Marilyn Monroe Sells out!

ROSEMARY HARRIS: Would you buy hairspray from this woman?
A hot dog? Pantyhose? The folks who purchased the late star's estate think you will.

Marilyn Monroe's Q score is one of the highest on record. (Who's higher...keep reading.)

Apparently "delebs" as deceased celebs are sometimes called, can be better at influencing buyers than living, breathing people. Why else would Princess Diana be on the cover of Vanity Fair's September issue? No disrespect, but has she bought anything new lately? Done anything lately? Put her on the (imaginary) Style Icons issue, but are they so devoid of ideas that they need to resurrect that poor dead girl every time circulation dips?

It's been a while since a celebrity has influenced my decision on anything. I think it's a positive thing for the world that George Clooney has repeatedly shone a spotlight on Darfur. I think it's great that the NBA has all those local kids' programs (whether or not LeBron James is actually the one mentoring young readers is immaterial.) But buying decisions? Stuff?

Okay - I'll give you Jennifer Hudson for Weight Watchers. The woman looks phenomenal, but does it matter if Brooke Shields uses Latisse? If Sally Field takes Boniva? Do we trust her more because she's been a nun and a labor activist?
So let me ask - have you ever been swayed by a celebrity endorsement?
And the highest Q score - Lucille Ball. Go figure.

LUCY BURDETTE: Oh yay, Lucille Burdette--another Lucy! I'm so out of this loop it isn't funny. Maybe back when I subscribed to MORE magazine, I would look at the profiles of celebs over 40 and check out their secrets. The problem is even if I end up buying the beauty product they recommended, it usually ended up gathering dust on a shelf in the closet.

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN:  Jamie Lee Curtis for yogurt? I have to say, it makes one hundred per cent no difference if a product has a celebrity endorsement. It's actually--sad. To see Jennifer Aniston for body lotion? Does she NEED the money? Is that stuff gonna make me look like her?  Um, lemme think. :-)  It's just all made up, and all for money. So--I don't care, I'm not swayed, and it's just as phony as it can be.
 (I did used to watch what Princess Diana wore, I must say. She always looked great. "Delebs?" I've never heard that word, yeesh, and wish I still hadn't)


ROSEMARY: Yeah...delebs...even worse than cronuts.

RHYS BOWEN: No, I've never seen a celeb using something and rushed out to buy it. I've seen Cindy Crawford doing an infomercial for face products and known instantly that I'd never look like that however much I spend. Maybe if one of my idols--Maya Angelou, for example, endorsed an orphanage I'd send cash.
Mind you, I am absolutely in love with the gecko. He is so cute. But I still don't have Geico insurance.

HALLIE EPHRON: Gecko/Geico - you know, I'm just getting the joke. On that subject, I do love Flo though I have no idea what brand of insurance she's pushing.
I really can't think of a celebrity sales person who's swayed me. And it really annoys me to see Alex Trebek or Ed McMahon selling some smarmy sounding insurance for old people.

Just free associating: we all want the biggest names in the business to blurb our books. Why not dead ones (deauthors)? Raymond Chandler! Agatha Christie! Stieg Larsson!

ROSEMARY: What about the rest of you..will you be buying Marilyn jewelry?