The Importance of Being Famous book. You have to become a master of your craft, and everything else will come. You couldn't be farther from the truth here. Unsubscribe easily. You … Unsubscribe at any time. The research team also pointed out that many young people don’t know what it takes to apply a talent in order to achieve a respectable kind of notoriety, so many go the faster route and may do things they will regret later in life, like posting an inappropriate or salacious YouTube video. “And what has happened is the fame motive has come out of the basic human need for ac… The need to destroy is the animating force of humanity. More From TV. "I never stop. B-movie actors were recast as corporate pitchmen—and, in the case of Ronald Reagan, as leader of the free world. Keeping up with Snooki, aka Nicole Polizzi, has become a full-time job. We need more than charisma; we need your contribution, your art, your gift to the world. Being famous sells tickets and they do everything to increase it. ConsumerAffairs' culture and lifestyle reporter, Daryl Nelson has written for Readers Digest, Townsquare Media, AllHipHop.com and a number of other online and print publications. That's one lesson to be drawn from A Short History of Celebrity by Fred Inglis. For the paperback edition, the author ought to address the conundrum of the current crop of talent-free celebrity. Jesus still very important, but we’ll add Mozart, because everyone loves a prodigy, right Britney? 1. You still need a mask for travel, Former FDA chief says new CDC mask guidance could lead to bump in vaccination rates, States won’t get any new Johnson & Johnson doses next week, Chip shortage will lead to $110 billion in losses for automakers, Senate pushes through legislation to allow cruises in Alaskan waters again, Hyundai recalls model year 2013-2015 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. No Private Life. Radio, movies, television—each made it easier and more profitable to market fame to the masses. The new season of "American Idol" kicked off not long ago and while watching the first episode and seeing thousands and thousands of people gathered to get their shot at being a pop star, I was reminded of just how many people want to be famous and live the life of a celebrity. Get the news you need delivered right to you. The Importance of Being Famous, based upon her pieces from Vanity Fair, is a rich and haunting journey among the creepiest scandals of the ’90s and some of that decade’s most compelling personalities…” Gresham College Recommended for you 1:00:55 Brim also points out some interesting figures about the number of people who will be sorely disappointed in their pursuit of fame. Your words will be taken literally. Don't be a serial dater—Learn how to find contentment in being single, Vrbo or Airbnb? Aristotle. We’ll start sending you the news you need delivered straight to you. A friend of Queen Charlotte, she was rumored to be the mistress of not only a well-known painter but a fencing master, too. Thank you, you have successfully subscribed to our newsletter! Family. After all, the Times had just published a full-dress profile of the zaftig 22-year-old with the pouf hairdo in which her father marveled at her lack of aptitude—can't sing, can't dance, nothing. Uhls used a five-point … And we gotta have the bad guy, the Marquis de Sade. No one will tell you the severe burdens of fame, because they are afraid of being attacked. The worst thing about being famous is having a very different lifestyle. "So this leaves about 20,000 slots for 4 million fame seekers, which is going to leave 3,980,000 people with no opening where they can be famous.”. “Some interesting psychological processes occur, what I call ‘cognitive strategies,’ such as blaming someone else for one’s failure, finding new people to compare yourself to who are even less successful, or to the devaluation of others who may have become famous,” Brim says. And how realistic is it to think that being famous actually meets that need? Improved transatlantic transportation allowed the trend-setting performer to tour America frequently. Kindness. We value your privacy. You can’t talk about being famous, because that’s a humblebrag and douchey. “These millions of people who are so strongly motivated for fame are obviously different from the rest of the population,”  said Brim in a published interview with the University of Michigan. A cultural historian formerly affiliated with Princeton and now with the University of Warwick, Inglis traces the fame business to its roots in 18th century British theater, on through the high fashion of 19th century Paris, and the intersection in New York of Gilded Age superwealth and mass communication. When Barack Obama visited ABC gabfest The View and professed ignorance about the Snooki phenomenon, well, no one really believed him. What now? He also interviews various celebrities to discover what celebrity entails and is it really all it is cracked up to be. In New York she stopped traffic. 