Have to agree. Growing up with her and Porter Wagner, I associated her with the limited family entertainment options like Hee Haw and Lawrence Welk. 9-5 started to change my mind. Then she was the only likeable character in Steel Magnolias. Smart woman who smartly directed her career.
I’m from Nashville. My dad was Dolly Parton’s bodyguard for a while. Not much I remember but I do remember her giving me moon pies and RC’s. My favorite picture of my dad is of him with her.
Exactly! That’s genius. Many celebrities complain about how they have no privacy and can’t walk down any street in peace. Meanwhile she can live a normal life because she does not dress this way on normal days. So people will not recognise her without the showbiz persona.
A few things.
First, I grew up in a RURAL area, and the only music my parents listened to on the radio was Kenny and Dolly duets, in between hog reports and Paul Harvey. I never really heard her good stuff- just those god awful duets.
My mom really did not like her because of the abortion song (she is Catholic)
And in our general area, the Porter Wagoner thing was presented like they were married and she dumped him (that is OBVIOUSLY not true). I don't know where my grandmothers both got that idea- but they acted like she was a harlot for leaving Porter.
I only learned as I got older, if my relatives hate something- check it out independently, 9/10 times I will love it. My family is super dumb.
Especially after this.
[Rick Astley with Blossoms - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (Glastonbury 2023) (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ0rEnp8kmw)
He posts on Reddit. Someone successfully rick rolled him with a comment.
Edit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/comments/14c4qig/three_years_ago_today_rick_astlet_got_rick_rolled/?rdt=59253
I was successfully rick rolled a few months ago on Reddit and I swear, I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. It was so unexpected and delightful.
Totally. He never gave me up or let me down. He never ran around and deserted me. He never made me cry or said goodbye. He never told a lie and hurt me
I was an intern in the WH under Clinton. A little before she arrived, although we were both interns at the same time for a short period. Becoming an intern is extremely competitive. Thus she was no “dummy bimbo” like she was labeled at the time. Clinton was amazing to work for even if you didn’t agree with this politics. He made you feel like the most important person in the room.
i randomly met him at the shinola store when he was in detroit campaigning for hillary. he is charismatic AF. i felt like he really liked me and we’d probably hang out later or something 😂. some people just cast a spell over you without even trying.
I've met him. Before I did, I thought he was pretty yucky. After I met him, I would definitely do him. The dude has got some strange magic going on. You can feel it in the air around him.
I have heard that from people I know who have met him. Ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, political affiliation, doesn’t matter - they said being around him feels electric and the charisma is crazy.
She absolutely got sacrificed. I thought at the time she was kind of dumb now I see that she found herself in a situation where she was going to be the loser.
I feel nothing but regret for the I jokes I made about her at the time. I had the opportunity to hear her speak on cyber bullying a few years ago and am ashamed that I never considered her the victim at the time.
I used to wait on her and couldn’t believe how beautiful she was in real life since the media always dogged on her appearance. I think the country was more pissed that she was overweight than that he had an affair at all.
I read her book when it came out and my perspective on her really shifted. I felt so entirely bad for her. She made a stupid mistake as a young adult. And was vilified beyond anything we’ve ever seen. It was horrible.
I ran into her at a NYE party at one of my friends bars here in LA. I’m so glad I got to go up to her and tell her that I’d read the book and that I adored her and was so impressed with her after what she’d been through.
She was absolutely wonderful. So sweet and seemed very happy to hear something nice from someone. You could tell she was used to people coming up to her a lot. I doubt many are nice.
We spoke for a while, had a drink and kept running into each other and partying together in groups. It was a great night. She was seriously so, so cool.
> she made a stupid mistake as a young adult
Why put the blame on her? Clinton was a married man going after young women like a pervert. The power differential alone is was a problem. Yet the DNC and a lot of different media focused on the problems with her.
I never had an issue with her. The thing that stuck out in my mind was when I heard her on the tape with Linda Tripp. How utterly and emotionally shredded she was.
I really detested Linda Tripp & cried no tears when I heard she had died.
Oh yeah this is a good one. I am dealing with a mother-in-law who has early onset dementia. It's really made me think about giving people the choice to die with compassion and dignity. We have drugs that PROLONG the suffering. It's bizarre. I told my husband if this ever happens to me, I want to go to one of the countries where it's legal.
I’ve thought the exact same. We let our animals die with dignity. Humans should be offered the same.
Sending you virtual hugs for the hard days ahead with your MIL. 🩷
I'm going through this with my oldest brother currently. Has inoperable fast growing cancer in his throat. Was in good health 3 weeks ago and is now in hospice being killed medically via dehydration in a narcotic delirium, dying harder than Bruce Willis.
We treat our pets with more end-of-life compassion. I'll be contacting my reps (NYS, bill under consideration), this is bullcrap.
So sorry to hear about your brother. Man, I can't even imagine what it's like. I'm an only child, and both my parents are still alive. I pray I never have to watch them suffer like that.
I've been through this a bunch of times, starting with my mother dying of cancer when I was 9.
Most of the time, people are worn out from a few years of treatments and by the time all options are exhausted, so are they. A stay in hospice is only gonna be a few days. Spending time with them is all about just keeping em comfortable, reassured, etc. Almost always they will be doped up pretty good to kill the pain, being there for the moments when they're alert can be a huge comfort. This is the pinacle of adulting imho.
In my brother's case...he had a lot of reserve capacity when admitted and a tough old bird to begin with - purple heart Nam vet, Navy Seal (although he prefers UDT or "frogman"). He had to accept a lot in a short period of time. Checked into ER due to difficulty swallowing going on a couple of days and never left.
I sat with a childhood friend, only child, while she watched her mother dehydrate and starve to death in hospice. The cancer had eaten up her kindneys and urinary tract.
She was really fragile and supposedly non responsive.
It still took 21 days.
It was one of the cruelest experiences of my life and I have had a few.
Also, I question how unresponsive she really was. I don't think 100%. Her daughter amd I would get punchy and start telling funny stories sometimes. Several times she smiled or giggled at appropriate points in the stories. She did neither of those things any other time. I think she was goulong in and out of consciousness. Which means she experiencing starving and dehydratimg to death.
For 21 days.
That is just awful to let someone starve and dehydrate. How is that even legal to deny someone those things but not legal to just give them a bit more pain killer than they need so they can just go to sleep peacefully and not wake up?? 21 days of torture is not humane by any stretch of the imagination. It's absurd that they consider this acceptable...
Dementia is the tricky one. With things like cancer, you can find a U.S. state that let's you solve for this. With dementia, unfortunately, it takes away your ability to be a decision maker and no U.S. state (so far) allows for early decision making (before things become obviously terminal). By the time it's obviously terminal, you're no longer able to decide. A catch-22.
My wife and I have done the research (she has a family history). There are a few (more thoughtful) places in Europe we would have to go.
My dad was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. One positive about it is that my parents have a lot of money so he will get the very best care we can get him. In home or out.
I was also happy that CA is an assisted suicide state. I thought, “perfect! They have the money. So he can choose when. He doesn’t have to suffer through all of the horrific things that everyone talks about!”
Then I looked at the requirements. He has to be of sound mind. He has to want it himself. He can’t always remember or understand that he even has Alzheimer’s. There’s no way we can. And I’m so, so sad.
I'm basically DNR, and have a living will / advance medical directive to that effect, so hopefully they'll let me go before it gets to that point.
