine. Starting off as a member of the [[Brat Pack]] in the 80's, Downey got his big break in the late '80s - early '90s which culminated with him getting an Oscar Nomination for his role as [[Charlie Chaplin]] in the biopic ''Chaplin.'' Unfortunately he had a real life downward spiral that led to drug abuses and arrests. After gaining sobriety in the mid 2000s, Downey returned to acting in the indy scene, and ended up making his [[Career Resurrection]] in 2008 with his starring role in ''[[Iron Man (film)|Iron Man]]'' and has since then taken off and haven't looked back since.
* [[Robert Downey, Jr.]] has been a [[Zig Zagged Trope|Zig Zag]] with the Hype Machine. Starting off as a member of the [[Brat Pack]] in the 80's, Downey got his big break in the late '80s - early '90s which culminated with him getting an Oscar Nomination for his role as [[Charlie Chaplin]] in the biopic ''Chaplin.'' Unfortunately he had a real life downward spiral that led to drug abuses and arrests. After gaining sobriety in the mid 2000s, Downey returned to acting in the indy scene, and ended up making his [[Career Resurrection]] in 2008 with his starring role in ''[[Iron Man (film)|Iron Man]]'' and has since then taken off and haven't looked back since.


=== Examples on the fence: ===
== Examples on the fence ==
* The entire cast of ''[[Friends]]'' were given countless movie roles the second that show became a sensation. The results have been mixed -- Courteney Cox and Matthew Perry have gone back to TV (the former had a flop with ''Dirt'', and while ''[[Cougar Town]]'' was initially a hit, declining ratings led to it being put on hiatus in the middle of S2, held for mid-season in S3, and pushed from ABC to TBS for S4; the latter is 0 for 2 with ''[[Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip]]'' and ''Mr. Sunshine''), Matt LeBlanc made a series of hellacious bombs (he did ''Ed'', a movie with a baseball-playing chimp, and ''[[Lost in Space]]''... and then there was ''[[Joey]]'') and is now stuck on the low-rated Showtime "comedy" ''Episodes'' (playing himself, no less), David Schwimmer started directing, and Lisa Kudrow went for indie cred. They're serviceable careers for the most part, but nothing huge. [[Jennifer Aniston]] has fared the best so far -- while she didn't headline a $100 million hit until 2011's ''[[Horrible Bosses]]'' (which arguably was helped out by the other heavyweights like Jason Bateman and Kevin Spacey in the film -- she's never had a starring role do that well, and is mostly known for Romantic Comedies), she was fortunate enough not to have a major flop during the time in between, and at the very least she's ''treated'' like a major star by most of Hollywood.
* The entire cast of ''[[Friends]]'' were given countless movie roles the second that show became a sensation. The results have been mixed—Courteney Cox and Matthew Perry have gone back to TV (the former had a flop with ''Dirt'', and while ''[[Cougar Town]]'' was initially a hit, declining ratings led to it being put on hiatus in the middle of S2, held for mid-season in S3, and pushed from ABC to TBS for S4; the latter is 0 for 2 with ''[[Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip]]'' and ''Mr. Sunshine''), Matt LeBlanc made a series of hellacious bombs (he did ''Ed'', a movie with a baseball-playing chimp, and ''[[Lost in Space]]''... and then there was ''[[Joey]]'') and is now stuck on the low-rated Showtime "comedy" ''Episodes'' (playing himself, no less), David Schwimmer started directing, and Lisa Kudrow went for indie cred. They're serviceable careers for the most part, but nothing huge. [[Jennifer Aniston]] has fared the best so far—while she didn't headline a $100 million hit until 2011's ''[[Horrible Bosses]]'' (which arguably was helped out by the other heavyweights like Jason Bateman and Kevin Spacey in the film—she's never had a starring role do that well, and is mostly known for Romantic Comedies), she was fortunate enough not to have a major flop during the time in between, and at the very least she's ''treated'' like a major star by most of Hollywood.
* Jude Law spent years as a bit player before receiving his big Hollywood marketing push in 2004, starring in ''[[Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow]]'', the remake of ''Alfie'', and half a dozen other films. Chris Rock engaged in some [[Lampshade Hanging]] at his expense at the Oscars ceremony, making fun of how this "[[Tom Cruise]] [[Poor Man's Substitute|Lite]]" was receiving so much hype for what seemed to be no reason. Of course, every film either bombed or was a disappointment, and then he got caught cheating on his then-fiance Sienna Miller with his children's nanny. Oops. Even with his career damaged, however, Law has continued plugging away, with major roles in ''[[Sherlock Holmes (film)|Sherlock Holmes]]'', ''[[Repo Men]]'', and other recent Hollywood films. It's a serviceable career, although not nearly the highly bankable, Cruise-style A-lister that the studios were hoping he would be.