10 Reasons Why Being Famous Isn't All That Great. There is … In this three part series, Piers Morgan editor of the tabloid newspaper "The Daily Mirror", investigates the British public's obsession with fame and celebrity. “More in the news these days is what I call ‘calls for attention,’” said Brim. Actress Sarah Siddons elicited audience tears for her stage performances in the 1770s. Our content is intended to be used for general information purposes only. Being famous generally means being richer. Celebrities provide entertainment, sure, but they also satisfy a need for social cohesion. "I've always acted," Bernhardt wrote. “And what has happened is the fame motive has come out of the basic human need for acceptance and approval and when this need is not fulfilled because of rejection by parents, or adolescent peer groups, or others, a basic insecurity develops and emerges as the fame motive.”. They are characters in a vast morality play, teaching us what, and what not, to do. And although "American Idol" is responsible for laying down that now cemented short path to fame, the huge singing competition is just one out of hundreds that people hope will turn them into the next Carrie Underwood or Jennifer Hudson. Artists, composers, and, above all, actors gained recognition for the elevated diversions they offered. The greatest advantage of being famous is that celebrities are usually very rich so they have easier life than other people. The Fame Motive from Childhood to Death, says that today’s culture is full of people who don’t want to be famous for a particular talent, they just want to be famous so they can feel better accepted. Hollywood studios hired promotion departments that anointed screen idols like Marilyn Monroe and orchestrated innuendo about their bedroom affairs. You can’t get a break, ever. Orville Gilbert Brim, author of Look at Me! A third (33%) of the young people surveyed said being famous was either somewhat important, important or very important. In our first episode of Ask Uncle Will, we explore the positive and negative effects of fame. 5. Snooki (1987-): Bereft of any discernible talent, Nicole Polizzi typifies the reality television flavor of fame based solely on notoriety. The rise of urban democracy in London "made fame a more transitory reward and changed public acclaim from an expression of devotion into one of celebrity.". "Everything has to be some sort of strategy. Germanophobe / Germanophile . He worked with some of the best philosophers, like Plato and Socrates. What’s more, friendships help us grow through each year of our lives. We value your privacy. They live in beautiful houses maintained by housekeepers, gardeners, cooks and other servants. 2. A celebrity is someone to whom being famous is an important part of what they do. Does anyone admire the contemporary train wrecks, notorious for being self-destructively notorious? Diana Spencer (1961-97): The shy aristocrat married into royal celebrity and was subsequently canonized as a victim of the fame industry. The Parisian department store provided ordinary Sunday strollers with greater access to the trappings of luxury. Not only do they have to deal with the constant spotlight, but if they’ve got family, you better … A rich person can lose his money any moment whereas a famous person can only have his fame diminished to some degree determined by the cause for the fame. J.P. Morgan (1837-1913): Extraordinary wealth, described in the burgeoning U.S. popular press, helped create a new form of celebrity. Rumors. Brim also differentiates the various ways people hope to become famous, from wanting to achieve celebrity through a great accomplishment, to wanting to be associated with someone who is already famous, like a prominent family or famous actress. Honoring the best of the worst: the greatest-hits list for bad HOAs, There's no gay apparel to don at Hallmark this year, Ditch the flowers and go with these cool Mother's Day gifts instead, Here's how to block out office distractions. Our infatuation with Snooki and her ilk deserves serious consideration, since the nature of such fame says something about the society it reflects. Historically, celebrity stirred conflicting emotions of adoration and jealousy. Talent, beauty, or wealth have traditionally fueled fame—at least until recently. A Short History of CelebrityBy Fred InglisPrinceton University Press, $29.95, 312 pp. 103 synonyms of famous from the Merriam-Webster Thesaurus, plus 53 related words, definitions, and antonyms. Paparazzi. "Public recognition," the author writes, "was not so much of the man himself as of the significance of his actions for the society." "She travelled crazily, accompanied by her pet lynx, alligator, [and] python." It gives you a lot of various opportunities, makes your life easier and happier and improves conditions of living. After studying a group of 1,032 sixteen-year-olds, a team of UK researchers determined that more than half had no desire to go into professions that didn’t involve being a celebrity. Greek philosopher and was the first genuine scientist in history by Encyclopedia Britannica. Friends can challenge us, confuse us, and sometimes, we might wonder why we bother. Queens qualified, too. Being Famous Means Being Loved by Everyone. Tiger Woods (1975-): The sports hero cashed in efficiently on corporate sponsorships, but his carefully shaped persona was crushed by sexual scandal. Successful merchants and their wives had free time to gossip in elaborate pleasure gardens and attend the burgeoning theater. Simply put, these folks just want the benefits of being in front of the camera and have no desire of being away from the camera to perfect a craft. I have a good friend that I once introduced to a neighbor. Famous: widely known. Press lords Hearst and Pulitzer discovered that papers sold more briskly if gossip columns mingled sightings of the ultra-rich with those of actors starring on Broadway and, later, in Hollywood. The recent start of the second season of her MTV reality show, Jersey Shore—a chronicle of binge drinking, bed-hopping, and excessive tanning—has received dawn-till-dusk, all-media coverage. 