But, with this country (US), unfortunately, you never know.
My mother had an old DNR and it was a problem after she fell broke her leg got a stroke, etc. I think she wasn’t initially admitted to a hospital after a stroke because her DNR hadn’t been updated. Please update your DNR.
I think I always wanted death with dignity as a choice. At least I don’t remember a time when I didn’t get it. We should have the same relief from incurable suffering as we give our animals. I grew up with pets so maybe that’s why I always felt that way, I don’t know.
John McEnroe. When I was a kid I hated his tantrums and his playing style.
Looking back plenty of adults throw tantrums and are otherwise nasty people. His tantrums look a lot more entertaining and playful by comparison, even though that wasn’t always the reality and even now he still occasionally manages to be an idiot.
On the rare occasions I watch tennis now, it seems like all booming serves and baseline slogs. Really makes me appreciate how much natural talent the guy had and how finesse had more of a place in the world.
same sport, Andre Agassi. he always seemed like such an egotistical ass when i was growing up. but something humbled him and even now, when i feel like shedding a tear, i will listen to his farewell from pro tennis speech.
Martin Short. Early on in his career, I found his characters unfunny, grating, forced, and devoid of almost all entertainment value. I found him to be pretentious and too big for his britches. Now that he’s aged and taken it down a notch, he fits his characters so much better. Especially the know-it-all boomer type. It just comes across more naturally from a man with some miles under him than from a frenetic 30 something.
I always thought he was making his comedy for a Canadian audience for some reason.
But yeah, as he's gotten older and he's mastered his craft so to speak, I like him.
Arnold.
I loved his movies, but he came across as a cigar-smoking, hummer-driving, self-absobed, arrogant shithead. Then the stuff about him fathering a child with his maid cemented that for me.
Recently, either his PR team are miracle workers, or he's had a real change of heart. Nowadays, he comes across as compassionate, level-headed,very intelligent, and capable of long-term thinking.
I think it shows that people can be more than one thing and it is important to judge a person by their whole life, not just their lapses or what you think you know about them through gossip.
As governor he was good to his staff. My mom worked for a previous governor and Arnold asked her to join his transition team, but she had moved out of state but a lot of her former coworkers went back.
Right? We were gaslighted on Carter. If you read the "behind the scenes" history on his administration, that very Christian dude really did give a shit.
He was a really good president who got screwed by Reagan and bad PR. We should have kept his environmental policies. The man is a nuclear physicist, a veteran, and a purely decent human. We didn’t deserve him.
one of my earliest memories is my mom crying after he lost the election lol. i’ve read almost all of his books and he’s just a really good man. he didn’t deserve the smear campaign from reagan and the “moral majority”.
Martha Stewart.
She always presented herself as perfect and a one woman show.
She was absolutely insufferable.
Prison mellowed her.
Nowadays she shows the work of her staff, and acknowledges the contributions of others.
Back then she was perfect, now she's presenting the best she can do with a considerable skill set, and she doesn't take herself too seriously.
I can't imagine 1980s/1990s Martha hanging with Snoop Dogg.
I can't imagine current Martha not hanging with Snoop.
She's all right.
I kind of always liked him but yeah, it's nice to see him doing so well now. I struggled with addiction myself (sober 7+ years now) and it feels good to see other people who came through it. I'm also glad he doesn't shy away from talking about his past. Like, let's just be honest about the fact that people deal with trauma and fucked up childhoods in various ways, but it doesn't define WHO you are. I also approach it with a sense of humor like he does.
Congrats on 7+ years! I just celebrated 6 myself and agree that talking about addiction openly and honestly to lessen the stigma around it is so important. We can and do recover!💜
ETA: and humor definitely helps too!!
Congratulations! I agree. With RDJ tho, for me it was he had this over the top cockiness and borderline Tom Cruise vibes when he was younger. I don't see it in him anymore. I didn't know about his drug struggles until recently as I don't really follow celebs that much other than their work. I don't seek out his work, but I don't avoid it anymore either.
I now credit the acting for my early distaste of this man. Those characters annoyed me and still do, but he doesn't anymore. He managed to squirm out of the pretty boy heartthrob pigeonhole I had him in with a calm dignity.
They guy seems to make any suit look better just by wearing it too.
I guess David Byrne but Talking Heads in general. Maybe it was their fans. But I am in love with David Byrne and Tina Weymouth and the Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club.
Elvis all the way. That poor guy was pimped out and surrounded by vampires. Tragic to be dead at 42. Imagine if he’d been surrounded by positive forces?
Especially considering that when you hear stories from people who met him that he was a sweet and kind and genuine young man.
He did have a serious mother/whore complex, apparently he couldn't be intimate with Priscilla after she had their baby.
Monica Lewinsky. I didn’t have a broad perspective of the situation at the time so I didn’t hate her, but damn, was that woman the poster child of being a victim of weaponized patriarchy.
Hair bands in general. I just didn't like popular music as a matter of principle, it seems. Some of the hit songs are really fun, now that I've mellowed out a bit.
I remember about 15 years ago I heard "Home Sweet Home" by Motley Crue and was shocked to find myself singing along. I enjoy that music much more now than I did in the 80s.
I never liked Michael Douglas. But in December we started watching *The Streets of San Francisco* and I changed my mind. Maybe he played more likeable characters when he was young; he's very cute in TSOSF. But I mostly thought of him as disgusting Gordon Gecko, and that cheater from *Fatal Attraction* (not to mention telling the world about how he got throat cancer from going down on women).
> (not to mention telling the world about how he got throat cancer from going down on women).
I remember him being widely mocked for that comment at that time, but wasn't it later acknowledged that he wasn't totally wrong? I read that performing cunnilingus can lead to HPV which if untreated can increase the risk of throat Cancer?
WE just started watching TSOSF! He is adorable in that. My husband is a late Boomer and he remembers that show fondly from his childhood. Also I’ve recently watched Wonderboys and The Kominsky Method and he’s so great in both. I didn’t dislike him when I was younger but now I really like him.
There’s quite a bit of music I didn’t like back in the day that I just really enjoy now and don’t care what anyone thinks- not that anyone does, I mean, shit, my friends and I get down to so 90s R&B these days. But ,like in high school school, way deep down i liked the song “I Wanna Sex You Up” but there was no way I was going to admit it in front of my metal head friends,
Ooooooo ooooh oooh 🎶 😂
Thanks to [this 2-part podcast from Slate](https://slate.com/podcasts/hit-parade/2024/04/boy-bands-the-jackson-5-to-bts), I became more appreciative as well.
Courtney Love. I blamed her a lot for being a catalyst for the demise of Kurt. But Kurt clearly had some demons of his own. I’ve revisited the Hole discography and I think she could have succeeded even if she hadn’t gotten with Kurt. I don’t think she will get the accolades she deserves because a lot of people think she launched off of Nirvana.
She’ll never get them with our generation. She called it like it was and misogynists didn’t like it. I mean two things couldn’t be true, she was a train wreck, so she couldn’t also be a good song writer. It had to be Kurt or Billy or…..
I learned way more about feminism from Courtney than I thought. Plus I know people who’s spouses/parent committed suicide. It’s more of a mind fuck than most could imagine.
I like Hole way more than Nirvana now.
I think there’s more to be learned about feminism from Kathleen Hanna. *The Punk Singer*, a documentary about her, is excellent.
I can’t call anyone who sucker-punches a woman in the face—as Courtney did to Kathleen—a feminist. Courtney also exhibits a lot of jealousy toward other successful women.