* Jude Law spent years as a bit player before receiving his big Hollywood marketing push in 2004, starring in ''[[Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow]]'', the remake of ''Alfie'', and half a dozen other films. Chris Rock engaged in some [[Lampshade Hanging]] at his expense at the Oscars ceremony, making fun of how this "[[Tom Cruise]] [[Poor Man's Substitute|Lite]]" was receiving so much hype for what seemed to be no reason. Of course, every film either bombed or was a disappointment, and then he got caught cheating on his then-fiance Sienna Miller with his children's nanny. Oops. Even with his career damaged, however, Law has continued plugging away, with major roles in ''[[Sherlock Holmes (film)|Sherlock Holmes]]'', ''[[Repo Men]]'', and other recent Hollywood films. It's a serviceable career, although not nearly the highly bankable, Cruise-style A-lister that the studios were hoping he would be.
* [[Uma Thurman]] was victimized by this. After notable roles in the late '80s with films like ''[[Dangerous Liaisons]]'' and ''[[The Adventures of Baron Munchausen]]'', she became an "It Girl" with ''[[Pulp Fiction]]''. This push ultimately faltered within three years after subsequent films, particularly ''[[Batman and Robin (film)|Batman and Robin]]'' and ''[[The Avengers (1998 film)|The Avengers 1998]]'', did poorly, and she vanished from the limelight (rumour has it she took time off to concentrate on motherhood, which might have killed buzz even further) before ''[[Kill Bill]]'' [[Career Resurrection|reignited her career]] in 2003.
* [[Uma Thurman]] was victimized by this. After notable roles in the late '80s with films like ''[[Dangerous Liaisons]]'' and ''[[The Adventures of Baron Munchausen]]'', she became an "It Girl" with ''[[Pulp Fiction]]''. This push ultimately faltered within three years after subsequent films, particularly ''[[Batman and Robin (film)|Batman and Robin]]'' and ''[[The Avengers (1998 film)|The Avengers 1998]]'', did poorly, and she vanished from the limelight (rumour has it she took time off to concentrate on motherhood, which might have killed buzz even further) before ''[[Kill Bill]]'' [[Career Resurrection|reignited her career]] in 2003.
* [[Ben Affleck]], like Thurman, is an example of both failure and success in the Hype Machine. After ''[[Good Will Hunting]]'' and ''[[Armageddon]]'', there was a period from 1998 through 2003 in which he was the biggest star in Hollywood. Then came ''[[Daredevil (film)|Daredevil]]'', ''[[Gigli]]'', and the entire Bennifer saga, which derailed his career so badly that he wouldn't do any movies at all in 2005. He became a Hollywood punchline in the [[Turn of the Millennium|mid-'00s]]. However, he was able to quickly bounce back with "legit cred" in 2006 and after, not only as an actor in films like ''Hollywoodland'', but also as a director with the critically acclaimed crime dramas ''[[Gone Baby Gone]]'' and ''[[The Town]]'' (and as an actor, [[State of Play (film)|State of Play]] and Company Men). He's now comfortably married with kids to [[Alias (TV series)|Jennifer Garner]], and he mostly stays out of the tabloid limelight.
* [[Ben Affleck]], like Thurman, is an example of both failure and success in the Hype Machine. After ''[[Good Will Hunting]]'' and ''[[Armageddon]]'', there was a period from 1998 through 2003 in which he was the biggest star in Hollywood. Then came ''[[Daredevil (film)|Daredevil]]'', ''[[Gigli]]'', and the entire Bennifer saga, which derailed his career so badly that he wouldn't do any movies at all in 2005. He became a Hollywood punchline in the [[Turn of the Millennium|mid-'00s]]. However, he was able to quickly bounce back with "legit cred" in 2006 and after, not only as an actor in films like ''Hollywoodland'', but also as a director with the critically acclaimed crime dramas ''[[Gone Baby Gone]]'' and ''[[The Town]]'' (and as an actor, [[State of Play (film)|State of Play]] and Company Men). He's now comfortably married with kids to [[Alias (TV series)|Jennifer Garner]], and he mostly stays out of the tabloid limelight.
* Catherine Zeta-Jones made a ''major'' splash with her [[Fan Service]]-y role in ''[[The Mask of Zorro]]'', and instantly became a household name (internationally, anyway - she had already been fairly well-known for a while in the UK). Unfortunately, before she could get much work, she hooked up with [[Michael Douglas]] and practically vanished for years, only making the occasional movie like ''[[Chicago]]'' (for which she won an Oscar). She's still a name, but she could have been as A-List as anybody given enough of a push.
* Catherine Zeta-Jones made a ''major'' splash with her [[Fan Service]]-y role in ''[[The Mask of Zorro]]'', and instantly became a household name (internationally, anyway - she had already been fairly well-known for a while in the UK). Unfortunately, before she could get much work, she hooked up with [[Michael Douglas]] and practically vanished for years, only making the occasional movie like ''[[Chicago]]'' (for which she won an Oscar). She's still a name, but she could have been as A-List as anybody given enough of a push.
