Smith, who can claim a worldwide career box-office total of a staggering $4.4bn, plays the popularity game to perfection, refusing to be yoked to any one genre; when he flits nimbly between romantic comedy (Hitch), socially conscious drama (The Pursuit of Happyness) and science-fiction (I, Robot; I Am Legend), he takes the audience along with him.
This might sound like Heathers for the social media era, but for one of the most famous women on the planet, playing the popularity game is good business.
Fraudulent telemarketers play off the popularity of legitimate sweepstakes and contests, often incorporating them into their cons, but they differ in critical ways.
To play off the popularity of the "Twin Peaks' series, the new Obsession commercials feature appearances by Lara Flynn Boyle and James Marshall, two of the principal actors from the show, on which Ms. Boyle plays Donna Hayward and Mr. Marshall stars as James Hurley.
The discussion, which was primarily attended by NYU students, touched on topics ranging from their early days as emerging rappers to the crucial role women play in the popularity of their music. .
There is something potentially wonderful in seeing a star of Ms. Roberts's magnetism and popularity play the ugly duckling; such transparent counter-typecasting was part of the fun of the studio comedies "America's Sweethearts" longs to replicate.
Meanwhile, Osbourne, Hirsch, Dick and Friedlander will crop up as assorted New York City-type characters, including Hirsch playing off the popularity of his character from "Taxi" by playing a cab driver.
"Best Night of My Life" is his fourth album, which might say as much about his appetite to play the game as about his popularity.
Shirley Halperin from The Hollywood Reporter wondered whether pop radio would play the song, considering Gaga's popularity.
Actually, Wallace's somewhat inexplicable folk hero status — name-checked in hip-hop songs and adorning Mitchell & Ness throwback jerseys from every team on which he's played — and the popularity of his catchphrase have even spawned a popular basketball blog, Ball Don't Lie, which was created five years ago.