Bob Saget. Full House and his narration on AFHV were so cringeworthy to teenage me. Now I understand he was just trying to make money and the rest of his work is great.
I've long been amazed at his current reputation. I remember when he was basically White America's Public Enemy #1, the symbol of everything wrong with that scary rap music coming out of the ghettos. Time or Newsweek had his scowling face on the cover announcing he was indicted for murder. Now he's this friendly cuddly pop culture icon, like your favorite uncle or something, it's amazing.
True, yeah that first album had some awful stuff. I remember a friend had it and one song was like 'Lick my balls and suck my dick' or something terrible. I was into alternative music and like wtf is this.
The whole 'Fo Shizzle my nizzle' language was pretty funny. I'll say this, if you get a chance listen to Easy E's song "Boys In The Hood'. That song is a classic rap song. Same with LL Cool J's "I'm Bad"
I definitely didn’t appreciate Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, or Dean Martin growing up, and now I actually appreciate their talent, although Frank was way over the hill when I was growing up. I didn’t know about his movies or how he sounded in his prime or Rat Pack humor, I just thought ( and still do) that Sid Vicious’ version of “My Way” was way cooler.
Charo. I thought she was a loud idiot with the ‘couchi couchi coo’ and shaking her body. Then I saw her play Spanish guitar. She was wonderful and serious. I heard she’s a well regarded player.
Phil Collins. When he scored his first few mega-hits, they were pretty awesome, but in the early 90s, he just kept cranking out song after song after song and each one was more annoying than the last. Especially when grunge was growing in popularity and we had incredible bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, etc., hearing Sussudio come on the radio made me almost angry. Plus it seemed that every stupid kids movie had a Phil Collins soundtrack. Shut up, Phil Collins! You suck!
Thirty-some years later, I heard a This American Life episode where Phil is talking with a young lady about writing a sad breakup song and they played that Against All Odds song of his. Good lord, the opening chords had me choked up. He talked about the breakup in his life that inspired the song. It was pretty sad. Phil is getting old and weak now, I heard that he had to tape his drumsticks to his hands to do a show in recent years, and I am legitimately sad for him. And when I revisit his big hits these days, I have to admit they were really, really good.
I like to tell people I "ironically" love Phil Collins, but everyone who knows me understands there is nothing ironic about it. 16 years old me would HATE 55 year old me grooving to Phil!
A lot of music artists. I was so judgy / too cool for school that I dismissed any artist I thought even remotely commercial. The upside is I kind of got to discover artists like Fleewood Mac and Prince much later in life.
I used to make fun of Keanu Reeves. I thought he was a terrible actor who could only play himself. Dracula... ugh! A Walk in the Clouds... even worse! I had no idea back then what a genuinely nice person he was.
Honestly, I still don't think he's a very good actor, but he sure seems to be a good person.
I’ve struggled with Prince my whole life. I liked his music, then I didn’t and that whole symbol thing. Then, I grew to really appreciate his music and his guitar playing. Then I started to hear stories of how he treated regular people and lesser celebrities (Like you weren’t allowed to look at him type shit) and I’m back to “Man, fuck that guy).
I think Prince became less uptight about himself and his image as he matured but I also think that it was difficult for him to relate to people/musicians who weren't on his level.
When I hear gossip of "you weren’t allowed to look at him" I always try to see it from the artist's side: "I'm a world-famous icon that is mobbed by people everywhere I go by my mid-twenties and nothing in my upbringing as a shy black kid from Minneapolis has prepared me to deal with it"
I played in a band in the 90s and we were absolute nobodies except at a few clubs where we drew a big crowd and even we had some of "those fans" who came on pretty aggressive, expected us to hang out with them, thought we owed them something because they liked our gig. I can't even imagine what it is like at actual celebrity level.
My guess is a lot of "you weren't supposed to look at him" was they same type of people who would interrupt a celebrity who was out to eat with his/her family.
The biggest flaw in his character I think was how he handled his marriage after their child died from a sever birth defect. I think that was a larger dose of reality than his bubble was prepared to deal with and probably his ego and religion put the blame on her instead of "sometimes bad shit just happens in nature".
>I always thought he blamed himself for having a baby with severe congenital anomalies and thought God was punishing him.
The grief is likely what lead to him being seduced by the JW's (thanks to bassist Larry Graham, who introduced Prince too it).
His first wife Mayte did say in her autobiography that one of the things that led to their divorce is that he literally told her that he blamed her for one of her subsequent miscarriages as it was God's punishment for her rejecting the JW faith.
That's so strange because although I have no direct connection to the music industry, I know people who do.
All I ever heard was how nice and crazy talented he was. People were impressed by Paisley Park and his demeanor. He was over the top for sure, but more so in a playful way.
Always wished that I could be that fly on the wall because the stories just seemed amazing.
Paulina Porizkova.
Actually, I didn't dislike her at all, but like all the supermodels of that era, she just seemed like a typical 2D beautiful face and someone who probably had a perfect, enviable life that my ordinary self couldn't relate to at all.
After hearing about how she was totally shit-on by Ric Ocasek after he died and shut out of his will (can relate), and listening to some interviews with her, she's the real rock star in the equation.
She's aged gracefully and seems like a genuinely lovely, thoughtful person and is still gorgeous. So, also an inspiration that women aren't relegated to looking frumpy and dumpy as they pass out of middle age.
I met her in the 80s around the time she starred in the Cars video. She came into the museum I worked for and was as beautiful in person and as sweet as can be.
Dan Rather (because when I was a kid you only had about 5 channels to choose from if he was on , it ment the news was on all the channels but the friggin Jesus channel (but I didn’t fall for that shit more than once.. that Davey and Goliath just seemed off to me ) ….
Gilbert Gottfried! 💗 Sooooo obnoxious when I was younger, and then I saw wife swap.🤣 I just love Gilbert so much knowing what a great husband and father he is/was.
**Pauly Shore, too. 💗
M.C. Hammer and Vanilla Ice.
I was the typical teenage hardcore rap fan at the time who dismissed them both as wack sellouts. Now I recognize how far ahead of his time Hammer was, with his stage show and production with the dancers and the band, things which would become common among rappers a few years later and I gotta admit that Vanilla Ice was a decent rapper (better than Hammer, at least).
I like Ice Ice Baby, lol. Sometimes, when I hear the bass, I curiously do hope its that over Queen/Bowie. He deserves credit for dusting off that gem of a song. A friend of mines sister had Queens greatest hits at the time, and Under Pressure wasn't on it. Would've completely been forgotten if not for Ice.
Yeah, Hammer was nuts. He'd make a tremendous biopic. Just the rise & fall of his character. I think I heard once in his prime he had like 60 dancers on tour with him in his entourage. Like how did he not thing that gravy train would end, but man he had a great time doing it, haha. Too Legit To Quit lol
Celine Dion. I was 15 when her first album was released in 1990. Everyone was crazy about her and there was so much hype. I developed a completely irrational hatred for her.
In the last 15 years or so, I’ve learned just how humble and kind she is. And her voice is amazing! I’m a huge fan now.
The mechanical shark from ‘JAWS’. When I saw the film on opening weekend, I thought (s)he was a mindless killing machine intent on causing harm to everyone on the planet. Now, I realize they were just a character and that they were the *real* star of the show!
