The Fame Formula
I’ve just been told by my publishers that The Fame Formula is currently the lead feature on the Yahoo home page. http://uk.yahoo.com/
Olympians v "Z list" reality show throwaways
I scribbled an opinion feature for the Sunday Times on the Olympic hoo-ha, which fell by the wayside. I think it addressed the issues that had been missed as euphoric rapture asphyxiated the nation and completely overshadowed the Olympic scale of the Chinese Olympics propaganda. In the rush to enjoy Team GB’s Olympic success, let’s…
Olympic propaganda
As the news broke that parts of the Beijing Olympic opening ceremony had been faked, the friendly face of China was looking increasingly like a prefabricated PR mask. It was certainly unfortunate that little Lin Miaoke, who won so many hearts with her stirring rendition of “Ode to the Motherland” as the Chinese flag entered…
WiFi access and other frustrations at the Edinburgh Festival
John Pinette is one of the funniest stand ups I have seen in years. This oversized routine is dominated by frustrations about food cafeteria lines and the modern day morons. After 24 hours in Edinburgh, I’m beginning to turn into him! Pinette talks about someone in a restaurant queue saying “how big is your small?”…
Ready, steady, go – the race to turn gold into millions
By Amol Rajan Tuesday, 19 August 2008 Britain’s Olympic heroes in Beijing are being circled by increasing numbers of sports agents, multi-nationals and image consultants desperate to cash in on their new-found fame. Behind the scenes in China’s capital, newly crowned champions, from the swimmer Rebecca Adlington to the cyclists Bradley Wiggins and Chris Hoy,…
Golden girl just wants a burger with chips
By Nick Harris in Beijing She won by miles, and shattered the world record. She took her second gold of the Games, to become the most successful British swimmer in a century. Fellow swimmers were calling her Dame Becky yesterday, as Team GB headed for its best-ever Olympic weekend. So how would Rebecca Adlington celebrate?…
The promotion continues
In amongst the hoo-ha surrounding the publicity for The Fame Formula, including reviews in The Guardian, the Sunday Times and numerous other organs, plus a host of radio show appearances, I had let the Fame Formula competition nag at me a little because it is even more impossible to predict who or what may turn…
Naked ambition Escala meets PT Barnum
What a weird weekend. There was no end to the promo cycle for the book. My heart was in my mouth as I was being interviewed by my old client Mark Lamarr who was standing in for Jonathon Ross with Jo Brand on Radio 2. Mark is not a fan of ephemeral hype nor the…
Good Guardian review for the Fame Formula.. not so good Times write up
Spinmeisters of the Universe Colin Byrne is dazzled by the cynical skills used to promote politicians and Hollywood stars alike Colin Byrne The Guardian, Saturday August 9 2008 Alpha Dogs: How Spin Became a Global Business by James Harding The Fame Formula: How Hollywood’s Fixers, Fakers and Star Makers Created the Celebrity Industry by Mark…
Morgan Freeman: His darkest night
His darkest night: a divorce in Hollywood He is one of cinema’s most bankable and best-loved actors. Morgan Freeman also kept his private life away from public scrutiny – until a midnight car crash By Guy Adams Friday, 8 August 2008 There is, of course, one final thesis as to why major Hollywood stars might…