HOLLYWOOD—When you are a celebrity, there are many perks including: complimentary designer gowns, beauty endorsements, commercials and floor seats to major events along with swag bags. Many celebrities are born into show business families; the list is so long that we are unable to mention everyone. Let’s begin with the Baldwin family, with actors Alec Baldwin, William Baldwin, Stephen Baldwin and Daniel Baldwin. Alec was formerly married to actress Kim Basinger, and William Baldwin is currently married to singer Chynna Phillips, who was recently on “Dancing With the Stars.” Actress Drew Barrymore is known as Hollywood royalty because she comes from a renowned acting family. Her parents are actress Jaid Barrymore and actor John Drew Barrymore, who was the son of actor John Barrymore. Drew is also the grand-niece of Ethel Barrymore and Lionel Barrymore. The actor Warren Beatty is the brother of actress Shirley MacLaine and husband of Annette Bening. We all know the connections between Francis Ford Coppola-Shire-Schwartzman-Vogelsang and Nicolas Cage. So unless you are born into a show business family, the chances are pretty slim that you will make it in Hollywood. While so many famous people have just plain luck to thank (a chance discovery on YouTube, a celebrity mom or dad), most celebs had to struggle for years before they landed their big break. YouTube has been a major player in social networking for several years now. It not only shares online videos worldwide, it is also the portal to television. In case you didn’t know, TV execs and major talent agencies have been scouting for talent on popular post-it-yourself sites like YouTube for years. Truth be told, if you become a web celebrity with over a million hits, then you’re almost guaranteed a beauty endorsement, a role in a movie, a spot on a news TV show, or if you’re extremely lucky, a reality show. For years now, YouTube has been a major player in social networking. If all of the world can be seen in a grain of sand, as was once poetically said by William Blake, why not on TV? Of course, another way of stepping into the limelight is to date a celebrity. Just ask Nancy Shevell, who recently married Sir Paul McCartney. Just in case you didn’t know why Barbara Walters was invited to the wedding: she’s Nancy’s cousin. A perfect video that came out recently and made your jaws drop was the video by the two young cousins from England. Sophia Grace Brownlee raps to Nicki Minaj. The video, as of press time, has almost 20 million hits. They were even invited to perform on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” YouTube is not only for amateurs but also for celebrities who want to stay in the limelight and continue to be exposed. Just ask one of the faces of Duran Duran why he has released 11 entertainment teasers. Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Helena Christensen, Eva Herzigova and Yasmin Le Bon (wife of lead singer Simon) masterminded the ingenious plan to recruit those famous pout pals. The video as of press time has not been released in its entirety for the band’s upcoming single titled “Girl Panic.” The video took two days to shoot and was directed by Jonas Ackerlund, the award-winning director behind the Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” and “Telephone” music videos. Rose’s Scoop: Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose’s first TV interview in over a decade premiered on VH1’s “That Metal Show” on National Metal Day, November 11.
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