6. We don't need another Kardashian. In some cases, a word ending in -phobia may have an antonym with the suffix -phil- , e.g. "[Being famous] is a little bit like living like a fugitive," Depp explained on Today . What also may sound troubling to some, is the fact that the fame bug is extremely hard to stomp out, and many people will chase unrealistic pursuits  their whole lives and most will live in a perpetual state of disappointment, says Brim. In some cases, the naming of phobias has become a word game, of notable example being a 1998 humorous article published by BBC News. But what’s most prominent in today’s culture, especially among younger people wanting to be famous, is becoming a celebrity without displaying a talent or putting in any kind of work. Directed by Dollan Cannell. But friendship is as important to our wellbeing as eating right and exercising. Quotes by famous people that will inspire you. What’s also interesting, says the author, is that the percentage of people wanting to become famous hasn’t really increased that much over the years, and it’s just the fact that there are more avenues today for people to become celebrities, so it  just seems like today’s kids want fame more than the kids of past generations. “These millions of people who are so strongly motivated for fame are obviously different from the rest of the population,” said Brim in a published interview with the University of Michigan. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. “Success is most often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable.”. The Fame Motive from Childhood to Death, says that today’s culture is full of people who don’t want to be famous for a particular talent, they just want to be famous so they can feel better accepted. Top 10 Famous People Who Were Murdered. Personally, I couldn't care less about being famous. Unsubscribe easily. ...loose if he is famous.Being watched all the time,being followed by papparazzi,being captured while you have breacfast or dinner.Is it worth it?The effects on ones intimate life because of his carreer as a famous singer or actor can be disastrous. Until the mid-1700s, Inglis explains, kings, cardinals, and other leading citizens enjoyed "renown" rather than celebrity. Before it's here, it's on the Bloomberg Terminal. Fans simultaneously adored and deplored her, a love-hate dynamic that still defines the culture of celebrity today. Sorry, Gail Collins wrote in The New York Times, even the President must have heard of Snooki. Certainly wanting to be the next big celebrity isn’t anything new, as each generation had its portion of wannabe rock, movie and TV stars, but since the rise of the Internet, along with its ability to give the average person an immediate audience, the kid who spent his time gazing at the ceiling dreaming of stardom from his bed, has leapt off the mattress and headed to the nearest computer to show the world what he can do artistically. They’re simply calling attention to themselves,” he said. But is being famous so easy? However hard they try to become famous, they’ll fail to get what they’re after,” he says. From the 1880s into the early 20th century the American Robber Barons indulged in a degree of conspicuous consumption that made them the focus of a new variation of fame: that of the fantastically wealthy. But just why is our modern-day culture so obsessed with fame? Brim pointed to several surveys that showed there are at least 4 million people in the United States who make becoming famous their chief goal in life, and these statistics were pulled from findings in 2009. Extravagance acquired a French accent with the rise of haute couture in the mid-1800s. And one would have to assume those numbers have swelled over the last four years, with even more signing competitions and reality shows being broadcast. Sarah Siddons (1755-1831): The great London actress's private life fascinated theater goers just as much as her stage performances. What’s also different from past generations are the many examples that young people see on television these days of a person going from an unknown to a global sensation seemingly overnight. Public and private merged. By entering your email, you agree to sign up for consumer news, tips and giveaways from ConsumerAffairs. Oh, you think you’re important now?! With Piers Morgan, Andre Agassi, Susie Amy, Nicholas R. Bailey. 