200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons...

[Guest Hogan Made Wrestling]

Here's my top ten:

 

1) Elvis Presley

2) John Wayne

3) Marilyn Monroe

4) The Beatles

5) Richard Nixon

6) Muhammed Ali

7) Frank Sinatra

8) Superman

9) Bob Dylan

10) James Dean

That's better, but still just a list for American pop icons, not worldwide. Otherwise John Wayne and Nixon would be nowhere near the top ten.

I'm not so sure about Nixon not being there, I know that in China for instance he is one of the 3 most well-known Americans of all time (the others being Elvis and someone I forget). Dean and Wayne probably wouldn't make a worldwide cut out of those 10.

[Guest MissMattitude]

David Bowie at 147? DAVID FUCKING BOWIE AT 147?

 

What a fucking bullshit list. As soon as I saw Jennifer Lopez's name there i knew not to take it seriously.

[Mecha Mummy 0]

... Mike Myers is a bigger icon than JACK NICHOLSON? Since when?

[Murmuring Beast 0]

Since Wayne's World

[Guest Insane Bump Machine]

I'm not so sure about Nixon not being there, I know that in China for instance he is one of the 3 most well-known Americans of all time (the others being Elvis and someone I forget). Dean and Wayne probably wouldn't make a worldwide cut out of those 10.

well known yes, but not as a pop culture icon. George W. Bush is one of the most well known people in the world, but is he an important part of pop culture? I don't think so.

[Guest WrestlingDeacon]

You guys are totally missing the pop culture status of Nixon. The man has catch phrases (I'm not a crook, You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore), hand signs (flashing the V for victory), a voice and mannerisms that people always do impressions of, Nixon masks have been a top selling Halloween costume since the '70's, there have been tons of songs, movies and books about him and reference him, he's still a BUTT of jokes today and from a historical stand point he was president during one of the most chaotic and important times in American history. As a pop culture icon that puts him above runners up JFK and Bill Clinton, although I could see Clinton surpassing him in time.

 

I also think you are underestimating the world wide appeal of John Wayne. He is THE American. He is the icon of what America represents to a good portion of the world, especially the third world. Now, that significance might be fading, but not as much as you think.

 

True I didn't do a world wide list, because I'm not too up on the rest of the world. However, did you know that a poll was conducted in 1980 to find the most famous person in the world. They polled hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world, every walk of life and you know who won? Muhammed Ali. He was followed by Mickey Mouse, then Jesus and I'm pretty sure John Wayne and Nixon were in the top twenty. Again, that's twenty years ago, I'd like to see a list for today.

[Guest IDrinkRatsMilk]

I remember hearing about a similar survey about who the most hated person was, and Nixon won, ahead of Hitler and the Devil. Pretty good for ol Tricky Dick, I'd say. I don't know how well done the survey was or who did it... but I remember being impressed.

[Guest Plushy Al Logan]

Where the fuck is Jim Morrison on this list?

[Guest mach7]

because the Rock was in Good big budget movies...

Those movies were good?

[Guest MissMattitude]

Where the fuck is Jim Morrison on this list?

 

David Bowie is at 147. Must get over that.

 

Jim Morrison is at 170!

 

It amazes me that J'Lo and Britney get into the top 20 when Bowie barely makes into the top 150 and Morrison doesn't even make that even though they are the ones that will be remembered for years to come

Edited July 28, 2003 by MissMattitude

[Guest bob_barron]

Okay-

 

For everyone who hasn't figured it out- the special was for women. That's why Oprah was #1, the Friends cast was so high and Kristin Davis hosted

[Guest Insane Bump Machine]

You guys are totally missing the pop culture status of Nixon. The man has catch phrases (I'm not a crook, You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore), hand signs (flashing the V for victory), a voice and mannerisms that people always do impressions of, Nixon masks have been a top selling Halloween costume since the '70's, there have been tons of songs, movies and books about him and reference him, he's still a BUTT of jokes today and from a historical stand point he was president during one of the most chaotic and important times in American history. As a pop culture icon that puts him above runners up JFK and Bill Clinton, although I could see Clinton surpassing him in time.

