High School Musical "Gets Dirty"

Corbin Bleu (the actor who plays Chad Danforth in the HSM trilogy) in Entertainment Weekly (#1042), says it is time for him to “shake off some of that nice-guy, wholesome image.” How does he plan to do that? Beginning this fall he will be starring with Mischa Barton and Elle Macpherson in the CW’s new, risqué, drama The Beautiful Life.

Referring to his costar Zac Efron’s recent, racy photo shoot with a topless woman in Interview magazine (called "Zac Efron Gets Dirty" - a double entendre), Bleu continued: “We can’t be the teenagers we were in High School Musical forever, as much as our parents want that. Zac is serious about taking his career to the next level.”

I know this is nothing new; we see it all the time of young actors: Miley Cyrus, Jessica Beil, Ashley Tisdale, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Vanessa Hudgens, Shia Labeouf, etc. But a few questions:

• Since when is it more mature (grown up, if you will) to start stripping off clothing and baring it all?

• Since when is it the more mature decision to be involved in projects that exploit sexuality versus modeling true love and relationships (the kind that actually take work, commitment and integrity)?

• Since when is it mature to blow off your obligation to your younger viewers who, yesterday, you used and begged to spend their money to buy tickets to your show and take home your merchandise (without whom you’d still be “that guy trying to make it big”)?

• Since when is being "wholesome" or trustworthy or good a bad thing? Is your career really that important that you'd rather be known as anything BUT virtuous?

I’m not saying teen/child actors should cater to the Disney 'Tween crowd forever. What I am saying is that if they spend the beginning part of their career being somewhat “wholesome” (and somewhat encouraging the same of their audience), they ought to be conscious of the roles they choose to grow into as an “adult.” They don’t have to go extremes to prove they are not a kid anymore. Stripping naked, drinking and cussing and trying to force their “maturity” down their audience’s throats is no more grown up than a teen standing in a crowded room and stomping their feet while yelling “I AM AN ADULT! I AM!” Instead it ought to be their acting and mature, responsible role choices speak for themselves.

To Corbin, Zac and the Rest of Young Hollywood following suit: These are just the thoughts (my take) of a father with two young children who desperately wanted to be your fans, but I wouldn’t let them for this very reason. I’m sad to say “I knew I was right” for protecting them from your product and career.

Want to join the conversation? Click here to comment or ask a question!

Image borrowed from: http://movies.yahoo.com/photos/featured-movie-stills/gallery/891/high-school-musical-3-senior-year-stills%23photo10

________________________

Should Michael Vick Play Pro Football Again?

In May former Atlanta Falcon Quarterback Michael Vick is being released from prison and will serve out the remainder of his 23 month sentence on home arrest. He is currently suspended from the NFL (though the Commissioner Roger Goodell said he will review his case after his release) and will begin a construction job sometime in the next month or so. Now that he is close to being released, talk has begun as to whether or not Mike Vick should be able to play pro football again.

To answer the question honestly, I have no idea. I’m torn. Playing professional football is a privilege and whether Charles Barkley, Britney Spears or any other American likes it, pro athletes and celebrities are role models.

Side Note on the Role Model Conversation (to “not-a-role model” celebrities): You don’t want to be a role model? Then don’t be on television, the big screen or in music. Don’t sell your name as a brand (to include putting it on a jersey so that kids and adults can wear it on their backs). Yes… you did not ask to be a role model, but I also don’t remember anyone asking if they cared that you didn’t want to be a role model. Any time someone is in a position of authority or fame it puts them in the role model category. Kids want to be Derek Jeter. Kids want to be Kobe Bryant. Kids “want to be like Mike.” So whether they like it or not, kids are WATCHING! If they weren’t watching them, said celebrities would be “that dude Chuck who has mad skills on the court at the YMCA, yo!” or “that sweet girl in church, Britney, who sounds so good singing in the choir!”. So, to the not-a-role model celebrities, stop whining about your pay day, play the game and live in a manner that’s honorable. Whether you like it or not, you are accountable to your fans (aka – the people who pay your salary). I digress…

As I was saying… playing football is a privilege. Playing in front of a national audience and having your name chanted and worn by fans is an honor. Getting paid obscene amounts of money to play a game (or sing a song, or make a movie, etc.) to entertain the masses is a blessing.

What did Mike Vick do with that blessing? He blew his money (as well as used it for wicked causes). He used his name loosely and now it has little to no value. He took his talent and sacrificed it in the name of “fun”. In short… he blew his blessing and left in the wake of his poor decisions are his teammates, the Falcon fans, his family, his career and starry-eyed little kids.