* [[Orlando Bloom]] appeared in ''[[The Lord of the Rings (film)|The Lord of the Rings]]'' and ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean]]'' trilogies and was one of the biggest stars of the [[Turn of the Millennium|early-mid '00s]]. Since then, his career has suffered several hits, including critical thrashing and [[Hype Backlash]], but he works steadily in highly regarded (if small) productions, for which he is finally starting to receive positive attention from the critics. His career appears to be thriving, but it's doubtful it will reach its former stratospheric heights. By all accounts, this seems to be his intention (he reportedly turned down Jake Gyllenhaal's role in ''[[Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time|Prince of Persia the Sands of Time]]'').<ref> And as far as that goes, it seems fairly obvious that the role was written with him in mind and that Gyllenhaal was basically told "act as much like Orlando Bloom as possible." So he isn't wholly out of the loop...</ref>
* [[Orlando Bloom]] appeared in ''[[The Lord of the Rings (film)|The Lord of the Rings]]'' and ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean]]'' trilogies and was one of the biggest stars of the [[Turn of the Millennium|early-mid '00s]]. Since then, his career has suffered several hits, including critical thrashing and [[Hype Backlash]], but he works steadily in highly regarded (if small) productions, for which he is finally starting to receive positive attention from the critics. His career appears to be thriving, but it's doubtful it will reach its former stratospheric heights. By all accounts, this seems to be his intention (he reportedly turned down Jake Gyllenhaal's role in ''[[Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time|Prince of Persia the Sands of Time]]'').<ref>And as far as that goes, it seems fairly obvious that the role was written with him in mind and that Gyllenhaal was basically told "act as much like Orlando Bloom as possible." So he isn't wholly out of the loop...</ref>
* Disney has started creating an alarming number of [[Kid Com|Kid Coms]] in recent years, starting with the success of ''[[Lizzie McGuire]]'' and [[Hilary Duff]]. With Duff, they managed to create a crossover starlet (with movies, TV shows, albums, and clothing lines coming out) of high repute. They immediately created a formula with this, spawning ''[[Hannah Montana]]'' and others, with all their myriad starlets being built up the exact same way. Most of them (although [[Miley Cyrus|there are exceptions]]) have only received minor hype after their Disney shows' runs were finished, and have mostly failed to find real stardom outside of their original shows.
* Disney has started creating an alarming number of [[Kid Com]]s in recent years, starting with the success of ''[[Lizzie McGuire]]'' and [[Hilary Duff]]. With Duff, they managed to create a crossover starlet (with movies, TV shows, albums, and clothing lines coming out) of high repute. They immediately created a formula with this, spawning ''[[Hannah Montana]]'' and others, with all their myriad starlets being built up the exact same way. Most of them (although [[Miley Cyrus|there are exceptions]]) have only received minor hype after their Disney shows' runs were finished, and have mostly failed to find real stardom outside of their original shows.
** [[Anne Hathaway]], for instance, became an acclaimed actress only after ''leaving'' the Disney machine and going for legit cred in ''[[Brokeback Mountain]]'' and ''[[Rachel Getting Married]]''.
** [[Anne Hathaway]], for instance, became an acclaimed actress only after ''leaving'' the Disney machine and going for legit cred in ''[[Brokeback Mountain]]'' and ''[[Rachel Getting Married]]''.
** [[Zac Efron]] has so far achieved the most success out of any of his ''[[High School Musical]]'' castmates. Despite that, [[17 Again|he's only had one bonafide hit.]] So time will tell whether he can successfully make the transition.
** [[Zac Efron]] has so far achieved the most success out of any of his ''[[High School Musical]]'' castmates. Despite that, [[17 Again|he's only had one bonafide hit.]] So time will tell whether he can successfully make the transition.
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* The cast of the [[MTV]] reality show ''[[Laguna Beach]]'' fell under this. When it premiered, ''Laguna'' was the first teen-oriented reality series on the network, and rode a wave of commercial acclaim, teen mag appearances and ratings domination. The teenage cast members all attempted to parlay their exposure into different avenues (to various levels of success), with most falling into obscurity after high-profile appearances in series or films. Lauren Conrad made the jump to her own successful spinoff, ''[[The Hills]]'', but left the program after several seasons to unsuccessfully try her hand at a fashion line. Kristin Cavallari took up Lauren's spot as the main character of ''The Hills'', but she mostly does DTV films now. Jason Wahler is more well-known for his guest stint on ''Celebrity Rehab'' than any of his prior work. Audrina Patridge's self-titled spinoff didn't last long. Only Stephen Colletti from the first season (who parlayed his fame into a long-running role on ''[[One Tree Hill]]'') has had a relative degree of success.
* The cast of the [[MTV]] reality show ''[[Laguna Beach]]'' fell under this. When it premiered, ''Laguna'' was the first teen-oriented reality series on the network, and rode a wave of commercial acclaim, teen mag appearances and ratings domination. The teenage cast members all attempted to parlay their exposure into different avenues (to various levels of success), with most falling into obscurity after high-profile appearances in series or films. Lauren Conrad made the jump to her own successful spinoff, ''[[The Hills]]'', but left the program after several seasons to unsuccessfully try her hand at a fashion line. Kristin Cavallari took up Lauren's spot as the main character of ''The Hills'', but she mostly does DTV films now. Jason Wahler is more well-known for his guest stint on ''Celebrity Rehab'' than any of his prior work. Audrina Patridge's self-titled spinoff didn't last long. Only Stephen Colletti from the first season (who parlayed his fame into a long-running role on ''[[One Tree Hill]]'') has had a relative degree of success.