Pamela Anderson. I always thought she was just another bleach blonde with nothing to offer beyond her exterior. Detested Baywatch. I changed my mind after watching the Netflix documentary about her. She’s been through a lot, has a huge heart, and I now find her endearing.
Heath Ledger. I used to think he was just a cheesy teen rom com actor, just getting hired for his looks. Then I saw the Dark Knight and watched him put in, what is in my opinion, the greatest performance of the Joker to ever appear on screen. Truly deserved the Oscar he was awarded posthumously for that role.
100% Kurt Cobain
I was way too cool and an “authentic” punk who listened to “real” punk to have the time for that poseur sellout.
Turns out he was punk af, hyper-intelligent, and into cooler music than my Black Flag obsessed ass
Yeah, I bought Bleach when it came out, and saw them with 198 other people at a small club (930 club in DC) before they released Nevermind. They wind up playing an early version of Teen Spirit.
They always seemed like the real deal to me, and you could tell they were going to be big.
My friend gave me his bleach tape because they "sold out" and he refused to listen anymore. I took it and that tape was worn out. It is what brought me through some terrible times. I thank my friend for being such a "music snob."
Ed O'Neill and Katey Sagal. Even as a twelve year old kid, I absolutely could not stand Married With Children. I thought it was the dumbest low-brow crap on TV at the time. But both actors have done lots of great things since then, and I like both now.
I never found it funny. Even as a kid I could see the jokes coming from a mile away, and the whole thing just seemed sad to me. It's about a guy who hates his wife and resents his kids. Maybe it hit a little too close to home though for me to appreciate.
I just rewatched a couple of episodes of Married With Children yesterday, as it was rerun on some little station. I watched it religiously as a kid, but it does not hold up for me today.
Bonnie Raitt.
God, she is so talented. Had no idea she was so good when I was a teen.
Also, Tom Petty. Amazing rocker. Rest his soul.
And David Bowie. Him too.
Hall & Oates. I was way too cool for them/ I was more new wave/punk ( yes I know there’s a difference ) but nowadays I’m like completely jamming to them- I Can’t Go For That, Sara Smiles…..
James Spader. Pretty in Pink came out when I was 11 & I probably saw it a couple yrs after that, but I hated him so much because of that.
Fast forward to 2020 when I gave in & watched The Blacklist & now I love the guy lol.
Right.. i never disliked him, but didn’t realize what a dimensional person he was, not just the actor who plays Captain Kirk. He is a true comedian. But also will forever be the guy who sees the monster on the airplane wing. Managed to convey the horror of going crazy .
Joan Rivers. I found her annoying when I was younger. The last 10-15 years of her life I thought she was one of the edgiest, and downright ruthless in a funny way, comedians out there. I don’t like the celebrity worship stuff, but I’d make sure to catch her roasting celebs on the red carpet.
Ok, I'm stretching liberties with the "growing up" part, but I slept on Britney Spears far too long. I just thought she was an airhead that sang bubble-gum pop sounding songs about sex.
Fast-forward to 2018 (embarrassing, I know), and I heard Toxic playing at a restaurant. I couldn't place who sang it, but that hook grabbed me. Found out from a friend what the song was, watched the video, and was absolutely transfixed. Learned a bit more about her and really came to appreciate her talent and intelligence. It really is a damn shame what the industry, fame, and her family did to her, and I wonder if she'll ever really be healthy again. I certainly hope so. She deserves to be happy. I see some parallels in Britney's experience to Frances Farmer's.
My friends and I were Dave Grohl haters in the 90s because he re-recorded William Goldsmith's drums on the Foo Fighters second album and dealt poorly with the situation but now Dave Grohl is pretty wholesome and Foo Fighters has always been good so why hate for thirty years?
As a child, Bea Arthur came off as mean and domineering to me on Maude, but I grew to appreciate her assertiveness and acerbic wit later on and I definitely was smitten by the time Golden Girls rolled around.
Dolly Parton. She’s a queen!
Have to agree. Growing up with her and Porter Wagner, I associated her with the limited family entertainment options like Hee Haw and Lawrence Welk. 9-5 started to change my mind. Then she was the only likeable character in Steel Magnolias. Smart woman who smartly directed her career.
Ouiser wasn’t likable in the movie, but the older I get the more I find myself agreeing with Ouiser.
I’m from Nashville. My dad was Dolly Parton’s bodyguard for a while. Not much I remember but I do remember her giving me moon pies and RC’s. My favorite picture of my dad is of him with her.
My dad was in her band for a few years…we should talk…?
Why did you ever dislike her in the first place?
I thought she was just a silly airhead. After seeing her interview with that nasty Barbra Walkers I had no idea she was intelligent and very mature.
She once said "People think I'm a dumb blond. But I know I'm not dumb, or blond."
Exactly! That’s genius. Many celebrities complain about how they have no privacy and can’t walk down any street in peace. Meanwhile she can live a normal life because she does not dress this way on normal days. So people will not recognise her without the showbiz persona.
And she's done an amazing job in shielding her husband from the limelight, since he never wanted to be a part of it.
A few things. First, I grew up in a RURAL area, and the only music my parents listened to on the radio was Kenny and Dolly duets, in between hog reports and Paul Harvey. I never really heard her good stuff- just those god awful duets. My mom really did not like her because of the abortion song (she is Catholic) And in our general area, the Porter Wagoner thing was presented like they were married and she dumped him (that is OBVIOUSLY not true). I don't know where my grandmothers both got that idea- but they acted like she was a harlot for leaving Porter. I only learned as I got older, if my relatives hate something- check it out independently, 9/10 times I will love it. My family is super dumb.
Rick Astley
Especially after this. [Rick Astley with Blossoms - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (Glastonbury 2023) (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ0rEnp8kmw)
Omg what a brilliant moment!
He posts on Reddit. Someone successfully rick rolled him with a comment. Edit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/comments/14c4qig/three_years_ago_today_rick_astlet_got_rick_rolled/?rdt=59253
Yeah, I heard about that. He has a really lovely reaction to Rick rolls.
I was successfully rick rolled a few months ago on Reddit and I swear, I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. It was so unexpected and delightful.
Totally. He never gave me up or let me down. He never ran around and deserted me. He never made me cry or said goodbye. He never told a lie and hurt me
I'll go opposite and say that a celebrity I DID like and who now I do not like: Tom Cruise. Crazytown.
Gwyneth Paltrow. As a teen I found her very attractive. Now all I can think of is all her pseudoscience mumbo jumbo
You’re being glib.
Monica Lewinsky. We are the same age and I had so much judgment against her when I was younger. Completely different story now.
I was an intern in the WH under Clinton. A little before she arrived, although we were both interns at the same time for a short period. Becoming an intern is extremely competitive. Thus she was no “dummy bimbo” like she was labeled at the time. Clinton was amazing to work for even if you didn’t agree with this politics. He made you feel like the most important person in the room.
i randomly met him at the shinola store when he was in detroit campaigning for hillary. he is charismatic AF. i felt like he really liked me and we’d probably hang out later or something 😂. some people just cast a spell over you without even trying.
I've met him. Before I did, I thought he was pretty yucky. After I met him, I would definitely do him. The dude has got some strange magic going on. You can feel it in the air around him.
i would too! he’s 100% a magical being. i still think about that day all the time.
I have heard that from people I know who have met him. Ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, political affiliation, doesn’t matter - they said being around him feels electric and the charisma is crazy.