SHOULD HE PLAY AGAIN, THOUGH?

I’m torn. Yes, he blew it; however, he also paid his debt. The last time I checked America was the land of the Underdog (we, as a nation, were the underdog at one point in history). Better yet, GOD is the God of second chances. If Mike Vick truly is sorry, has repented (which I have no clue if he has), is working to fix the issues then why not grant him a second chance? (I ask theoretically, as I am still working this out myself since I don't know where he really is in this growth process.)

I understand the role model aspect of the game, and that he would be getting a second chance at what many consider a lottery of sorts (“he had his million dollar ticket and blew it, why should he get another?”); however, for Christians weighing this question themselves… when does Grace play a part of our decisions? We are all products of second chances. As for the role model conversation - how sweet a lesson is it to not only talk about Grace but actually model it? To be a living example of what it looks like to covet and desire sin, to reap its consequences, to be forgiven and to be used again, but this time for good.

People who have experienced Grace, changed and grown as a person are exactly the sort of examples we want before us (those who are repentant and changed from their experiences). The drug addict who lost it all only to reclaim his life, sober. The crumbling marriage (due to any number of sin issues) that truly forgives one another and works toward reconciliation. The prostitute who sold all that she was for profit and lost her identity, safety, purity and soul in the process, but experiences the loving kindness of the Savior and now seeks to help other working prostitutes off the street. These are but a few examples of people we would willingly welcome to our churches to share their stories of how God changed them and used them for His purposes later.

Or how about Paul, the woman at the well (John 4), Rahab the Prostitute, Abraham, Moses, and Jacob? They are but a few Biblical examples of people who God used in mighty ways, for His purposes, despite their sin.

I’m not saying that’s what God is doing with Michael Vick. What I am saying is that we are so quick to say “he blew it” and blind to how many times we have too.

What do you think?

Want to join the conversation? Click here to comment or ask a question!

________________

"New" Britney - Same Message

Britney Spears - “America’s Sweetheart” - is back, apparently, and her new song/video “Womanizer” is all the buzz. Reviews are positive from critics and music bloggers to ecstatic Britney fans alike. And what lessons has she learned from her struggles (anyone remember “bald Britney”?, losing her children, being caught in several public incidents, etc.)? Apparently none. Her music has not matured and neither has she, unfortunately.

“Womanizer” represents everything parents ought to teach their daughters and sons to NOT to be, or look for in potential spouses: flirty, morally lost, selfish and focused only on sexual attraction (not real love, intimacy, etc.). The song's lyrics have a hint of hope to them as she tells the womanizer she has no time for him; however, she ultimtely blows it by telling him "no" in a flirty manner while playful acknowledging that she does like him and want him. Since I have no desire in promoting anyone watching the video (lyrics can be found here), here are a few highlights from it:

• Britney appears entirely nude throughout the majority of the video, laying down and moving provocatively (she wasn’t able to cover everything, so the strategically placed “blur” helps her
  
• “Morning after Britney” shows her in a shirt and bra cooking breakfast for the “womanizer” man who she apparently slept with
  
• “Office Britney” dances provocatively around the office, flirting with the “womanizer” and posing for his iPhone pics while sitting on the copy machine and making a copy of what’s under her skirt (yes, she shows the camera the copy)
  
• Britney and dancers (male and female) dance sexually around the “womanizer” while kissing him and each other
  
• "Morning After Britney” exacts her revenge by making her bed while he’s in the shower (yes it shows that too) and showing him who’s boss by not sleeping with him again

• There are several other over-the-top and suggestive sequences, but I think you get the idea

So, let me get this straight… Britney proves to the womanizer (the man) that she is “all woman” by stripping, sleeping with him, dancing sexually around him, teasing him, then walking away? So the essence of her value as a woman is in her sexuality?

What about her motherhood?

Being a wife (former wife)?

Loving others less fortunate?

Loving God (the One she said she used to love with all her heart as a child/teen)?

My heart hurts for her… I thought after all she had been through, Britney was going to come out of it all with better understanding and clarity of mind. Instead, we get the same, sexually-driven Britney who speaks sweetly in interviews, but has no idea who she truly is or what she’s truly worth.

Parents: Since most of your teens and tweens have (or will have, soon) heard this song. Read the lyrics and use it as a conversational tool. Discuss what God describes as valuable. Who they are in Christ. What marriage is and why they ought to look forward to sexuality in that type of relationship versus what's seen in this video (and other TV shows). Here are some Bible passages for you to check out to help: 2 Timothy 2:21-22, Ephesians 1:3-14, James 1:22-25, 1 Peter 3:3-5

______