* [[Jennifer Lopez]] practically became an A-list star overnight after her performance in ''[[Selena]]'' was praised by critics, and she followed it up with several critically acclaimed films such as ''[[Out of Sight]]'' and ''[[The Cell]]''. She also became noteworthy for being one of the few thespians who was able to successfully juggle both a singing and acting career. Though some critics were disappointed when she later switched over to starring in middling romantic comedies like ''The Wedding Planner'', ''[[Monster-in-Law]]'', and ''[[Maid in Manhattan]]'', but her films were still successful box-office wise for the most part, and even the critically mauled ''Gigli'' didn't seem to stall her career much. But then she took a four-year break from her film career, and her first film since her break, ''The Back-Up Plan'' received worse reviews then any other film she's starred in so far, so while Lopez is still getting work in films ([[American Idol|and television]]), it's pretty likely she'll never return to her former A-list status.
* [[Jennifer Lopez]] practically became an A-list star overnight after her performance in ''[[Selena]]'' was praised by critics, and she followed it up with several critically acclaimed films such as ''[[Out of Sight]]'' and ''[[The Cell]]''. She also became noteworthy for being one of the few thespians who was able to successfully juggle both a singing and acting career. Though some critics were disappointed when she later switched over to starring in middling romantic comedies like ''The Wedding Planner'', ''[[Monster-in-Law]]'', and ''[[Maid in Manhattan]]'', but her films were still successful box-office wise for the most part, and even the critically mauled ''Gigli'' didn't seem to stall her career much. But then she took a four-year break from her film career, and her first film since her break, ''The Back-Up Plan'' received worse reviews then any other film she's starred in so far, so while Lopez is still getting work in films ([[American Idol|and television]]), it's pretty likely she'll never return to her former A-list status.
* [[Eddie Murphy]] was the hottest comedian around back in [[The Eighties]]. He started out on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' during one of its toughest [[Dork Age|Dork Ages]], perhaps being ''the'' reason SNL escaped cancellation. He would soon bring his wit to the big screen in films like ''[[48 Hrs.|48 Hours]]'', ''[[Trading Places]]'', ''[[Beverly Hills Cop]]'' and ''Beverly Hills Cop II'', and ''[[Coming to America]]'' (his only misstep was 1986's ''[[The Golden Child]]''), as well as his standup specials ''Delirious'' and ''Raw'', and even [[So Bad It's Good|a couple hit songs]] such as "Party All the Time". But after the failure of his 1989 vanity project ''[[Harlem Nights]]'', in which he starred with his comic idols [[Richard Pryor]] and Redd Foxx, Murphy's career plummeted in [[The Nineties]], with his films ''Another 48 Hours'', ''The Distinguished Gentleman'', ''Boomerang'', ''Beverly Hills Cop III'', and ''[[Vampire in Brooklyn]]'', all bombing. He had become a walking punchline, infamously mocked by [[David Spade]] on SNL in 1995 when he said "Look, kids! a falling star! Make a wish!", which ''[[Dude, Not Funny|really]]'' [[Berserk Button|made him mad]]. He bounced back with his 1996 remake of ''[[The Nutty Professor]]'', and other films like ''Metro'', ''Dr Doolittle'', ''[[Mulan]]'', ''[[Life (film)|Life]]'', and ''[[Bowfinger]]''. But in the 2000s, Murphy slipped again as he made more [[Rated "G" for Gangsta|family-friendly films]], which, with the exception of the ''[[Shrek]]'' films, were poorly received. Films like ''[[Daddy Day Care]]'', ''[[The Haunted Mansion]]'', ''[[Meet Dave]]'', and ''Imagine That'', were panned by audiences and critics, but his worst was 2002's ''[[The Adventures of Pluto Nash]]'', which became [[Box Office Bomb|one of the biggest bombs in Hollywood history]]. His brightest spot throughout this time was receiving an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for ''[[Dreamgirls]]'' in 2006, but the much-maligned 2007 film ''[[Norbit]]'' probably torpedoed his hopes of winning. He was praised for starring in ''[[Tower Heist]]'' in 2011, but 2012 brought ''A Thousand Words'' (filmed several years before its release), which was universally panned. He has expressed an interest in making more adult-oriented movies, so only time will tell whether he'll recover.
