Talent Show

Today in Hollywood a resume without at least 3 or more marketable talents is tossed aside for someone who can act, sing, dance, do trapeze and perform brain surgery. Ok, obviously I'm kidding with the last two (that's giving young Hollywood way too much credit). It seems that to make it in the biz today, you need to be at least a triple threat. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were the original multi-threat performers with TV shows, movies, CDs, books,
fashion and then some. This trend picked back up with the Disney channel and shows like Lizzie McGuire. With a younger sister in the house, there was no avoiding this tragedy of a children's show.

Where are the Boy Meets Worlds or Full Houses of my childhood? Anyway, I digress.

Disney's Lizzie/Hilary Duff empire came out with a movie in which she debuts as a (sort of) pop singer who (somewhat) dances. This starts a domino effect with Disney promoting "stars" like Raven Symone, Aly and Aj and Ashley Tisdale and now most popularly Miley Cyrus. Apparently any 12 year old with mediocre acting skills has equally mediocre singing abilities.

I'm sure not many of these Disney actors are familiar to everyone but there is no denying or hiding the fact that you all know High School Musical. The 6 or so "teen" actors (ranging from 18 to 28 in age) showcased there many talents in this wildly popular movie, turned stage show, turned ice show. HSM propelled these young actors onto young Hollywood's A-list.

I'm pretty sure big shots like Leonardo DiCaprio and Angelina Jolie didn't really have to sing and dance their way into the spotlight; there are exceptions such as everyone's favorite over-achiever Will Smith. It's a necessity today that you come as a full package deal or you're out.

Just last week I spent some time with Justin Kredible-- an upcoming magician who not only has a traveling act but also does comedy, commercial acting (Cingulair and Sunny D) and is a correspondent for the Rachael Ray Show and MTV. He knows what's up.