Elusive Fame

I've rented the original miniseries V. Back in the 80s this was huge. Two mini-series, a regular TV show, books, comics, the whole deal. Hill Street Blues was really really big at one point too, like the greatest show ever, and it set the pace for TV dramas for years to come. Same with The Bad News Bears. Huge sensations with the public and the media, big ensemble casts.....

.....and not a single breakout star. You never saw any of them again except maybe in b-movies or guest-starring on popular shows later on, and you say "Hey! Isn't that the guy who played....?"

It's called Daniel J. Travanti Syndrome (DJTS). Its very contagious. It can spread quickly throughout a population and can decimate the cast of a popular TV show or movie series. That's why I support the Daniel J. Travanti Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides career counseling and financial advice to TV stars and their families.

From a promotional flyer:

I'm Daniel Travanti. Are you or someone you love a cast member on a hit TV show? Are you worried about the future? Is your considerable salary being drained by illicit drugs, booze, and hookers? If so, you're not alone. Every year, hundreds of careers flounder and sink, dreams are crushed, and fortunes are made and lost. Won't you help? Please give generously, and help keep our dreams alive.

Counselor Troi

On Star Trek: The Next Generation, the counselor holds a pretty important post. She sits on the bridge and advises the captain on all matters having to do with diplomacy and contact with alien species. She's responsible for the morale and mental well-being of over 1,000 crewmembers. Fortunately, she has the ability to read strong emotions. Unfortunately, she frequently wears revealing outfits that show off her cleavage. Am I the only one who's ever seen this as inconsistent?

We never saw a scene that depicted the situation accurately. Like during delicate negotiations on Rigel VII:

Picard: What are your impressions, Counselor?

Troi: They seem pre-occupied by my breasts, sir.

Picard: Your breasts?

Troi: Yes, sir. My cleavage is of great interest to them.

Picard: What about negotiations for mining rights to the asteroid belt?

Troi: At this point, sir, we could ask for rights to their homeworld and they'd throw in Rigel VIII, IX, and X

Picard: Well done, counselor. Be in the conference room at 0800 tomorrow.....And wear that frilly blouse. Dismissed.

Raisin Bran

Raisin Bran says they have two scoops of raisins. It doesn't matter how big the box is, they all say two scoops. This is the kind of scam that makes me want to stand up and scream, "Wake up, people! There are no scoops! You're being lied to by the Big Cereal Corporation!"