* [[Eddie Murphy]] was the hottest comedian around back in [[The Eighties]]. He started out on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' during one of its toughest [[Dork Age]]s, perhaps being ''the'' reason SNL escaped cancellation. He would soon bring his wit to the big screen in films like ''[[48 Hrs.|48 Hours]]'', ''[[Trading Places]]'', ''[[Beverly Hills Cop]]'' and ''Beverly Hills Cop II'', and ''[[Coming to America]]'' (his only misstep was 1986's ''[[The Golden Child]]''), as well as his standup specials ''Delirious'' and ''Raw'', and even [[So Bad It's Good|a couple hit songs]] such as "Party All the Time". But after the failure of his 1989 vanity project ''[[Harlem Nights]]'', in which he starred with his comic idols [[Richard Pryor]] and Redd Foxx, Murphy's career plummeted in [[The Nineties]], with his films ''Another 48 Hours'', ''The Distinguished Gentleman'', ''Boomerang'', ''Beverly Hills Cop III'', and ''[[Vampire in Brooklyn]]'', all bombing. He had become a walking punchline, infamously mocked by [[David Spade]] on SNL in 1995 when he said "Look, kids! a falling star! Make a wish!", which ''[[Dude, Not Funny|really]]'' [[Berserk Button|made him mad]]. He bounced back with his 1996 remake of ''[[The Nutty Professor]]'', and other films like ''Metro'', ''Dr Doolittle'', ''[[Mulan]]'', ''[[Life (film)|Life]]'', and ''[[Bowfinger]]''. But in the 2000s, Murphy slipped again as he made more [[Rated "G" for Gangsta|family-friendly films]], which, with the exception of the ''[[Shrek]]'' films, were poorly received. Films like ''[[Daddy Day Care]]'', ''[[The Haunted Mansion]]'', ''[[Meet Dave]]'', and ''Imagine That'', were panned by audiences and critics, but his worst was 2002's ''[[The Adventures of Pluto Nash]]'', which became [[Box Office Bomb|one of the biggest bombs in Hollywood history]]. His brightest spot throughout this time was receiving an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for ''[[Dreamgirls]]'' in 2006, but the much-maligned 2007 film ''[[Norbit]]'' probably torpedoed his hopes of winning. He was praised for starring in ''[[Tower Heist]]'' in 2011, but 2012 brought ''A Thousand Words'' (filmed several years before its release), which was universally panned. He has expressed an interest in making more adult-oriented movies, so only time will tell whether he'll recover.
* Similar to Eddie Murphy, [[Jim Carrey]] was ''the'' big comedian of the '90s. Jim Carrey started off playing supporting or minor roles in movies in the 80's, but after the back-to-back successes of ''[[Ace Ventura]]'', ''[[Dumb and Dumber]]'', and ''[[The Mask]]'' in 1994, his star shot up like a rocket. Unfortunately for him, while his comedic roles brought a major bank, it made him severely [[Typecasting|typecast]] as an actor. [[Tom Hanks Syndrome|Attempts at more dramatic fare]], such as ''[[The Truman Show]]'', ''[[Man on the Moon]]'', ''[[The Majestic]]'', and ''[[Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind]]'', while earning him praise from critics, under-performed and even outright flopped at the box office<ref>''[[The Truman Show]]'' was the one exception and that was due to [[Never Trust a Trailer|the trailer downplaying the drama]].</ref> compared to his broad comedies. While he currently sticks to those, he's toned down his antics in them, and is thus not quite as popular as he was in [[The Nineties]].
* Similar to Eddie Murphy, [[Jim Carrey]] was ''the'' big comedian of the '90s. Jim Carrey started off playing supporting or minor roles in movies in the 80's, but after the back-to-back successes of ''[[Ace Ventura]]'', ''[[Dumb and Dumber]]'', and ''[[The Mask]]'' in 1994, his star shot up like a rocket. Unfortunately for him, while his comedic roles brought a major bank, it made him severely [[Typecasting|typecast]] as an actor. [[Tom Hanks Syndrome|Attempts at more dramatic fare]], such as ''[[The Truman Show]]'', ''[[Man on the Moon]]'', ''[[The Majestic]]'', and ''[[Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind]]'', while earning him praise from critics, under-performed and even outright flopped at the box office<ref>''[[The Truman Show]]'' was the one exception and that was due to [[Never Trust a Trailer|the trailer downplaying the drama]].</ref> compared to his broad comedies. While he currently sticks to those, he's toned down his antics in them, and is thus not quite as popular as he was in [[The Nineties]].
* After a long string of appearances in failed pilots and short-lived series, Adrianne Palicki finally broke through the mainstream when she took the role of Tyra Landry in the television version of ''[[Friday Night Lights]]'', which received significant critical and commercial acclaim. However, her roles after the series ended have been weak at best - she starred in the FOX flop ''Lone Star'' (cancelled after two episodes) and had the title role in a pilot for a ''[[Wonder Woman]]'' reboot, which wasn't picked up to series and was trashed by critics and fans. It remains to be seen if she can stage a comeback - she is set to appear in a reboot of ''[[Red Dawn]]'' and ''[[G.I. Joe: Retaliation]]'' in 2012.
* After a long string of appearances in failed pilots and short-lived series, Adrianne Palicki finally broke through the mainstream when she took the role of Tyra Landry in the television version of ''[[Friday Night Lights]]'', which received significant critical and commercial acclaim. However, her roles after the series ended have been weak at best - she starred in the FOX flop ''Lone Star'' (cancelled after two episodes) and had the title role in a pilot for a ''[[Wonder Woman]]'' reboot, which wasn't picked up to series and was trashed by critics and fans. It remains to be seen if she can stage a comeback - she is set to appear in a reboot of ''[[Red Dawn]]'' and ''[[G.I. Joe: Retaliation]]'' in 2012.


