FeaturesOctober 12, 1999
CLICK AND DOUBLE CLICK; INTERNET DISHES UP NEWS ABOUT PEOPLE
Who's the most influential figure in the last 1,000 years? The question could fuel a debate that could rage well into the next millennium. The folks at Biography are stoking this fire with their version of the most influential people of the last 1,000 years. They began with a list of 250 people and pared it down to 100...
Who's the most influential figure in the last 1,000 years?
The question could fuel a debate that could rage well into the next millennium. The folks at Biography are stoking this fire with their version of the most influential people of the last 1,000 years. They began with a list of 250 people and pared it down to 100.
The first 75 ran Sunday night and the countdown to the final 25 aired Monday. Even if you missed the four-hour countdown, their Web site also lets you join in the fun.
Biography picked the people they felt have had the most influence -- positive or negative -- in terms of historical, cultural, political, social or emotional not just in their lifetime, but on future generations as well. These are people who all lived in the last 1,000 years. In its defense, Biography said it arrived at the elite 100 by polling more than 360 journalists, scholars and political leaders along with A&E viewers.
Some choices were obvious. Others were surprising. And even if they made the list, was their number realistic? You couldn't help but debate with the TV set during the countdown.
You can join the debate online in number of forums. With which person would you most like to have dinner? Which person do you most wish you could be more like? Which person do you most wish had never been born? Who do you think should be No. 1 on the Biography of the Millennium countdown?
You can also play "Who am I?" to see if you can guess the face before the puzzle pieces are assembled, or you can take the weekly quiz. You can also search the biographies of more than 20,000 people.
Another "people" site is brought to you by People Magazine.
You can read the latest celebrity banter. Michael Jackson is getting another divorce, big deal. Did you know the names of his two kids with wife, Debbie, were Paris and Prince?
Can you believe People Magazine is marking its 25th anniversary? It is celebrating by honoring non-profit agencies that reach out to "our children, our health, our planet." The Web site features a number of agencies each week with links.
There's not much here. Mostly, the Web site hawks the magazine. Let's try a much deeper "people" site: E! Online.
You can read the hottest news, entertainment gossip, reviews or play fun and games. There's also a place to chat about your favorite stars.
Under "Hot Spot," E! is looking back at the brightest and best entertainment stars of the 20th century. Each month features a new category such as sex symbols, love affairs, innovators, heart throbs, scandals, laughs, fads and fashion. This month it's famous feuds.
The series was fascinating with not only the issue at hand but the resolution.
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Elsewhere in the news section, there's an interesting category called Celebrity Courthouse. Here's where you can find out who's suing who in the celebrity world. You can check out both resolved and ongoing cases.
And don't forget the play the games, which include pop quizzes, trivia and photo contests. I tried my hand at Boy Band-O-Rama. Their contention is that all the new boy bands look and sound alike.
I tried my hand at putting the right head on the right band members in a timed drill. It kindly told me I was a "loser!" People with easily-bruised egos should play elsewhere.
And don't forget to check out one of my favorite entertainment sites: Mr. Showbiz.
This site has been running a contest to determine the most memorable TV characters. With 75,000 votes, the choices have been announced. You can view the top 50, each decade's top 20 and of course, Number One.
I'm rather surprised at the winner. It tells me that the surfing audience are young Baby Boomers. This individual beat out Captain Kirk at number three, and Lucy Ricardo at number two. This could also start a great debate.
Like Biography, there's a number of celebrity bios you can rummage through. This stuff is great for trivia contests.
There are headlines of the day and special features, including a fantasy movie game called Holiday Box Office Challenge. Registration ends Nov. 12. When you sign up, you "get" your own studio. I may play. You have to be registered with the GO network to play.
If you like entertainment news, you probably need to stop by the online version of TV Guide.
They, too, are ranking the most memorial TV characters, but their list is different -- especially the top two spots.
Although the focus of this site is on television, they also expand to the big screen, music and video rentals.
There's news and gossip, daily dish, horoscopes and more. Of course this site offers an expansive, free TV guide listing and access to their extensive movie database.
And now we've come full circle: Here you can read TV Guide's spin on Biography's Top 100. No doubt today's issue will reveal more commentary on who won the Number One spot.
Who do you think should have been listed No. 1 on Biography's list of the 100 most influential people of the last 1,000 years? E-mail me at click@semissourian.com
See you in cyberspace.
~Joni Adams is managing editor of the Southeast Missourian.
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