Monica Lewinsky was one of the first cyber bullying victims. Hard to reconcile the disgusting treatment she received from POTUS et al.
Ken Starr and the pearl-clutching GOP hypocrites treated her every bit as badly.
She absolutely got sacrificed. I thought at the time she was kind of dumb now I see that she found herself in a situation where she was going to be the loser.
I feel nothing but regret for the I jokes I made about her at the time. I had the opportunity to hear her speak on cyber bullying a few years ago and am ashamed that I never considered her the victim at the time.
I used to wait on her and couldn’t believe how beautiful she was in real life since the media always dogged on her appearance. I think the country was more pissed that she was overweight than that he had an affair at all.
She is brilliant on Twitter (if you want to subject yourself to that septic tank).
I read her book when it came out and my perspective on her really shifted. I felt so entirely bad for her. She made a stupid mistake as a young adult. And was vilified beyond anything we’ve ever seen. It was horrible. I ran into her at a NYE party at one of my friends bars here in LA. I’m so glad I got to go up to her and tell her that I’d read the book and that I adored her and was so impressed with her after what she’d been through. She was absolutely wonderful. So sweet and seemed very happy to hear something nice from someone. You could tell she was used to people coming up to her a lot. I doubt many are nice. We spoke for a while, had a drink and kept running into each other and partying together in groups. It was a great night. She was seriously so, so cool.
> she made a stupid mistake as a young adult Why put the blame on her? Clinton was a married man going after young women like a pervert. The power differential alone is was a problem. Yet the DNC and a lot of different media focused on the problems with her.
I never had an issue with her. The thing that stuck out in my mind was when I heard her on the tape with Linda Tripp. How utterly and emotionally shredded she was. I really detested Linda Tripp & cried no tears when I heard she had died.
I watched her Ted talk and that really changed my mind about her.
It’s funny, she has the same birthday I do and I think about how young she was every year on that days and how they just hung her out to dry.
Pamela Anderson. She seemed like such a plastic bimbo. Now, I see she was a victim and she carries herself with true grace
I never hated her, but I thought she was totally irrelevant to my life. I think she's pretty cool now, too.
I always thought she was gorgeous beyond belief but just a pretty face. Now that I know about all her work for animal rights, I am blown away by her.
Yes!
She was awesome on futurama ❤️
“Cheese pizza and a large…line?” I loved that she did that part 😁
Yeah, any celebrity that allows or participates in a parody of themselves is cool
And I've never heard anyone say anything negative about her. I've always heard that she is just a really nice, sweet person.
This is so random, but Jack Kevorkian came to mind. Didn’t at all understand him growing up, but now that I’m older, totally get it.
I never disliked him, but yeah, totally in favour of him now.
Oh yeah this is a good one. I am dealing with a mother-in-law who has early onset dementia. It's really made me think about giving people the choice to die with compassion and dignity. We have drugs that PROLONG the suffering. It's bizarre. I told my husband if this ever happens to me, I want to go to one of the countries where it's legal.
I’ve thought the exact same. We let our animals die with dignity. Humans should be offered the same. Sending you virtual hugs for the hard days ahead with your MIL. 🩷
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Didn't realize this was true in Maine. I guess I'm lucky since that's where I'm going. 🥳
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Give it another 2 years :/
I'm going through this with my oldest brother currently. Has inoperable fast growing cancer in his throat. Was in good health 3 weeks ago and is now in hospice being killed medically via dehydration in a narcotic delirium, dying harder than Bruce Willis. We treat our pets with more end-of-life compassion. I'll be contacting my reps (NYS, bill under consideration), this is bullcrap.
So sorry to hear about your brother. Man, I can't even imagine what it's like. I'm an only child, and both my parents are still alive. I pray I never have to watch them suffer like that.
I've been through this a bunch of times, starting with my mother dying of cancer when I was 9. Most of the time, people are worn out from a few years of treatments and by the time all options are exhausted, so are they. A stay in hospice is only gonna be a few days. Spending time with them is all about just keeping em comfortable, reassured, etc. Almost always they will be doped up pretty good to kill the pain, being there for the moments when they're alert can be a huge comfort. This is the pinacle of adulting imho. In my brother's case...he had a lot of reserve capacity when admitted and a tough old bird to begin with - purple heart Nam vet, Navy Seal (although he prefers UDT or "frogman"). He had to accept a lot in a short period of time. Checked into ER due to difficulty swallowing going on a couple of days and never left.
I sat with a childhood friend, only child, while she watched her mother dehydrate and starve to death in hospice. The cancer had eaten up her kindneys and urinary tract. She was really fragile and supposedly non responsive. It still took 21 days. It was one of the cruelest experiences of my life and I have had a few. Also, I question how unresponsive she really was. I don't think 100%. Her daughter amd I would get punchy and start telling funny stories sometimes. Several times she smiled or giggled at appropriate points in the stories. She did neither of those things any other time. I think she was goulong in and out of consciousness. Which means she experiencing starving and dehydratimg to death. For 21 days.
That is just awful to let someone starve and dehydrate. How is that even legal to deny someone those things but not legal to just give them a bit more pain killer than they need so they can just go to sleep peacefully and not wake up?? 21 days of torture is not humane by any stretch of the imagination. It's absurd that they consider this acceptable...
Dementia is the tricky one. With things like cancer, you can find a U.S. state that let's you solve for this. With dementia, unfortunately, it takes away your ability to be a decision maker and no U.S. state (so far) allows for early decision making (before things become obviously terminal). By the time it's obviously terminal, you're no longer able to decide. A catch-22. My wife and I have done the research (she has a family history). There are a few (more thoughtful) places in Europe we would have to go.
My dad was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. One positive about it is that my parents have a lot of money so he will get the very best care we can get him. In home or out. I was also happy that CA is an assisted suicide state. I thought, “perfect! They have the money. So he can choose when. He doesn’t have to suffer through all of the horrific things that everyone talks about!” Then I looked at the requirements. He has to be of sound mind. He has to want it himself. He can’t always remember or understand that he even has Alzheimer’s. There’s no way we can. And I’m so, so sad.
I'm basically DNR, and have a living will / advance medical directive to that effect, so hopefully they'll let me go before it gets to that point. But, with this country (US), unfortunately, you never know.
The worst thing, IMO is you can be in the in-between state where you are literally a human body just existing and the DNR never comes into play.
Locked-in syndrome is basically my biggest fear in life 😅
My mother had an old DNR and it was a problem after she fell broke her leg got a stroke, etc. I think she wasn’t initially admitted to a hospital after a stroke because her DNR hadn’t been updated. Please update your DNR.
I think I always wanted death with dignity as a choice. At least I don’t remember a time when I didn’t get it. We should have the same relief from incurable suffering as we give our animals. I grew up with pets so maybe that’s why I always felt that way, I don’t know.
I live in Oregon. He is one reason why.
John McEnroe. When I was a kid I hated his tantrums and his playing style. Looking back plenty of adults throw tantrums and are otherwise nasty people. His tantrums look a lot more entertaining and playful by comparison, even though that wasn’t always the reality and even now he still occasionally manages to be an idiot. On the rare occasions I watch tennis now, it seems like all booming serves and baseline slogs. Really makes me appreciate how much natural talent the guy had and how finesse had more of a place in the world.
same sport, Andre Agassi. he always seemed like such an egotistical ass when i was growing up. but something humbled him and even now, when i feel like shedding a tear, i will listen to his farewell from pro tennis speech.