=== Too early to call: ===
== Too early to call ==
* [[Megan Fox]] came out of ''[[Transformers (film)|Transformers]]'' as the new ''It Girl'' sex symbol, and promptly rode it to tons of covers, press coverage, etc. So far, however, it doesn't look good. ''[[Jennifer's Body]]'' and ''[[Jonah Hex (film)|Jonah Hex]]'' were spectacular failures that seem to be sticking to her, people have an obsession with her "toe thumbs", and to top it all off, she was not in ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon]]'' (she claims that she chose to leave, but others are saying that [[Michael Bay]] kicked her off the movie due to [[Small Name, Big Ego|her attitude]]). Getting booted from the franchise that made her name, and losing out on the one sure-fire hit in her future, can't bode well (though YMMV as some argued that her leaving that franchise was a good thing). People are already writing [http://movies.ign.com/articles/109/1091221p1.html obituaries for her career.] Overall, it looks like [[Hype Backlash]] to the once-obvious "Hottest Woman Alive" winner will put her into the "didn't pan out" section quite soon, barring some major hit coming out and ''quickly''.
* [[Megan Fox]] came out of ''[[Transformers (film)|Transformers]]'' as the new ''It Girl'' sex symbol, and promptly rode it to tons of covers, press coverage, etc. So far, however, it doesn't look good. ''[[Jennifer's Body]]'' and ''[[Jonah Hex (film)|Jonah Hex]]'' were spectacular failures that seem to be sticking to her, people have an obsession with her "toe thumbs", and to top it all off, she was not in ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon]]'' (she claims that she chose to leave, but others are saying that [[Michael Bay]] kicked her off the movie due to [[Small Name, Big Ego|her attitude]]). Getting booted from the franchise that made her name, and losing out on the one sure-fire hit in her future, can't bode well (though YMMV as some argued that her leaving that franchise was a good thing). People are already writing [http://movies.ign.com/articles/109/1091221p1.html obituaries for her career.] Overall, it looks like [[Hype Backlash]] to the once-obvious "Hottest Woman Alive" winner will put her into the "didn't pan out" section quite soon, barring some major hit coming out and ''quickly''.
* [[Emma Roberts]] was heavily hyped as being the next big thing due to her relation to [[Julia Roberts]] (she's her niece) and roles in a few high-profile movies. After a disastrous adaptation of ''[[Nancy Drew]]'' in 2007 (among other flops like ''Wild Child'' (which went [[Direct to DVD]] in North America) and ''[[4.3.2.1]]''), it looked that she was never going to break out. Despite the obvious fact that no one was biting, Hollywood continued to push her, which led to lackluster performances of ''[[Scream (film)|Scream 4]]'' and ''The Art of Getting By''. Emma's still around, but it will take a major hit film to turn things around for her.
* [[Emma Roberts]] was heavily hyped as being the next big thing due to her relation to [[Julia Roberts]] (she's her niece) and roles in a few high-profile movies. After a disastrous adaptation of ''[[Nancy Drew]]'' in 2007 (among other flops like ''Wild Child'' (which went [[Direct to DVD]] in North America) and ''[[4.3.2.1]]''), it looked that she was never going to break out. Despite the obvious fact that no one was biting, Hollywood continued to push her, which led to lackluster performances of ''[[Scream (film)|Scream 4]]'' and ''The Art of Getting By''. Emma's still around, but it will take a major hit film to turn things around for her.
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** Part of the reason for her continued success may be that some people have given Heigl an [[Alternative Character Interpretation]], feeling that her comments, rather than showing her to be a [[Small Name, Big Ego|primadonna]] [[Jerkass|bitch]], prove that she's the [[Only Sane Man|Only Sane Woman]] in Hollywood. Heigl was [http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2007/06/knocked_up_the_nussbaumsternbe.html far from] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2007/sep/04/features.juddapatowfilm the only] [http://www.slate.com/id/2179621/ person] saying that ''[[Knocked Up]]'' was sexist (and [http://www.vanityfair.com/services/presscenter/pressrelease/katherine_heigl200801 her comments] were actually pretty mild compared to what some critics were saying). They take the fact that the tabloids paint her as a shrewish [[Straw Feminist]] (while arguably exaggerating her comments) as proof that [[Straw Man Has a Point|she had a point]] about sexism in Hollywood. Now if only she'd branch out beyond generic rom-coms...