All the things you mention are true, but only in America. That was my whole point.

[Guest Vyce]

You guys are totally missing the pop culture status of Nixon. The man has catch phrases (I'm not a crook, You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore), hand signs (flashing the V for victory), a voice and mannerisms that people always do impressions of, Nixon masks have been a top selling Halloween costume since the '70's, there have been tons of songs, movies and books about him and reference him, he's still a BUTT of jokes today and from a historical stand point he was president during one of the most chaotic and important times in American history. As a pop culture icon that puts him above runners up JFK and Bill Clinton, although I could see Clinton surpassing him in time.

All the things you mention are true, but only in America. That was my whole point.

Dude, not to sound all snobby, but Americans RULE pop culture.

 

And frankly, 99.99% of Americans don't give a shit about some actor / singer / celebrity who may be the cat's pajamas in China or Germany or Nepal or wherever. If they're not famous here, they're not a pop culture icon.

[Guest bob_barron]

What about people like Jackie Chan? He was considered one of the most successful actors in the world without ever doing a thing in America until 1996.

 

I would think he would be considered a pop culture icon

[Guest WrestlingDeacon]

Yeah, but Jackie Chan did have success in the US eventually and he did work in US films prior to his breaking out in America. The first two Cannonball Runs for example and some low budget action films in the mid-'80's. Honestly, the list of people who could be considered world wide major pop icons without US origin is pretty slim. I'd say Pele and Princess Diana and then i kind of draw a blank.

[Guest The Amazing Rando]

because the Rock was in Good big budget movies...

Those movies were good?

sarcasm...heavy heavy sarcasm...

 

 

...but you could admit ScorpKing was better than No Holds Barred or SWM.

[Guest bob_barron]

David Beckham could count.

 

Jackie wasn't really that well known until Rumble in the Bronx in 1996

[Guest WrestlingDeacon]

That's what I'm saying, he didn't breakout in America until Rumble in the Bronx, but he was around and he did break out in America eventually. I would say that Rumble in the Bronx would be about the point I would consider Jackie Chan to have achieved real pop icon status.

 

My problem with David Beckham is the problem I have with a lot of recent names on the list. They might be popular right now, but they haven't been around long enough to measure their lasting impact and fame. Just think of all the flash in the pans and names that have faded that might have been on this list if you had done it ten, fifteen or twenty years ago. Hell, there was a time Debbie Gibson and Tiffany might have broke the top twenty. You have to let some time past before you call someone an all time pop culture icon.

[Guest bob_barron]

Yea- That was the ultimate flaw of the special.

 

Reese Witherspoon?????

 

Do you think Rowan Atkinson would count as a worldwide star. He's a minor celebrity in the US but is famous worldwide

[Guest WrestlingDeacon]

Honestly, I don't know how famous Atkinsson is outside of England. Do they know him in Africa? Russia? And being famous just doesn't mean pop icon. You have to be ingrained in the culture, have elements of your persona easily recognizable and pop up in other media. I'd probably group Atkinsson with the likes of Paul Hogan, who are popular in a few different countries and have some recognition and notiriety through one character. Although Hogan was absolutely huge in Australia during the seventies and early eighties.

[Guest bob_barron]

Hmmmm...

 

Bean and Johnny English both made tons of money worldwide and Mr. Bean is very popular all across Europe. I think he counts

[Guest The Czech Republic]

SJP's just never did anything for me.

Two words. Square Pegs.

 

BTW: Where the heck is Groucho??

Edited July 30, 2003 by The Czech Republic

[Guest The Grand Pubah of 1620]

35) P. Diddy

36) Johnny Carson

37) Kurt Cobain

 

I just watched part of this show for the first time. And to sandwich a legend in between two no talent douche bags was a complete insult to Carson, especially with P. Diddy beating him. That is all I watched. Then I saw this thread and saw the entire list and I am glad I stopped watching. Worst list ever!

 

Carson is a top five, no question.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

200?

 

Surely Rock had more Pop Impact then fucking SPOCK!

Idiot.