Three cheers for Sandra Bullock

By SAMANTHA ETTUS
Scripps Howard News Service
06-JAN-05

With the first week of the new year behind us, we take a look at how three female stars are coloring in the New Year: Sandra Bullock, Ashlee Simpson and Jennifer Garner.

Sandra Bullock

With a very generous million-dollar donation to the Red Cross for its tsunami relief effort, Bullock showed the world that she really does put her money where her heart is. Despite the cynicism bred by past celebrity publicity stunts, the lack of intentional exposure surrounding her grant confirms Bullock's genuine empathy and concern for the victims. Her aid is both a boon to those suffering and a strong example for countless other celebrities and fans capable of lending their support. Millions of people who skip right past the hard news are bound to see or hear mention of Bullock's magnanimity and, hopefully, be inspired to reach into their own pockets for the victims of this and other calamities worldwide.

Sandra Bullock's brand A$$$$ets

Ashlee Simpson

Poor Simpson whether she sings or merely fakes it, she just can't stop humiliating herself. Just a few months after being caught lip-synching during a "live" performance on "Saturday Night Live," Simpson is swimming in a sea of embarrassment again. Her most recent audience, the football fans at the Orange Bowl halftime show, apparently did not like what they heard.

After enjoying, or at least tolerating, performances by former "American Idol" champ Kelly Clarkson and country crooner Trace Adkins, the audience booed Simpson off the stage. To make matters worse, she suffered from unfortunate timing as her voice gave out while attempting to hit a high note with the line, "You make me want to scream."

We have a hard time blaming Simpson for her recent troubles; she's clearly been pushed to the limits of her endurance by a seemingly endless round of television and live appearances. But father-manager Joe Simpson cannot escape culpability. Though he has been extremely effective at propelling both daughters Ashlee and Jessica into the limelight, Joe seems unable to recognize when to pull back. We think he'd be wise to keep Ashlee away from the stage for a while. With back-to-back high-profile gaffes, she is going to have a hard time gaining credibility in any arena.

Ashlee Simpson's brand A$ets

Jennifer Garner

As she begins her fourth season headlining "Alias," a show she is credited for keeping alive, Jennifer Garner has achieved star status. The tabloids have anointed her the "better" Jennifer, endorsing her as a more suitable mate for Ben Affleck than the oft-maligned Jennifer Lopez.

Yet Garner's success and the diverse opportunities it provides make her most recent choice of starring roles even more confounding. In her newest film, "Elektra," Garner plays a surprisingly familiar role as a sexy superhero with muscles. One would think that "Alias," a series famous for the myriad costume changes showing off Garner's physique, sufficiently mines this territory.

Perhaps Garner is not to blame; it is likely that she's contractually obligated to appear in the "Daredevil" sequel. Nonetheless, while we applaud her for working hard to get into shape for the role, she is doing a disservice to her brand by continuously talking about her workouts to the press, which only further highlights the similarity between the roles. Garner need not pull a Gwyneth and don a fat suit for her next film, but we suggest she start showing some range if she wants to be taken seriously.

Jennifer Garner's brand A$$$ets

Remember: The most dependable road to the top is to treat your brand as your greatest asset.

(Samantha Ettus is the author of "The Experts' Guide to 100 Things Everyone Should Know How to Do" (Random House). Contact her at samantha(at)celebrityassets.com)

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.shns.com)