** Part of the reason for her continued success may be that some people have given Heigl an [[Alternative Character Interpretation]], feeling that her comments, rather than showing her to be a [[Small Name, Big Ego|primadonna]] [[Jerkass|bitch]], prove that she's the [[Only Sane Man|Only Sane Woman]] in Hollywood. Heigl was [http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2007/06/knocked_up_the_nussbaumsternbe.html far from] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2007/sep/04/features.juddapatowfilm the only] [http://www.slate.com/id/2179621/ person] saying that ''[[Knocked Up]]'' was sexist (and [http://www.vanityfair.com/services/presscenter/pressrelease/katherine_heigl200801 her comments] were actually pretty mild compared to what some critics were saying). They take the fact that the tabloids paint her as a shrewish [[Straw Feminist]] (while arguably exaggerating her comments) as proof that [[Straw Man Has a Point|she had a point]] about sexism in Hollywood. Now if only she'd branch out beyond generic rom-coms...
* The fictional character [[Batwoman]]. When the character was announced as appearing in the weekly comic series ''[[52]]'' in 2007 there was a massive media response, even branching into non-comic related formats. The character was a [[Continuity Reboot|recreation of the classic character from the 1950's]], but was written as a lesbian involved with one of the primary characters for the series. Most of the media focus was on her sexuality, and she became regarded as the highest profile gay superhero in [[The DCU]]. [[Dan Di Dio]], Chief Editor of [[DC Comics]], has said that even he was completely unprepared for the massive news fixation on the character, and did not know how to properly respond. Though [[Urban Legend|unconfirmed]], rumors circulate that the ''[[Batgirl]]'' series being published at the time of her introduction was canceled in order to make room for her character. However, the amount of coverage on the character was completely out of proportion to her role in the series, which was a supporting role spread out over a year, and she spent the following two years as a minor and unused character, only appearing in guest spots in other series. However, in 2009 she became the [[Career Resurrection|headline character]] in ''[[Detective Comics]]'' and received a well-received title-series by [[Greg Rucka]] that effectively delved into her backstory.
* The fictional character [[Batwoman]]. When the character was announced as appearing in the weekly comic series ''[[52]]'' in 2007 there was a massive media response, even branching into non-comic related formats. The character was a [[Continuity Reboot|recreation of the classic character from the 1950's]], but was written as a lesbian involved with one of the primary characters for the series. Most of the media focus was on her sexuality, and she became regarded as the highest profile gay superhero in [[The DCU]]. [[Dan Di Dio]], Chief Editor of [[DC Comics]], has said that even he was completely unprepared for the massive news fixation on the character, and did not know how to properly respond. Though [[Urban Legend|unconfirmed]], rumors circulate that the ''[[Batgirl]]'' series being published at the time of her introduction was canceled in order to make room for her character. However, the amount of coverage on the character was completely out of proportion to her role in the series, which was a supporting role spread out over a year, and she spent the following two years as a minor and unused character, only appearing in guest spots in other series. However, in 2009 she became the [[Career Resurrection|headline character]] in ''[[Detective Comics]]'' and received a well-received title-series by [[Greg Rucka]] that effectively delved into her backstory.
* [[Justin Bieber]], who has enjoyed ''massive'' success as a pop music sensation, may or may not be the latest in a series of flash-in-the-pan [[Teen Idol|Teen Idols]]. It doesn't help that in the eighteen months or so he's been on the radar, he's released the same album three times <ref>a two-part album released in halves four months apart, a compilation of the aforementioned two-parter, and an acoustic re-release with mostly identical content, but focused on vocals and instrumentals, rather than synthetic production</ref>. Thus far, he's garnered most of his fame with media hype and live appearances; all of which is fine, but an image backed by an hour of recorded music can only last for so long before the hype begins to die down. Let's face it, he'll be on the cover of every teen magazine and on every poster in teenage girls' bedrooms for the next year or so, but his next album will help steer the course of whether his stardom starts to burn down, or whether he has legitimate staying power as an artist and not just as a hype product.
* [[Justin Bieber]], who has enjoyed ''massive'' success as a pop music sensation, may or may not be the latest in a series of flash-in-the-pan [[Teen Idol]]s. It doesn't help that in the eighteen months or so he's been on the radar, he's released the same album three times.<ref>a two-part album released in halves four months apart, a compilation of the aforementioned two-parter, and an acoustic re-release with mostly identical content, but focused on vocals and instrumentals, rather than synthetic production</ref> Thus far, he's garnered most of his fame with media hype and live appearances; all of which is fine, but an image backed by an hour of recorded music can only last for so long before the hype begins to die down. Let's face it, he'll be on the cover of every teen magazine and on every poster in teenage girls' bedrooms for the next year or so, but his next album will help steer the course of whether his stardom starts to burn down, or whether he has legitimate staying power as an artist and not just as a hype product.
** The biggest threat to Bieber's career as a mature performer is people getting completely sick of him, as he has saturated every form of media out there, even appearing on shows and in magazines that have nothing to do with his target demographic of young children and teens. Whether he can make the transition to mature performer once these kids lose interest or whether [[Hype Backlash|everyone will get so sick of him]] that they'll throw parties to celebrate him finally dropping off the radar for good remains to be seen.
** The biggest threat to Bieber's career as a mature performer is people getting completely sick of him, as he has saturated every form of media out there, even appearing on shows and in magazines that have nothing to do with his target demographic of young children and teens. Whether he can make the transition to mature performer once these kids lose interest or whether [[Hype Backlash|everyone will get so sick of him]] that they'll throw parties to celebrate him finally dropping off the radar for good remains to be seen.