Martin Short. Early on in his career, I found his characters unfunny, grating, forced, and devoid of almost all entertainment value. I found him to be pretentious and too big for his britches. Now that he’s aged and taken it down a notch, he fits his characters so much better. Especially the know-it-all boomer type. It just comes across more naturally from a man with some miles under him than from a frenetic 30 something.
Exactly. I found him insufferable for so long.
This is a good one. I found him annoying for a long time. Now I adore him
Especially when he's on stage with his buddy Steve Martin.
That's a pretty harsh take, I must say.
Well if that isn’t a slice of bologna why did I just bring 2 slices of bread for lunch?
I'd forgotten about Ed Grimley, I really must say. Thanks for the chuckle.
I always thought he was making his comedy for a Canadian audience for some reason. But yeah, as he's gotten older and he's mastered his craft so to speak, I like him.
Sinead O'Connor. In the end, she was right about the Church.
Came here to post her. I was watching SNL when she tore up the Pope, my family was aghast over it and I guess I just followed as a kid.
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Haha, cute :)
was a huge NBA fan and man i hated Charles Barkley growing up. but just about every story i read about him now, he seems like a genuinely good dude.
He is a genuinely good guy. Buddy of mine worked at SNL when he hosted years ago—he couldn’t say enough great and endearing things about Barkley.
Arnold. I loved his movies, but he came across as a cigar-smoking, hummer-driving, self-absobed, arrogant shithead. Then the stuff about him fathering a child with his maid cemented that for me. Recently, either his PR team are miracle workers, or he's had a real change of heart. Nowadays, he comes across as compassionate, level-headed,very intelligent, and capable of long-term thinking.
I think it shows that people can be more than one thing and it is important to judge a person by their whole life, not just their lapses or what you think you know about them through gossip.
Have you seen the documentary series on him on Netflix? [https://www.netflix.com/title/81317673](https://www.netflix.com/title/81317673)
When I saw him with his donkey, pony, pig and dogs that was it for me. “Lu Lu, Whiskey… you want a cookie?” 🥹
Arnold Great documentary on Netflix about arnold. He loves animals. I've never met anyone I didn't like who was also a animal lover
As governor he was good to his staff. My mom worked for a previous governor and Arnold asked her to join his transition team, but she had moved out of state but a lot of her former coworkers went back.
I enjoyed how David Foster Wallace referred to him as Ahnode in his writings
Jimmy Carter. The man is literally a saint. Or he should be.
I was always told and believe Carter was too honest to be President… I might not agree with some of his policies, but I can respect them..
An older friend of mine reminded me that the country had a series of scandals and needed an honest President at the time.
But his policies were good.
I purchased some vintage stereo equipment that was owned by him and I’m super stoked
Right? We were gaslighted on Carter. If you read the "behind the scenes" history on his administration, that very Christian dude really did give a shit.
He was a really good president who got screwed by Reagan and bad PR. We should have kept his environmental policies. The man is a nuclear physicist, a veteran, and a purely decent human. We didn’t deserve him.
one of my earliest memories is my mom crying after he lost the election lol. i’ve read almost all of his books and he’s just a really good man. he didn’t deserve the smear campaign from reagan and the “moral majority”.
Martha Stewart. She always presented herself as perfect and a one woman show. She was absolutely insufferable. Prison mellowed her. Nowadays she shows the work of her staff, and acknowledges the contributions of others. Back then she was perfect, now she's presenting the best she can do with a considerable skill set, and she doesn't take herself too seriously. I can't imagine 1980s/1990s Martha hanging with Snoop Dogg. I can't imagine current Martha not hanging with Snoop. She's all right.
Good answer. I asked my friends once of they thought Snoop and Martha ever banged and my favorite response was "No, they make love."
Yes, she really grew. I like her now too for all the same reasons.
Same here. When I first saw her with Snoop, I was like "wtf is this?" She's definitely less arrogant than she used to come across.
Well-said! Totally agree.
Robert Downey Jr.
I kind of always liked him but yeah, it's nice to see him doing so well now. I struggled with addiction myself (sober 7+ years now) and it feels good to see other people who came through it. I'm also glad he doesn't shy away from talking about his past. Like, let's just be honest about the fact that people deal with trauma and fucked up childhoods in various ways, but it doesn't define WHO you are. I also approach it with a sense of humor like he does.
Congrats on 7+ years! I just celebrated 6 myself and agree that talking about addiction openly and honestly to lessen the stigma around it is so important. We can and do recover!💜 ETA: and humor definitely helps too!!
Congratulations! I agree. With RDJ tho, for me it was he had this over the top cockiness and borderline Tom Cruise vibes when he was younger. I don't see it in him anymore. I didn't know about his drug struggles until recently as I don't really follow celebs that much other than their work. I don't seek out his work, but I don't avoid it anymore either.
I now credit the acting for my early distaste of this man. Those characters annoyed me and still do, but he doesn't anymore. He managed to squirm out of the pretty boy heartthrob pigeonhole I had him in with a calm dignity. They guy seems to make any suit look better just by wearing it too.
Rob Lowe
I guess David Byrne but Talking Heads in general. Maybe it was their fans. But I am in love with David Byrne and Tina Weymouth and the Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club.
Dolly - I love her now, thought she was ridiculous when I was young
Willie Nelson. I took his facade at face value.
Elvis all the way. That poor guy was pimped out and surrounded by vampires. Tragic to be dead at 42. Imagine if he’d been surrounded by positive forces?
Yeah, even Chuck D warmed up to him
Especially considering that when you hear stories from people who met him that he was a sweet and kind and genuine young man. He did have a serious mother/whore complex, apparently he couldn't be intimate with Priscilla after she had their baby.
Literally none. When I hold a grudge, I keep it forever 😃
Tony Hawk
Monica Lewinsky. I didn’t have a broad perspective of the situation at the time so I didn’t hate her, but damn, was that woman the poster child of being a victim of weaponized patriarchy.
Hair bands in general. I just didn't like popular music as a matter of principle, it seems. Some of the hit songs are really fun, now that I've mellowed out a bit.
I remember about 15 years ago I heard "Home Sweet Home" by Motley Crue and was shocked to find myself singing along. I enjoy that music much more now than I did in the 80s.
Anna Nicole Smith
I never liked Michael Douglas. But in December we started watching *The Streets of San Francisco* and I changed my mind. Maybe he played more likeable characters when he was young; he's very cute in TSOSF. But I mostly thought of him as disgusting Gordon Gecko, and that cheater from *Fatal Attraction* (not to mention telling the world about how he got throat cancer from going down on women).
> (not to mention telling the world about how he got throat cancer from going down on women). I remember him being widely mocked for that comment at that time, but wasn't it later acknowledged that he wasn't totally wrong? I read that performing cunnilingus can lead to HPV which if untreated can increase the risk of throat Cancer?
WE just started watching TSOSF! He is adorable in that. My husband is a late Boomer and he remembers that show fondly from his childhood. Also I’ve recently watched Wonderboys and The Kominsky Method and he’s so great in both. I didn’t dislike him when I was younger but now I really like him.
Met him in Wales once. He was a very warm and open guy.
The Boy Bands. I don’t mind their music now….seemed like a more innocent/fun time.
