Flashes

The saying "Fifteen minutes of fame" has been used for a long time to symbolize popularity or quick success and limelight on television. Many people have been on television, but for most it has only been for "fifteen minutes".
People have done peculiar things to be on television. Recently, a family in Colorado faked their son's abduction by using an oddly shaped balloon and saying he was in it. The local police were able to bring the balloon down but the boy wasn't inside, so the Heene family lied to the cops and kept saying the boy might have fallen out of the device. The police searched for two days and were unable to find him. Once on television, Mrs. Heene admitted it was a hoax and their child was hiding in the attic of their house.
The family faked this abduction for one reason: to be on television. Mr. Heene stated later on their motive was to "make the Heene family more marketable for future media interests." This showed how people go above and beyond to do something to be on television, but for what? To be seen by many as a clown or as a good dancer? Why is being on television a good thing? The benefit from it, except for maybe being able to say greetings to family or friends, is being able to sell something to the viewers.
Fame should never be timed or last only for a limited amount of time because then it can’t be considered fame. People should be on television because they produced something or completed a task that will help more than just one person. A good example of this would be the MLB or NFL Hall of Fame. The athletes inducted into the Hall of Fame sometimes have to wait years to be considered being put into the Hall of Fame. Most of the people on the list have accomplished numerous feats, on the sports field and still have to wait to be inducted.
The media has been portraying and influencing the saying “Fifteen minutes of fame” for quite some time now. There are songs about paparazzi, videos of explicit acts, and television shows of people being famous, but none of them have helped people in any way. It only shows how certain other people are living. Being a celebrity doesn’t mean something was accomplished, it means people are following to gossip about how you live your life.
In conclusion, anybody can be given fifteen minutes on national television. It is how that person arrived there and what the person decides to do with that time that will separate him/her from the rest and allow them either to be shunned or congratulated. People should be on television for the right reasons, like finding the cure to an epidemic or inventing a new technology, not for partying like an animal or because a fake balloon supposedly abducted your kid, especially if it isn’t true.
What would you do if you knew you were going to be on national television tomorrow?