The problem for us, as viewers, is that we want famous people who

Opening Scene

The room is softly illuminated by the warm light of an overhead lamp, casting long shadows on the walls as evening settles in. Outside, the city’s noise fades into the quiet of the night. Jack is sitting at the table, his eyes fixed on his phone, scrolling through social media. Jeeny stands by the window, arms crossed, looking out into the city. The air between them is quiet, reflective, as though they’re both processing something deeper.

Host: After a few moments, Jeeny turns from the window, her voice thoughtful, but steady, breaking the silence.

Jeeny: “I came across a quote by Bo Burnham that made me think. He said, ‘The problem for us, as viewers, is that we want famous people who are passionate about the things they're famous for, because that makes them worthy of the attention. But I think many of those famous people just want to be famous.’ It got me wondering — do we really care about what makes people famous, or do we just want the image of fame itself? What do you think about that?”

Jack: “That’s an interesting point. We do, as an audience, tend to put a lot of stock in the idea that the people we admire should be passionate about what they do. When someone becomes famous, it’s almost like we want them to have this deeper meaning, this purpose behind it. But in reality, fame itself can sometimes be the goal, not the passion for the craft. Maybe fame is more about the recognition and status than the actual work.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. And it’s funny because it’s almost like we expect celebrities to be these perfect, passionate people who are deeply invested in their craft. But, really, a lot of them might just be in it for the attention, the recognition, the fame itself. And when that’s the case, it becomes a performance, not a pursuit of something meaningful. The lines get blurred between genuine passion and just the desire to be seen and admired.”

Jack: “Right. And I think that’s where the disconnect happens — we project our own values and expectations onto famous people. We want them to be more than just their image, but the reality is that fame is often a product of the system, not necessarily an indicator of someone’s true calling or passion. I think Burnham is pointing out the irony — we crave authenticity, but we often celebrate the very thing that perpetuates the opposite.”

Host: The conversation deepens, the weight of Burnham’s words lingering in the air. Jack sets his phone down, clearly reflecting on the idea, while Jeeny moves closer to the table, her voice steady as she continues.

Jeeny: “It’s kind of a double-edged sword, isn’t it? On one hand, we want authenticity, we want celebrities who genuinely care about their work and their craft. But on the other hand, the system that gives people fame doesn’t always reward authenticity — it rewards visibility, controversy, or even just being in the right place at the right time. So the people who might actually be passionate about their craft sometimes get overlooked in favor of those who can just play the game better.”

Jack: “And that’s what makes it hard to separate authentic passion from the desire for fame. It’s not always easy to tell if someone is genuinely invested in their work or if they just want the publicity that comes with it. But maybe part of the problem is that we, as the audience, are complicit in that. We reward the performances of fame, rather than the substance of it.”

Jeeny: “Yeah, exactly. It’s like we celebrate fame so much that it becomes its own goal. We’re drawn to the image, to the persona, more than the substance. And because of that, some famous people might focus more on maintaining their image than developing their actual craft or passions. Fame becomes the end goal, and the work itself becomes secondary.”

Jack: “And it’s a bit of a vicious cycle, isn’t it? The more we reward the image of fame, the more people are incentivized to chase the recognition without necessarily caring about the work behind it. The real challenge is in separating the person from the persona, understanding that fame doesn’t always equal passion or authenticity.”

Host: The room feels quieter now, as though the weight of their conversation has settled in. Outside, the city continues its rhythm, but inside, Jack and Jeeny share a realization: fame is often more about the image and attention than the passion behind the work. And as an audience, we play a part in that by rewarding the performance of fame rather than the true passion that may or may not exist behind it.

Jeeny: “So, maybe the lesson is that we need to be more mindful of the way we celebrate fame. It’s easy to get caught up in the glamour and image, but we need to remember that the people who are truly passionate about what they do might not always fit the mold of what we expect from celebrities.”

Jack: “Exactly. We need to separate substance from the spectacle. Fame doesn’t always equal talent or passion, but as a society, we’ve created this environment where we reward visibility over depth. It’s a reflection of how we value appearances over authenticity.”

Host: As the evening continues, the conversation wraps up with a quiet understanding. Fame, in all its forms, often overshadows the real reasons behind why people pursue it. It’s easy to become enamored with the image, but the true measure of someone’s worth is found not in their recognition, but in the passion and authenticity that fuel their work. It’s a reminder that sometimes, what we admire isn’t always what’s truly worth celebrating.