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It's interesting, and amusing, to see how one person's actions and lifestyle can infiltrate contemporary culture... and how the effect comes to the consumer with a kind of time-lag, so that the jokes about the person are always a few months - or more - out of date.
First we had grouchy receptionist Frank in TV hospital drama "ER" getting a rare hold of a celeb tabloid and commenting "What's Britney done now?!" I love how her name can be spat out with such vehemence. It could be a new expletive for the new century.
Then we had a scene with a mysterious nanny and her young charge in "Six Degrees". It went like this: Little girl: "I LOVE the Rolling Stones!" Nanny: "What about Britney?" (spat out again....) Little girl: "My mommy says Britney's the devil and Keith Richards is god." Nanny: "Smart lady!"
Next, UK crime-comedy caper series "The Invisibles". Here a character was compared to "Britney Spears and the Royal Family put together". An impressive juxtaposition and a fine level of fame for the girl once known in New Orleans as the Bayou Bunny.
Then while driving in Ireland, I turn on the car radio and within ten seconds they're playing "Piece of Me". When it finishes, the DJ just says one word: "Britney". No ironic remarks or social commentary, because playing Britney on Irish radio is totally acceptable to the audience and to them she's still a megastar.
The latest episode comes from "grotequely obese and proud of it" singer Beth Ditto. To her, Britney is the OBVIOUS poster-girl for celebrities who have beautiful bodies and aren't fat. To her, Britney is therefore "hideous". There a lot of skinnier celebs than Britney, but she was the one who sprang to mind.
The world is talking about Britney, at the very moment that the lady herself is doing nothing more controversial than going to the gym most days.
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Yeah...it's not at all to do with the fact that there really aren't any other pop stars named Britney who sing about paparazzi.
Nor are there that many popstars who are in the news constantly for all the wrong reasons.
Anyway, how would you know it's because they think she's a megastar? Are you in everyone's minds? Nope! Most consider her tabloid fodder, believe it or not. If you stepped out of your little bubbleworld for two seconds, you'd see that barely anyone respects Britney, no matter if she's visiting the gym or flashing the paparazzi.
She's done so many notorious, obscene and dangerous things in public, no one NEEDS to say her last name because no other Britney has done things that stupid!
You're right, there's no one like Britney - but no one has quite fallen like Britney either.
I know she's fine now, that's not my point. The DJ doesn't say her last name because she's notorious, not because she's in their good books. Just like he'd said "Paris" without needing to say "Hilton".
And why can't I read the "rebuilding Britney" entry?