November 21, 2008
By Rebecca Gladden
About a year ago, FOX News analyst Bill O'Reilly went on something of a rant about the USO, claiming that there aren't enough famous celebrities visiting U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. He questioned why there is no modern-day version of the Bob Hope USO Tour.
To me, the reason is obvious: Because there is no modern-day version of Bob Hope.
Last year, the top names on the Forbes list of highest paid American celebrities were Oprah Winfrey, Tiger Woods, Johnny Depp, Jay-Z, Tom Hanks, Madonna and Howard Stern.
I guess the troops would appreciate being visited by any of these stars. But I think it's safe to say that there is not a Bob Hope among them.
Hope offered a style and quality of entertainment that simply wouldn't fly today. He'd be called old-fashioned and out of touch. Hope wasn't edgy. His jokes weren't crude and peppered with swear words. He didn't wear bling and the girls on his show weren't dressed like … uh, I'll let you supply a fitting adjective.
And it's a darn shame, because I think we could all use some Hope-style humor about now.
Along these same lines, I recently saw a couple of TV commercials for Macy's Department Store. The first is a celebration of Macy's 150th anniversary. It is a montage of famous celebrities from the past who mention the Macy's name, including Bob Hope. There's also Natalie Wood from "Miracle on 34th Street," Ricky and Lucy, Johnny Carson, and even Snoopy, among others.
Now, I understand why a business like Macy's is tempted to remind viewers of happier, more civil times.
But contrast those celebrities with the ones in the second Macy's ad - part of a Christmas campaign with the theme, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus." The ad features current Macy's 'stars' like Jessica Simpson, Martha Stewart, Carlos Santana, Donald Trump, Tommy Hilfiger and Kenneth Cole.
Quite a contrast to Lucy and Ricky.
I think nostalgia sells -- to a point.
But its use can be a double-edged sword.
If the company invoking the past can't back it up with what it has to offer in the present, the net effect is a negative one. What people remember so fondly simply doesn't exist any more.
The happy feelings triggered by recalling past people and events are transient, replaced by a sense of disappointment with the present and a longing for what we perceive as better times.
Unfortunately, it's a wish that can never be fulfilled. It's true for the USO. It's true for Macy's.
And it's certainly true for NASCAR.
Our sport has done more than its share of invoking the past this year. Both the season opening race in Daytona and the closing race at Homestead featured tributes to some of our most famous past drivers: Bobby Allison, Buddy Baker, Junior Johnson, David Pearson, Ernie Irvan, Cale Yarborough, Ned Jarrett and Richard Petty among those honored at one or both events. Other drivers have served as grand marshals and in various ceremonial capacities this year and prior.
It's admirable of NASCAR and the individual track owners to recognize and honor past drivers. But when you see those rough-and-tumble drivers of a bygone era and compare them to the majority of today's drivers, do you feel happy or sad? When you hear those past drivers talk about the glory days of racing and compare it to racing today, do you feel cheerful or wistful?
Bill O'Reilly asked where today's Bob Hope Show is. Sadly, there is no Bob Hope any more.
Similarly, NASCAR fans might ask where today's Dale Earnhardt or David Pearson or Cale Yarborough is.
I'm afraid the answer is the same.
And that's a problem NASCAR can't solve. At least, not without a major restructuring of the sport, its rules, and its corporate image -- something we will likely never see.
You can contact Rebecca at.. Insider Racing News
You Can Read Other Articles By Rebecca
The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.