* [[Ryan Reynolds]], who had the fortune/misfortune of coming along when Hollywood had a dearth of young leading males. After getting his big break in the ABC series ''[[Two Guys, a Girl And A Pizza Place]]'', Reynolds starred in a number of well-regarded comedic roles. However, most of his films from the late '00s and early '10s (with the exception of ''Buried'') received mixed reviews at best. His intended dramatic breakout performance in 2011's ''[[Green Lantern (film)|Green Lantern]]'' was also a critical and commercial underperformer. It's hard to say how well his career will turn out at this point, though the success of his 2012 film ''Safe House'' (though Denzel Washington was obviously the big draw, and there's a lot of debate about how much Reynolds' presence really contributed) could help him regain momentum.
* [[Ryan Reynolds]], who had the fortune/misfortune of coming along when Hollywood had a dearth of young leading males. After getting his big break in the ABC series ''[[Two Guys, a Girl And A Pizza Place]]'', Reynolds starred in a number of well-regarded comedic roles. However, most of his films from the late '00s and early '10s (with the exception of ''Buried'') received mixed reviews at best. His intended dramatic breakout performance in 2011's ''[[Green Lantern (film)|Green Lantern]]'' was also a critical and commercial underperformer. It's hard to say how well his career will turn out at this point, though the success of his 2012 film ''Safe House'' (though Denzel Washington was obviously the big draw, and there's a lot of debate about how much Reynolds' presence really contributed) could help him regain momentum.
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* Emily Blunt became known outside of the UK in 2006 with her performance in ''[[The Devil Wears Prada]]'' and a Golden Globe win for the drama ''Gideon's Daughter''. But since then, her career has been a rollercoaster of critical hits (''[[The Adjustment Bureau]]'', ''Sunshine Cleaning'', ''[[Salmon Fishing in the Yemen]]'') and major misfires (''[[The Wolf Man]]'', ''The Five Year Engagement''). She still has a shot of having a big hit outside of her native country but outside of the arthouse crowd, she likely to remain best known as John Krasinski's wife.
* Emily Blunt became known outside of the UK in 2006 with her performance in ''[[The Devil Wears Prada]]'' and a Golden Globe win for the drama ''Gideon's Daughter''. But since then, her career has been a rollercoaster of critical hits (''[[The Adjustment Bureau]]'', ''Sunshine Cleaning'', ''[[Salmon Fishing in the Yemen]]'') and major misfires (''[[The Wolf Man]]'', ''The Five Year Engagement''). She still has a shot of having a big hit outside of her native country but outside of the arthouse crowd, she likely to remain best known as John Krasinski's wife.
* Julianne Hough is pretty much touted as "The Next Big Thing" by The Machine, and American is being subjected to the ''[[Dancing With the Stars]]'' performer's films left and right for the next several years (including a successful re-release of ''[[Footloose]]''), until she either hits it big, or they give up.
* Julianne Hough is pretty much touted as "The Next Big Thing" by The Machine, and American is being subjected to the ''[[Dancing With the Stars]]'' performer's films left and right for the next several years (including a successful re-release of ''[[Footloose]]''), until she either hits it big, or they give up.
=== In fiction: ===
== In fiction ==
* An episode of ''[[Angel]]'' dealt with a young actress who, knowing that she'd be spit out by the Hype Machine in a few years, tries to become a vampire so that she could retain her youth and beauty (and, by extension, her career) forever.
* An episode of ''[[Angel]]'' dealt with a young actress who, knowing that she'd be spit out by the Hype Machine in a few years, tries to become a vampire so that she could retain her youth and beauty (and, by extension, her career) forever.
* Allegra Coleman. In 1996, ''Esquire'' ran an article on the "Next Big Thing." They created their own Hype Machine behind her, talking about her role in a new [[Woody Allen]] film, her rocky relationship with [[Friends|David Schwimmer]], and her friendship with Deepak Chopra. The problem? Allegra wasn't real. The whole thing was an elaborate fabrication created by writer Martha Sherrill as a hoax/publicity stunt/[[Take That]]. The interesting part of the whole thing was that, despite not being real, the Allegra Coleman hype machine ''still worked'', jump-starting the acting career of the model used in the photo shoot, future ''[[Heroes (TV series)|Heroes]]'' star [[Ali Larter]].
* Allegra Coleman. In 1996, ''Esquire'' ran an article on the "Next Big Thing." They created their own Hype Machine behind her, talking about her role in a new [[Woody Allen]] film, her rocky relationship with [[Friends|David Schwimmer]], and her friendship with Deepak Chopra. The problem? Allegra wasn't real. The whole thing was an elaborate fabrication created by writer Martha Sherrill as a hoax/publicity stunt/[[Take That]]. The interesting part of the whole thing was that, despite not being real, the Allegra Coleman hype machine ''still worked'', jump-starting the acting career of the model used in the photo shoot, future ''[[Heroes (TV series)|Heroes]]'' star [[Ali Larter]].
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