Home
In this issue

Dec. 1, 2008

Max Freidlander, as told to Jacklyn C. Wadler: India Inkings

Mark Steyn: Whodunit!?

Nov. 28, 2008

Rabbi Ahron Rapps: An evil seed that didn't have to be

Melanie Phillips: Carpe diem --- or can we all relax now?

Nov. 26, 2008

Michael Feldberg: Meet the Orthodox Jew who laid groundwork for scientific development of ordnance that undergirds America's current world leadership

Andrea Simantov: Shades of life

Nov. 25, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : Getting Emotional For Influence

The Kosher Gourmet by Ethel G. Hofman : Thanksiving feast!

Nov. 24, 2008

Rabbi S. Binyomin Ginsberg: 'I just Became a grandchild!'

Barry Rubin: Don't flatter your enemies, protect your friends

Nov. 21, 2008

Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: Money matters?

Caroline B. Glick: Civilization walks the plank

Nov. 20, 2008

Rabbi Avi Shafran: Bronfman's blindness

The Kosher Gourmet By Linda Gassenheimer: Portobellos add a hearty flavor to pasta with pesto

Nov, 19, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : Spread the wealth? Jewish tradition and income equality

Elliot B. Gertel: 'Mad Men': Tackling prejudices or reinforcing them?

Nov, 18, 2008

Dr. Debby Schwarz Hirschhorn: The End of the Age of Reason

Jonathan Tobin: Does Barack + Bibi = Disaster?

Nov, 17, 2008

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: The End of the Age of Reason

Diana West: Gulling Americans into making terror legit?

Nov, 14, 2008

Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: The Power of Spiritual Inertia

Caroline B. Glick: The perils ahead

Nov, 13, 2008

Stratfor Intelligence Briefing: How Bush and Obama together could change the Middle East dynamic

The Kosher Gourmet by JeanMarie Brownson: Sweet and savory, crispy and meltingly tender bestilla

Nov, 12, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : Tyrannical Co-Workers

Michael Doyle: High Court to consider today donated monuments that may have religious messages in public parks

Nov, 11, 2008

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Will Obama stop government officials considering institutionalizing financial jihad?

Jonathan Tobin: They Will Decide Their Own Fate

Nov, 10, 2008

Rabbi Avi Shafran: $8 billion, modern-day Tower of Babel being built?

Barry Rubin: A letter to the president-elect from a Middle East realist

Nov, 7, 2008

Rabbi Francis Nataf: Of Children and Immortality

Caroline B. Glick: Livni's Obama strategy

Nov, 6, 2008

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: How I tricked a classroom of apathetic students into grasping the fallacy of moral relativism

The Kosher Gourmet By Gina Kim: Tips for making the perfect soup --- includes recipes

Nov, 5, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist By Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Destitute Debtors

Bruce Weinstein: 'Religulos': Bad title,even worse movie

Nov, 4, 2008

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Treasury Dept. submits to Shariah law

Frida Ghitis: A surprise for Obama in the Middle East

Nov, 3, 2008

Jonathan Rosenblum: Who says Jews are Smart?

Jonathan Tobin: Was He Wrong About Everything?

March 22, 2007

J-Rhythms with Avraham Rosenblum: JWR's cutting-edge music program showcasing performers -- singers, song writers, musicians, and bands -- who learn and live the Torah lifestyle (OUR NEWEST IGODCAST !)

Oct. 29, 2003
Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)

Jewish World Review Feb. 16, 2007 / 28 Shevat 5767

Mystery theater

By Greg Crosby


Printer Friendly Version
Email this article

http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Concerning the apparent drug overdosed death of Anna Nicole Smith, the talking heads and many others this past week have been saying something along these lines: "Anna Nicole was a talentless, morally-challenged, hedonistic bimbo whose only claim to fame was that she posed nude in Playboy, married an old billionaire and essentially would stop at nothing to gain riches, publicity and fame. On the scale of important people who die, she would not be rated very high." So far I can't take issue with any of that.


Then it's asked, "So why is there such a big interest in her death?" The answer to that question is obvious to me - it's a soap opera in the extreme. This is the story that newspapers and television wait for, hope for, pray for. The story that people love to follow and try to solve. A mystery story with all the classic elements; sex, fame, fortune, drugs, sudden unexplained deaths, conspiracy theories, and unanswered questions. Who could ask for anything more in a suspense story? The Anna Nicole Smith story is a crackling good yarn.


And not only does it have all the right ingredients, but it really happened. This aint' fiction, folks. This is real life - the reality show that really, truly is a reality show. With a climax that beats them all - suspicious deaths and unanswered questions - How did she die? Did her boyfriend/husband have anything to do with it? What was behind the death of her first son? Who is the real father of Anna Nicole's baby? Who will finally get all those millions of dollars?