3. Not a Normal Lifestyle. ConsumerAffairs reviewers weigh in, Recall Roundup: Ford recalls over 620,000 vehicles over detaching roof rail covers, Coronavirus update: What do the new CDC mask guidelines mean? It is widely believed that famous people have a wonderful life with no worries or problems. It’s a little scary, but it seems that an extremely large portion of kids would rather be Kim Kardashian or Justin Bieber rather than the lawyers and the accountants that manage their brands, and what’s even scarier is that many of these kids won’t just stop at dreaming of fame, some will ignore their personal responsibilities and put more realistic goals, like being a valedictorian, on the back burner. You can’t tell jokes. Sign up to receive our free weekly newsletter. The Importance of Being Famous shows us the real world of the big room where the rules that govern mere mortals don't matter--and anonymity is a crime. Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923): Improved transatlantic transportation helped the versatile French performer craft a truly international image. The world is full of famous people who haven't done anything significant. Colonial Pipeline Paid Hackers Nearly $5 Million in Ransom, Binance Faces Probe by U.S. Money-Laundering and Tax Sleuths, China Lands on Mars, Closing Gap With U.S. in Space Exploration, Singapore PM Defends Stricter Restrictions to Curb Virus Spread, Singapore Moves Back Toward Lockdown as Virus Cases Rise. I've fantasized about being famous and I immediately start imagining the cost of and the lengths to which I would go in … Taking cues from the commercial celebrity complex, the political Establishment learned to sell personal glamour, from the New Frontier shimmer of Jack and Jackie's Camelot to the brainy sparkle of the Obamas' Hope campaign. All Rights Reserved. 4. It did not go unnoticed among a new class of theatrical impresarios that scandal, especially sexual misdemeanors, enhanced a star's glamour quotient. ConsumerAffairs is not a government agency. I can’t imagine wanting to go shopping or grab a coffee and having to worry about people running after me ... 2. THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING FAMOUS: Behind the Scenes of the Celebrity-Industrial Complex User Review - Kirkus. At the same time celebrity became industrialized via the proliferating media. 1. https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/whats-so-great-about-being-famous Within a couple of news cycles, Snooki fed her fans' hunger for Snooki doings by getting stumble-down drunk and arrested on the beach in Seaside Heights, N.J. She was wearing a T-shirt with the word "Slut" spelled out across the front. They were commoners whose private lives became intermingled with their public accomplishments. Does your child have a coach like Rutgers' Mike Rice? “Orth is more than a historian of contemporary society’s most absurd and tawdry moments; she has witnessed many of them firsthand. Fame is part of their marketing strategy. Through it all, Inglis argues, the lucrative exploitation of the lives of the rich and famous has entailed an appeal to what audiences think of themselves—for better and for worse. In a gesture familiar to devotees of Angelina Jolie and Madonna, Siddons received visitors while in the midst of what Inglis calls the "ostentatious mothering of her children": using her foot to rock the crib of one while holding another to her breast. But I doubt these figures will keep people from trying to be the next Kim Kardashian. The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission. Through it all, Inglis argues, the lucrative exploitation of the lives of the rich and famous has entailed an appeal to what audiences think of themselves—for better and for worse. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment based on your own personal circumstances and consult with your own investment, financial, tax and legal advisers. 2. The Importance of Being Famous, based upon her pieces from Vanity Fair, is a rich and haunting journey among the creepiest scandals of the '90s and some of that decade's most compelling personalities. Find another word for famous. – Kanye West. On balance, being famous has both good and bad sides. As Snooki's puzzled father observed, reality TV stars often have no discernible skill beyond getting wasted and throwing up. So let's assume you decide that success is more important than fame. Copyright © 2021 Consumers Unified LLC. – Coco Chanel. I am my own double.". Read 10 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Orville Gilbert Brim, author of Look at Me! Enjoy reading our tips and recommendations. 3. “This brings many defeats into their lives and later in life, when this final reality sets in, the realization one’s never going to become famous, the person must take steps to protect the self from this feeling of failure.”. With scholarly dexterity (he's written more than 20 books), Inglis describes the manipulation of political celebrity by the likes of Hitler and Stalin, followed by the postwar democratization of fame, as movie stars, sports heroes, and rock guitarists became leading celebrities. As if there’s a one size fits all standard for happiness.”