How famous is Kristin Chenoweth?

Well, she's going to be on American Idol soon, which should give her, you know, a teeny tiny bit more exposure.

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This is actually an interesting question that I've been thinking about myself lately. She's gotten so much exposure the past two years but still can't seem to break out of "I think I've heard that name somewhere".

I usually judge a person's fame if my Mother knows who they are. If she knows who they are (even if you have to say "you saw her/him in so-and-so") than I'd say they're pretty recognizable. As of the other day though, when my Mom asked me who was guest judging on Idol this season and I mentioned Cheno's name, she had no clue who it was. So I'd say she still has a ways to go.

I think an evaluation of her celebrity kinda depends on the arena in which it is being considered. Also, it's a question of the components that make up a "star", which I see as awareness, BO potential and/or artistic respect from the industry and from her audience.

In the Broadway world:

Awareness = star.

BO Potential = not yet a star. She's never opened a show on her name (a la Bernadette, Patti, etc). "Promises, Promises" should be interesting experiment, though obviously it's not the purest test since she has the benefit of (the even more recognizable) Sean Hayes' name alongside hers.

Respect = possibly a star. On the one hand, audiences generally adore her and go crazy for her. And I think the audiences and the industry alike acknowledge what a magnificent and special voice she has. But she's not really a proven actress by any means yet; not on par, for example, with Audra. So for some, the jury may still be out.

Final Verdict = almost a star. Already gets starring roles, but not a bona fide star yet except in the minds of her fans.

In the rest of the entertainment world:

Awareness = not a star. As has been said, many people vaguely recognize her name but still don't know who she is.

BO Potential = definitely not a star. Witness the fate of the shows where she has been a series regular.

Respect = borderline star. She's definitely earned some respect as a character actress and a gifted comedienne. "Pushing Daisies" was a big help in that department. But I think both the industry and the audience still see her as a bit of a one-trick pony. Or maybe a one-trick pony who can sing. The Dusty Springfield biopic that she is working on could go a long way to breaking her out of her "little funny blonde" pigeonhole.

Final verdict = star potential but needs to show more range.

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Updated On: 1/16/10 at 02:06 PM

I think she's not really a celebrity, but she's not a nobody, either. If I mention her in casual conversation to somebody who isn't obsessed with Broadway, I'll have to explain what she's been in. I find that more people recognize the title "Wicked" than have seen her movies or TV shows, though. A couple people I talk to know her character on Pushing Daisies, but they don't know her name. I think that she needs to do some more movies before she becomes a celebrity.

I don't know if Bernadette Peters is THAT well known, either. At least in the general public.

What I find interesting is that she seemed to be on the way of becoming a film star, but something went wrong - did HEARTBEEPS

http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0082507/ kill her career?

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I am also interested by this. I mean, you would think an original cast member of Wicked would be quite well known. I don't really see her doing much *correct me if I'm wrong* I know she's in a few things and has hosted a few things but compared to Menzel, she doesn't seem to have found her place yet.

A lot of my friends/family know who Kristin Chenoweth is and that's saying something since they're not into theater at all. Her appearance on Glee was very popular amongst all my friends who watch that show. And even if someone I know doesn't know Kristin Chenoweth by name know her from one of her movies or as "the original Glinda in Wicked." So I do think Kristin is pretty well-known outside of Broadway.

I wouldn't consider Patti LuPone or Bernadette Peters famous either. I guess it depends on who you're asking though. But based on my family/friends, they know Kristin more than Peters or LuPone simply because Kristin has done more mainstream stuff, especially within the last couple of years.

re: Audra McDonald... "The black woman from Private Practice" is much better than how my sister calls her "The black Grace from that Annie movie." haha :rolls eyes:.

Patti, Bernardette and Kristin are known by the Broadway community, some gay guys, and some people that happened to watch the shows they were in.
None of them are mainstream stars, they were never the star of a hit film. They might have had a cameo in them, but they are not A-listers or even B in Hollywood(a worldwide market).

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I think this may be the most empty, meaningless, BS-filled thread I've ever seen on BWW. PARTICULARLY averagebwaynut's arrogant, interminable rant.

LAWDY! Get a life, kiddies.

P

Ah Pgenre -- it's comforting to know that you truly are a nasty, pathetic jerk and not solely when it comes to anything and everything relating to "The Addams Family".

Thankfully, I can take comfort in the knowledge that you are among the most "empty, meaningless, BS-filled" posters on BWW.

My post was neither arrogant nor interminable. I answered based on criteria that spoke directly to the question posed by the subject line of the thread. Unlike you, who virtually always seems to do so, I did not respond by insulting anyone else who had posted.

Indeed, as your post adds NOTHING to the conversation except denigrating the original poster for his/her question and everyone else who has responded thus far -- and yet you nevertheless took the time to write it (get a life indeed!) -- it is YOU who have shown yourself to be remarkably arrogant, devoid of even the basic tenets of human decency and courtesy. When you have NOTHING constructive to say -- which clearly is often -- spare us all the necessity of reading your bitchy drivel. Or in short, "SHUT THE HELL UP!"

Kisses!

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She is so famous that Mongolian peasants have started a petition for her to star in the Asian Steppes tour of WICKED.

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Bernadette Peters became well-known for 2 things early on.
1. Dating Steve Martin
2. Appearances on Johnny Carson and The Carol Burnett Show

The thing is, an entire generation of baby boomers watched those shows religiously, so the majority of them know who she is.
My stepmother's reaction was priceless though. "Bernadette Peters? I didn't know she could sing." This was said not long ago. She really only knew her as an actress.

Most people don't know who Patti is (outside of the Broadway community). They know they've heard the name. They're just not sure where or why. Anytime I've said her name to non-theater lovers, the reaction I get is, "Shut UP Patti LuPone." Yeah. They know her from that one episode of Will and Grace.

Kristin has one thing on her side that the other two did not have for many years. The internet. She would definitely not be as well know if it weren't for internet forums and youtube videos.

As far as her headlining a Broadway show, there was "The Apple Tree." It may not have succeeded like "Wicked" did, but she did carry that show on her shoulders.
And her acting in the film "Into Temptation" I think proves beyond a doubt that she's not just a one-trick pony. The woman can act.

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