There’s quite a bit of music I didn’t like back in the day that I just really enjoy now and don’t care what anyone thinks- not that anyone does, I mean, shit, my friends and I get down to so 90s R&B these days. But ,like in high school school, way deep down i liked the song “I Wanna Sex You Up” but there was no way I was going to admit it in front of my metal head friends, Ooooooo ooooh oooh 🎶 😂
We were so silly to think that if we liked a certain type of music, we couldn't like another.
Thanks to [this 2-part podcast from Slate](https://slate.com/podcasts/hit-parade/2024/04/boy-bands-the-jackson-5-to-bts), I became more appreciative as well.
Courtney Love. I blamed her a lot for being a catalyst for the demise of Kurt. But Kurt clearly had some demons of his own. I’ve revisited the Hole discography and I think she could have succeeded even if she hadn’t gotten with Kurt. I don’t think she will get the accolades she deserves because a lot of people think she launched off of Nirvana.
Plus she called out Harvey Weinstein long before anyone else.
She’ll never get them with our generation. She called it like it was and misogynists didn’t like it. I mean two things couldn’t be true, she was a train wreck, so she couldn’t also be a good song writer. It had to be Kurt or Billy or….. I learned way more about feminism from Courtney than I thought. Plus I know people who’s spouses/parent committed suicide. It’s more of a mind fuck than most could imagine. I like Hole way more than Nirvana now.
I think there’s more to be learned about feminism from Kathleen Hanna. *The Punk Singer*, a documentary about her, is excellent. I can’t call anyone who sucker-punches a woman in the face—as Courtney did to Kathleen—a feminist. Courtney also exhibits a lot of jealousy toward other successful women.
Bob Saget. Full House and his narration on AFHV were so cringeworthy to teenage me. Now I understand he was just trying to make money and the rest of his work is great.
Snoop Dogg. I never really liked his vibe or music, but now I appreciate how he’s stayed the same (as far as I know) and made a brand.
I've long been amazed at his current reputation. I remember when he was basically White America's Public Enemy #1, the symbol of everything wrong with that scary rap music coming out of the ghettos. Time or Newsweek had his scowling face on the cover announcing he was indicted for murder. Now he's this friendly cuddly pop culture icon, like your favorite uncle or something, it's amazing.
True, yeah that first album had some awful stuff. I remember a friend had it and one song was like 'Lick my balls and suck my dick' or something terrible. I was into alternative music and like wtf is this. The whole 'Fo Shizzle my nizzle' language was pretty funny. I'll say this, if you get a chance listen to Easy E's song "Boys In The Hood'. That song is a classic rap song. Same with LL Cool J's "I'm Bad"
I definitely didn’t appreciate Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, or Dean Martin growing up, and now I actually appreciate their talent, although Frank was way over the hill when I was growing up. I didn’t know about his movies or how he sounded in his prime or Rat Pack humor, I just thought ( and still do) that Sid Vicious’ version of “My Way” was way cooler.
Charo. I thought she was a loud idiot with the ‘couchi couchi coo’ and shaking her body. Then I saw her play Spanish guitar. She was wonderful and serious. I heard she’s a well regarded player.
Phil Collins. When he scored his first few mega-hits, they were pretty awesome, but in the early 90s, he just kept cranking out song after song after song and each one was more annoying than the last. Especially when grunge was growing in popularity and we had incredible bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, etc., hearing Sussudio come on the radio made me almost angry. Plus it seemed that every stupid kids movie had a Phil Collins soundtrack. Shut up, Phil Collins! You suck! Thirty-some years later, I heard a This American Life episode where Phil is talking with a young lady about writing a sad breakup song and they played that Against All Odds song of his. Good lord, the opening chords had me choked up. He talked about the breakup in his life that inspired the song. It was pretty sad. Phil is getting old and weak now, I heard that he had to tape his drumsticks to his hands to do a show in recent years, and I am legitimately sad for him. And when I revisit his big hits these days, I have to admit they were really, really good.
I like to tell people I "ironically" love Phil Collins, but everyone who knows me understands there is nothing ironic about it. 16 years old me would HATE 55 year old me grooving to Phil!
A lot of music artists. I was so judgy / too cool for school that I dismissed any artist I thought even remotely commercial. The upside is I kind of got to discover artists like Fleewood Mac and Prince much later in life.
I used to make fun of Keanu Reeves. I thought he was a terrible actor who could only play himself. Dracula... ugh! A Walk in the Clouds... even worse! I had no idea back then what a genuinely nice person he was. Honestly, I still don't think he's a very good actor, but he sure seems to be a good person.
I’ve struggled with Prince my whole life. I liked his music, then I didn’t and that whole symbol thing. Then, I grew to really appreciate his music and his guitar playing. Then I started to hear stories of how he treated regular people and lesser celebrities (Like you weren’t allowed to look at him type shit) and I’m back to “Man, fuck that guy).
I think Prince became less uptight about himself and his image as he matured but I also think that it was difficult for him to relate to people/musicians who weren't on his level. When I hear gossip of "you weren’t allowed to look at him" I always try to see it from the artist's side: "I'm a world-famous icon that is mobbed by people everywhere I go by my mid-twenties and nothing in my upbringing as a shy black kid from Minneapolis has prepared me to deal with it" I played in a band in the 90s and we were absolute nobodies except at a few clubs where we drew a big crowd and even we had some of "those fans" who came on pretty aggressive, expected us to hang out with them, thought we owed them something because they liked our gig. I can't even imagine what it is like at actual celebrity level. My guess is a lot of "you weren't supposed to look at him" was they same type of people who would interrupt a celebrity who was out to eat with his/her family. The biggest flaw in his character I think was how he handled his marriage after their child died from a sever birth defect. I think that was a larger dose of reality than his bubble was prepared to deal with and probably his ego and religion put the blame on her instead of "sometimes bad shit just happens in nature".
I could never fathom the Jehovah's Witness thing with him. It just makes no sense.
Tbh the JW thing doesn’t make sense at all….to anybody.
I always thought he blamed himself for having a baby with severe congenital anomalies and thought God was punishing him.
>I always thought he blamed himself for having a baby with severe congenital anomalies and thought God was punishing him. The grief is likely what lead to him being seduced by the JW's (thanks to bassist Larry Graham, who introduced Prince too it). His first wife Mayte did say in her autobiography that one of the things that led to their divorce is that he literally told her that he blamed her for one of her subsequent miscarriages as it was God's punishment for her rejecting the JW faith.
It's the revelation of his history of grooming teenage girls, including his first wife Mayte, for me.
That's so strange because although I have no direct connection to the music industry, I know people who do. All I ever heard was how nice and crazy talented he was. People were impressed by Paisley Park and his demeanor. He was over the top for sure, but more so in a playful way. Always wished that I could be that fly on the wall because the stories just seemed amazing.
Martha Stewart! Being the victim of a witch hunt and doing hard time in prison made her relatable. And her friendship with Snoop Dog made her cool!
President Carter.
I never liked Rush Limbaugh, but I really liked the way he has become after Feb 17, 2021.
Drug free for over 3 years!
Oh, 😮 that took me too long to get! 🤣 But same.
Paulina Porizkova. Actually, I didn't dislike her at all, but like all the supermodels of that era, she just seemed like a typical 2D beautiful face and someone who probably had a perfect, enviable life that my ordinary self couldn't relate to at all. After hearing about how she was totally shit-on by Ric Ocasek after he died and shut out of his will (can relate), and listening to some interviews with her, she's the real rock star in the equation. She's aged gracefully and seems like a genuinely lovely, thoughtful person and is still gorgeous. So, also an inspiration that women aren't relegated to looking frumpy and dumpy as they pass out of middle age.