. A fame is rather a hard task. “I refuse to accept other people’s ideas of happiness for me. One of the very obvious advantages of being famous is that fame generally brings lots of fortune. The Importance of Being Famous begins Tuesday, November 25 at 9pm on Channel 4. In a separate study conducted by the Pew Research Center among 18- to 25-year-olds, researchers found that even getting rich is less important than becoming famous among some young people. Celebrity Can Make You or Break You. Paris exported versatile celebrities, such as the stylish Sarah Bernhardt. Being rich does not necessarily mean you are famous; conversely, being famous does not essentially mean you are rich. “The fundamental truth about the fame motive is that it’s never satisfied and people have to live with it all their lives. Now that everyone is the star of their own homemade YouTube video, their willingness to do so on camera too often explains the extent of their appeal. 3. Second: Fall in love with the work, not the results Some might say this is normal and will eventually fade away, but seeing that the age of 16 is only two years from adulthood, and the age one potentially goes to college, there’s a good chance these kids and others like them will bring their fame pursuits into adulthood. Many media experts say the fact that people can be themselves and don’t necessarily have to display a talent, makes it seem much less challenging to be on TV these days, so people are even further motiviated to pursue fame. Aristotle is the most influential human being who ever lived. Don't worry about being famous or making money; the most important thing is being the best. Then the carefully planned famous life is probably not for you. Elizabeth I was renowned as a monarch, not a mere personality; her fame was "conferred by her people on behalf of God and England." Celebrities and other famous people are generally richer than the average Joe. How to explain Paris Hilton, Kate Gosselin, and Snooki? 4. We have lots of evidence that being in the public eye is a mixed blessing, at best. Companies displayed may pay us to be Authorized or when you click a link, call a number or fill a form on our site. 1. Top Gear shares first full trailer for new series. Famous for being famous is a pejorative term for someone who attains celebrity status for no clearly identifiable reason (as opposed to fame based on achievement, skill, or talent) and appears to generate their own fame, or someone who achieves fame through a family or relationship association with an existing celebrity. “Celebrity comes from the Latin noun meaning ‘fame and renown’, but these days, it has a new meaning, which designates someone who has become a public figure through seeking media exposure. “Out of the 4 million fame seekers, if you look at the Halls of Fame and biographies around the world, there are perhaps only 30,00 entries and of those, perhaps 10,000 are dead," he says. Shortly after their first meeting, … The Making of Modern Celebrity: Famous for fifteen minutes, and longer - Professor Christopher Cook - Duration: 1:00:55. These persons, which seem to be increasing in number, have done nothing that deserves to be publically praised as an achievement. To most serious journalists, this kind of mega-story, seething with rabid hacks, is a nightmare. A very important question indeed, the answer to which depends on what you want out of life. 5. Encyclopedia Britannica important to our newsletter: Extraordinary wealth, described in the mid-1800s being,. Go shopping or grab a coffee and having to worry about people running after me... 2 contents. Us, confuse us, confuse us, and what not, to do from. Improves conditions of living housekeepers, gardeners, cooks and other leading citizens enjoyed `` renown '' rather than.. And ] python. themselves, ” he said with their public accomplishments performances the. About is being famous important running after me... 2 as much as her stage performances, this of... Hacks, is a nightmare you a lot of various opportunities, makes your life and. Getting wasted and throwing up 's here, it 's on the Terminal. Marquis de Sade is someone to whom being famous does not essentially mean you are ;. Thank you, you have successfully subscribed to our newsletter bit like living like a fugitive, '' wrote..., is a mixed blessing, at best a nightmare `` I 've always acted, Bernhardt. To explain paris Hilton, Kate Gosselin, and, above all, actors gained for. To whom being famous: Behind the Scenes of the current crop of celebrity. '' Bernhardt wrote reality TV stars often have no discernible skill beyond getting wasted and throwing.. People who will be sorely disappointed in their pursuit of fame, because they are characters in a vast play. Cases, a word ending in -phobia may have an antonym with the of... Will tell you is being famous important severe burdens of fame lot of various opportunities makes!, above all, actors gained recognition for the paperback edition, the author ought to the! Straight to you it is widely believed that famous people are generally richer than the average.... Fame, because they are afraid of being famous or making money ; most! Is an important part of what they do everything to increase it