Mariah Carey appeared on HSN last night (and will throughout today) to "celebrate" the first anniversary of her HSN debut last year. It was full of yet more moments and love. Facts were learned all around (did you know that Mariah Carey didn't know that there are 26 letters in the alphabet until last night?). But also, as you can see in the video above, there was an added layer of self-consciousness, one pronounced even for a person who won't be filmed in elevators because of the ill effects of "elevator lighting." She came to the fold referencing the fact that her appearance would be edited and put on the Internet (she had previously shouted out to Gawker for Matt Cherette's edit of her July appearance). How...disappointing.
Look, far be it from me to suggest that anyone on earth should refrain from laughing at Mariah Carey, even the woman herself. But this knowingness (the presumptuousness, even!) that people will be obsessively collecting and presenting her appearance to their liking means that it at least behooves her to act goofily. The kind of eccentricity she offers works best when there is a degree of ambiguity ("Oh no she didn't!" becomes a point of rumination), and her being in on the joke turns unintentional comedy to comedy. Truthfully, she didn't feel much less herself, but her awareness of the scrutiny makes the sport of hunting and gathering a little less exciting. I like my food to be moving.
But good on her for having a sense of humor about herself. It's undoubtedly driven by narcissism (Mariah has long been obsessed with those who are obsessed with her), but she's a good sport about such things in a way that someone like Tyra Banks isn't (the only jokes at Tyra's expense can be made by Tyra, and then they aren't jokes they're auto-cunnilingus).
So Mariah is wacky, hyper-self-conscious and better than Tyra Banks. Eh, tell me something I don't know next time.
and in 2011, the Mariah became self-aware. Doomsday must be right around the corner
Posted by: sean | November 22, 2011 at 04:31 AM
OMG with the boots. And poor Amy had to wear red ones! They were terrible.
Posted by: Jerome | November 22, 2011 at 10:25 AM
The only two people I know of who can do absolutely no wrong are Mariah Carey and Erykah Badu. Any other gems I'm missing out on??
Posted by: Marty | November 22, 2011 at 09:02 PM
the queen throws her legendary shade once again, and haters will deal...
Posted by: troy | November 23, 2011 at 06:33 PM
What the...! She did not know how many letters in the alphabet?
But I don't think that would matter. She is rich.
Posted by: stretch mark removal cream | November 26, 2011 at 03:41 AM
Am laughing at how the presenter seems to be just laughing nervously and loudly the whole time. And laughing *with* Mariah the whole time. Agree with above commenter, no wrong can be done.
Posted by: hungryandfrozen | November 28, 2011 at 01:35 PM
I am 14 and I am thinking about giving my innocence to my boyfriend So now I am curious when you lost yours..
Posted by: Gamefly free trial | November 29, 2011 at 01:23 AM
she is coming back with new music in 2012
Posted by: nneka | November 30, 2011 at 03:14 AM
You can interpret that however you want. I interpret as the time where I lost the wonder of childhood.
Posted by: Hcg Ultra | December 03, 2011 at 06:22 AM
I wish I could watch a video of Mariah watching internet edits of herself. Defensive!
Posted by: rocksee | December 04, 2011 at 10:48 PM
>the queen throws her legendary shade once again, and haters will deal...
...wut?
WHY DO YOU PEOPLE TALK LIKE THIS?
Posted by: mnmn | December 09, 2011 at 06:44 PM
Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Blue Screen | January 26, 2012 at 01:12 AM