Thomas Thompson was at the height of his own celebrity when he penned the novel. Having just successfully established the "real crime" genre, "Celebrity" was his first foray into the world of fiction. He fashioned a tale of friendship, success, the pitfall of celebrity, and murder all woven around a pop-culture history lesson spanning 1950 through 1975. As a novel, most readers love it or loathe it. I loved it.
** WARNING: Potential Spoilers Ahead **
Turning "Celebrity" into a mini-series was a tough accomplishment, given the multitude of storylines that weave through the novel. NBC did the best they could and, by staying as true to the novel as possible, it turned out not bad overall. Some of the high points include: -- Ben Masters' portrayal of Kleber Cantrell. As Thompson based the character on himself, Masters' work was a subtle tribute to the recently deceased author. -- A young River Phoenix. -- The surprise ending that stays true to the novel. -- Debbie Allen and James Whitmore in one of the more compelling storylines. -- Michael Beck's dead-on accurate portrayal of TJ Luther. You literally squirm at his sleaziness.
There are also some lows, with the most noteable being the mercilessly miscast Joseph Bottoms as McKenzie Crawford.
In a nutshell, if you're a fan of the novel a viewing of the mini-series will be satisfying. And if you're a fan of Ben Masters, this is a definite must-see.
** WARNING: Potential Spoilers Ahead **
Turning "Celebrity" into a mini-series was a tough accomplishment, given the multitude of storylines that weave through the novel. NBC did the best they could and, by staying as true to the novel as possible, it turned out not bad overall. Some of the high points include: -- Ben Masters' portrayal of Kleber Cantrell. As Thompson based the character on himself, Masters' work was a subtle tribute to the recently deceased author. -- A young River Phoenix. -- The surprise ending that stays true to the novel. -- Debbie Allen and James Whitmore in one of the more compelling storylines. -- Michael Beck's dead-on accurate portrayal of TJ Luther. You literally squirm at his sleaziness.
There are also some lows, with the most noteable being the mercilessly miscast Joseph Bottoms as McKenzie Crawford.
In a nutshell, if you're a fan of the novel a viewing of the mini-series will be satisfying. And if you're a fan of Ben Masters, this is a definite must-see.