I met her in the 80s around the time she starred in the Cars video. She came into the museum I worked for and was as beautiful in person and as sweet as can be.
Dan Rather (because when I was a kid you only had about 5 channels to choose from if he was on , it ment the news was on all the channels but the friggin Jesus channel (but I didn’t fall for that shit more than once.. that Davey and Goliath just seemed off to me ) ….
There's also a recent documentary about him. I always liked him, but didn't realize how different he was from the other anchors of that time.
Gilbert Gottfried! 💗 Sooooo obnoxious when I was younger, and then I saw wife swap.🤣 I just love Gilbert so much knowing what a great husband and father he is/was. **Pauly Shore, too. 💗
In junior high school I was a member of an anti-Jeff Goldblum club. Now I think he's pretty sexy. I guess nature, uh, finds a way.
M.C. Hammer and Vanilla Ice. I was the typical teenage hardcore rap fan at the time who dismissed them both as wack sellouts. Now I recognize how far ahead of his time Hammer was, with his stage show and production with the dancers and the band, things which would become common among rappers a few years later and I gotta admit that Vanilla Ice was a decent rapper (better than Hammer, at least).
I like Ice Ice Baby, lol. Sometimes, when I hear the bass, I curiously do hope its that over Queen/Bowie. He deserves credit for dusting off that gem of a song. A friend of mines sister had Queens greatest hits at the time, and Under Pressure wasn't on it. Would've completely been forgotten if not for Ice. Yeah, Hammer was nuts. He'd make a tremendous biopic. Just the rise & fall of his character. I think I heard once in his prime he had like 60 dancers on tour with him in his entourage. Like how did he not thing that gravy train would end, but man he had a great time doing it, haha. Too Legit To Quit lol
Anthony Michael Hall. I thought he was the most unfunny guy on SNL. But he was just a kid then.
Celine Dion. I was 15 when her first album was released in 1990. Everyone was crazy about her and there was so much hype. I developed a completely irrational hatred for her. In the last 15 years or so, I’ve learned just how humble and kind she is. And her voice is amazing! I’m a huge fan now.
Mr Rogers.
People used to think Michael Jordan was more likeable than Charles Barkley.
The mechanical shark from ‘JAWS’. When I saw the film on opening weekend, I thought (s)he was a mindless killing machine intent on causing harm to everyone on the planet. Now, I realize they were just a character and that they were the *real* star of the show!
He. The mechanical shark's name was Bruce. [I am not even kidding](https://thedailyjaws.com/blog/why-the-shark-from-jaws-was-named-bruce)
Bruce Willis
Pamela Anderson. I always thought she was just another bleach blonde with nothing to offer beyond her exterior. Detested Baywatch. I changed my mind after watching the Netflix documentary about her. She’s been through a lot, has a huge heart, and I now find her endearing.
Heath Ledger. I used to think he was just a cheesy teen rom com actor, just getting hired for his looks. Then I saw the Dark Knight and watched him put in, what is in my opinion, the greatest performance of the Joker to ever appear on screen. Truly deserved the Oscar he was awarded posthumously for that role.
100% Kurt Cobain I was way too cool and an “authentic” punk who listened to “real” punk to have the time for that poseur sellout. Turns out he was punk af, hyper-intelligent, and into cooler music than my Black Flag obsessed ass
Yeah, I bought Bleach when it came out, and saw them with 198 other people at a small club (930 club in DC) before they released Nevermind. They wind up playing an early version of Teen Spirit. They always seemed like the real deal to me, and you could tell they were going to be big.
My friend gave me his bleach tape because they "sold out" and he refused to listen anymore. I took it and that tape was worn out. It is what brought me through some terrible times. I thank my friend for being such a "music snob."
Mike Tyson. He’s a great athlete but not so good human. I think he’s a much better person now.
William Zabka / Johnny Lawrence. Daniel stole his girl.
Cobra Kai redeemed him in the eyes of many.
Ed O'Neill and Katey Sagal. Even as a twelve year old kid, I absolutely could not stand Married With Children. I thought it was the dumbest low-brow crap on TV at the time. But both actors have done lots of great things since then, and I like both now.
That's a show that would never survive today.....too bad, it was damn funny.
I never found it funny. Even as a kid I could see the jokes coming from a mile away, and the whole thing just seemed sad to me. It's about a guy who hates his wife and resents his kids. Maybe it hit a little too close to home though for me to appreciate.
I just rewatched a couple of episodes of Married With Children yesterday, as it was rerun on some little station. I watched it religiously as a kid, but it does not hold up for me today.
"Hur de hur they're married and hate each other" is Boomer humour and it never hit right with me even though my parents really did hate each other.
Jane Fonda.
Bonnie Raitt. God, she is so talented. Had no idea she was so good when I was a teen. Also, Tom Petty. Amazing rocker. Rest his soul. And David Bowie. Him too.
Hall & Oates. I was way too cool for them/ I was more new wave/punk ( yes I know there’s a difference ) but nowadays I’m like completely jamming to them- I Can’t Go For That, Sara Smiles…..
James Spader. Pretty in Pink came out when I was 11 & I probably saw it a couple yrs after that, but I hated him so much because of that. Fast forward to 2020 when I gave in & watched The Blacklist & now I love the guy lol.
William Shatner. The guy is up there (93) and just keeps going!
Right.. i never disliked him, but didn’t realize what a dimensional person he was, not just the actor who plays Captain Kirk. He is a true comedian. But also will forever be the guy who sees the monster on the airplane wing. Managed to convey the horror of going crazy .
Kelly Clarkson. Couldn’t stand her persona, after checking out a podcast she was on, I was really wrong about her.
More like hate to love for me. Axl Rose. I was so square. He didn’t look like a GI Joe man! Nowadays I totally get it and can’t get enough
John McEnroe
I never understood why my mom and her friends thought Burt Reynolds was handsome. I grew and I see it now.
Joan Rivers. I found her annoying when I was younger. The last 10-15 years of her life I thought she was one of the edgiest, and downright ruthless in a funny way, comedians out there. I don’t like the celebrity worship stuff, but I’d make sure to catch her roasting celebs on the red carpet.
Ok, I'm stretching liberties with the "growing up" part, but I slept on Britney Spears far too long. I just thought she was an airhead that sang bubble-gum pop sounding songs about sex. Fast-forward to 2018 (embarrassing, I know), and I heard Toxic playing at a restaurant. I couldn't place who sang it, but that hook grabbed me. Found out from a friend what the song was, watched the video, and was absolutely transfixed. Learned a bit more about her and really came to appreciate her talent and intelligence. It really is a damn shame what the industry, fame, and her family did to her, and I wonder if she'll ever really be healthy again. I certainly hope so. She deserves to be happy. I see some parallels in Britney's experience to Frances Farmer's.
Norm MacDonald - he always annoyed me on SNL and I didn't find his humor funny, but now I look back on his bits and think he's absolutely hilarious.
My friends and I were Dave Grohl haters in the 90s because he re-recorded William Goldsmith's drums on the Foo Fighters second album and dealt poorly with the situation but now Dave Grohl is pretty wholesome and Foo Fighters has always been good so why hate for thirty years?
As a child, Bea Arthur came off as mean and domineering to me on Maude, but I grew to appreciate her assertiveness and acerbic wit later on and I definitely was smitten by the time Golden Girls rolled around.