You couldn't make up a story like this. Movie producers would laugh you out of Musso & Frank's. Book editors would reject your manuscript in a New York minute. Your artistic license would be revoked. The story is too preposterous, totally unbelievable. And yet it all really took place with real people and real money and real children and real death. This is live theater at its most grotesque.


In truth, no one really cares about Anna Nicole Smith the person. It is the public spectacle that people are fascinated with - the "story," the myth. The big blonde sexpot who is bigger than life, who flaunts it all and gold digs her way to the top. She didn't have much, but she used what she had, and she achieved "celebrity." And, for better or worse, celebrity in our times has become the be all and end all of the American dream. And she got there. She got there first by gaining notoriety as a result of taking off her clothes in a magazine, then by marrying a super-rich, super-old Texas billionaire.


And the story kept building, and building. Billionaire dies. Billionaire leaves estate to Anna Nicole. Billionaire's relative contests the will. Goes to the Supreme Court. Anna Nicole gets her own television reality show. Gains weight - Loses weight. Moves to the Bahamas. Has baby. Teenage son dies under mysterious circumstances. Drugs? Boyfriend/ husband suspected of foul play. Photos of dead son sold to tabloids. Who is the real father of baby? Anna Nicole dies under mysterious circumstances. More drugs? Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband claims he is the real father of the baby - oops! - now he claims he's not. Odd, overly chummy photos appear depicting Anna Nicole and high ranking Bahamas government official in bed together fully dressed. Where is the baby now? Who is the father? Who will Larry King have on to talk about this? What does Geraldo think? Will Greta get to the bottom of this?


Tune in tomorrow, same time, same channel, for the next thrilling installment. Like it or not folks, for the next several weeks at least, Anna Nicole Smith will be filling up "the days of our lives."

Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.


JWR contributor Greg Crosby, former creative head for Walt Disney publications, has written thousands of comics, hundreds of children's books, dozens of essays, and a letter to his congressman. A freelance writer in Southern California, you may contact him by clicking here.

Greg Crosby Archives

© 2006, Greg Crosby

Insight (Our Columnists)

 Mitch Albom
 Michael Barone
  Dave Barry
 Tony Blankley
 Andy Borowitz
 David Broder
 Stratfor Briefing
 Mona Charen
 Linda Chavez
 Ann Coulter
 Greg Crosby
 Rod Dreher
 Larry Elder
 Suzanne Fields
 John Fund
 Frank J. Gaffney
 Lloyd Garver
 Jonah Goldberg
 Julia Gorin
 Jonathan Gurwitz
 Paul Greenberg
 Victor Davis Hanson
 Betsy Hart
 David Harsanyi
 Nat Hentoff
 David Horowitz
 Laura Ingraham
 Jeff Jacoby
 Paul Johnson
 Jack Kelly
 James Klurfeld
 Ed Koch
 Ch. Krauthammer
 Jonathan Last
 Michael Ledeen
 John Leo
 David Limbaugh
 Kathryn Lopez
 Rich Lowry
 Michelle Malkin
 Jackie Mason
 The Medicine Men
 Dick Morris
 Bill O'Reilly
 Clarence Page
 Kathleen Parker
 Dennis Prager
 Wesley Pruden
 Tom Purcell
 Jonathan Rauch
 Celia Rivenbark
 Robert Robb
 Cokie & Steve Roberts
 Pat Sajak
 Debra J. Saunders
 Culture Shlock
 Roger Simon
 Michael Smerconish
 Thomas Sowell
 Mark Steyn
 John Stossel
 Cal Thomas
 Jonathan Tobin
 Bob Tyrrell
 Diana West
 Dave Weinbaum
 George Will
 Walter Williams
 Mort Zuckerman

'Toons
 Robert Arial
 Chuck Asay
 Chip Bok
 Dry Bones
  Lisa Benson
 John Branch
 Gary Brookins
 John Cole
 J. D. Crowe
 John Deering
 Brian Duffy
 Everything's Relative
 Mallard Fillmore
 Jake Fuller
 Bob Gorrel
 Joe Heller
 David Hitch
 Jerry Holber
 Steve Kelley
 Jeff Koterba
 Dick Locher
 Chan Lowe
 Ranan R. Lurie
 Jimmy Margulies
 Rick McKee
 Michael Ramirez
 Jeff Stahler
 Danna Summers
 John Trever
 Gary Varvel
 Kirk Walters

Lifestyles
 How 2
 Lori Borgman
 The Savvy Consumer
 Elder matters
 Fixit
 Dr. Peter Gott
 Marybeth Hicks
 GET A JOB! by Marty Nemko
 Richard Lederer
 Tech Maven
 Nutrition Myths
 Bruce Williams
 How Stuff Works