Podcast hosts Finger and Weber publish book analyzing the blurred lines of modern celebrity

Key points

• Bobby Finger and Lindsey Weber, hosts of the podcast 'Who? Weekly,' released their debut book, 'I Want to Be Famous: When Everybody and Nobody Is a Celebrity,' in September 2026.
• The book explores the historical trajectory of celebrity culture, arguing that the distinction between 'Thems' (major stars like Taylor Swift) and 'Whos' (influencers and reality stars) is becoming a spectrum rather than a binary due to social media.
• The authors contend that despite changes in how fame is achieved, the core public desire for 'authenticity' in celebrities remains unchanged across decades.
• The book includes a chapter titled 'The 2010s Killed the Cover Star,' which contrasts Gay Talese’s 1966 profile of Frank Sinatra with modern, PR-friendly celebrity interviews that lack critical depth.
• Finger and Weber express concern over the decline of entertainment journalism, noting that celebrities increasingly bypass traditional media by promoting themselves directly via social media or hosting their own podcasts.
• The podcast 'Who? Weekly,' launched in 2016, categorizes celebrities into 'Thems,' 'Whos,' and 'Nahs' (those not yet famous), a framework expanded in the book to analyze modern fame dynamics.

Background

This release follows recent cultural analyses of modern fame, such as The Cut’s coverage of Alix Earle’s Netflix series, which highlighted the costs of influencer-driven lifestyles. It also aligns with broader trends in media consumption, where traditional celebrity journalism is increasingly replaced by direct-to-fan content. The book joins a fall 2026 literary season that includes various nonfiction works examining cultural shifts, as noted in earlier archive round-ups of new book releases.

Why it matters

The book provides a critical framework for understanding how social media has democratized and complicated the concept of fame. By analyzing the erosion of traditional media gatekeeping and the shift toward self-promotion, it highlights the changing power dynamics between celebrities and the press. This is significant for media studies and cultural criticism, as it documents the transition from a hierarchical celebrity structure to a fluid, user-generated fame ecosystem, offering insights into the future of entertainment journalism and public engagement with celebrity.

What to watch

The authors plan to continue producing 'Who? Weekly' without any intention to stop, leveraging the book's release to expand their audience. They hope the book will be used in media and communications courses, potentially influencing academic discussions on celebrity culture and journalism. The ongoing podcast will continue to feature listener interactions and niche celebrity discussions, maintaining the community-driven aspect that distinguishes their brand.