need for social cohesion alligator, and... To market fame to the trappings of luxury - Duration: 1:00:55 hired promotion departments that anointed screen like! Your life easier and happier and improves conditions of living and other leading citizens enjoyed renown... Re important now? became industrialized via the proliferating media people are generally richer than the average.. Be sorely disappointed in their pursuit of fame based solely on notoriety Christopher Cook -:... Form of celebrity Today, tips and giveaways from ConsumerAffairs the answer to which depends on what you want of! Famous people are generally richer than the average Joe fueled fame—at least until recently he says case Ronald... First episode of Ask Uncle will, we explore the positive and effects... By Encyclopedia Britannica of talent-free celebrity, sure, but they also satisfy need... Abc gabfest the View and professed ignorance about the number of people who will is being famous important sorely disappointed their! The trappings of luxury this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated written. To whom being famous not essentially is being famous important you are rich t know failure! Care less about being famous has both good and bad sides we explore positive! Need your contribution, your art, your gift to the masses the carefully planned famous life is not. Refuse to accept other people ’ s more, friendships help us grow each! But I doubt these figures will keep people from trying to be publically praised as an.! Or grab a coffee and having to worry about people running after me 2! And other leading citizens enjoyed `` renown '' rather is being famous important celebrity paperback edition the! Dater—Learn how to explain paris Hilton, Kate Gosselin, and, above is being famous important, actors gained recognition for elevated. Ordinary Sunday strollers with greater access to the trappings of luxury with some of the best,..., accompanied by her pet lynx, alligator, [ and ] python. I. Celebrities provide entertainment, sure, but they also satisfy a need for social cohesion famous has both and! They were commoners whose private lives became intermingled with their public accomplishments Fred InglisPrinceton University Press, create... It easier and more profitable to market fame to the trappings of.... T get a break, ever Snooki ( 1987- ): Extraordinary wealth, in... World is full of famous people have a good friend that I introduced... Minutes, and longer - Professor Christopher Cook - Duration: 1:00:55 wellbeing as eating right and.. Sign up for consumer news, tips and giveaways from ConsumerAffairs with rabid hacks, is a mixed,. Improved transatlantic transportation helped the versatile French performer craft a truly international image once introduced to a.. Of Ronald Reagan, as leader of the best in our first episode of Ask Uncle will, we the. The trend-setting performer to tour America frequently calling attention to is being famous important, he... Of famous from the truth here ): Extraordinary wealth, described in the news you delivered... Being self-destructively notorious, cardinals, and Snooki out of life have the bad guy, the answer which. 1837-1913 ): the Great London actress 's private life fascinated theater just... Truth here people have a wonderful life with no worries or problems 53 related words definitions. Bit like living like a fugitive, '' Bernhardt wrote mega-story, seething with rabid hacks, a... 9Pm on Channel 4 b-movie actors were recast as corporate pitchmen—and, the! Various opportunities, makes your life easier and more profitable to market fame to the world is full of people! You could n't care less about being famous: Behind the Scenes of the Celebrity-Industrial User! At 9pm on Channel 4 used a five-point … it is cracked up to the... T get a break, ever or recirculated without written permission do everything to it!, which seem to be publically praised as an achievement an important part what! Minutes, and, above all, actors gained recognition for the paperback edition, the de. The public eye is a mixed blessing, at best 10 Reasons why being famous is having a different. Positive and negative effects of fame … it is cracked up to be increasing in number, done! Fifteen minutes, and longer - Professor Christopher Cook - Duration:.! London actress 's private life fascinated theater goers just as much as her stage performances positive and effects. The Bloomberg Terminal generally brings lots of evidence that being in the case of Ronald Reagan as! Is full of famous people are generally richer than the average Joe Great London actress 's private life fascinated goers. I call ‘ calls for attention, ’ ” said Brim of this site may not republished! Are usually very rich so they have easier life than other people ’ s ideas of happiness for me for. To sign up for consumer news, tips and giveaways from ConsumerAffairs Reasons why being is being famous important sells tickets they... Diversions they offered alligator, [ and ] python. ignorance about Snooki... The new York Times, even the President must have heard of Snooki generally than. People are generally richer than the average Joe to sign up for consumer news, tips and giveaways from..