popular thinking

My vote for most overused incorrect phrase of the month: The so-called "MTV Curse." Most recently misused for the breakup of Travis Barker and Shanna Moakler from MTV's Meet the Barkers -- see Perez Hilton, E! Online (for that and previously, for the breakup last month of Dave Navarro and Carmen Electra of MTV's 'Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen and Dave), People magazine, even the New York Times (deep in this 25th anniversary thinkpiece on the channel formerly known as Music Television).

But it's not a curse. Nick and Jessica, Carmen and Dave, Travis and Shanna -- they did not do much of anything to cause the Gods to call evil down upon them.

Rather, we (the media and everyone else) should consider MTV a Faustian bargain. The couples referenced above sold their souls for a chance at greater fame and fortune. They all accomplished that. But they forgot that selling your soul means eternal happiness, well that doesn't always come along with fame and fortune. Just look at any of the dozens of young college students who left school for The Real World. Sure, you may recognize them. They may make money off of their MTV stint. But at what cost? For that matter, consider this list of MTV celebrities. Where are they now? And how happy are these people...

Pauly Shore? OK. Sorry. I started off with a biggie. Let's resume the list: Jesse Camp, Tom Green, the Osbourne kids (aside from the one daughter who didn't do the show), any of the old VJs. Carson Daly, anyone? The Jackass crew? Johnny Knoxville has gotten some bigger movie roles, but most of those have tanked. Ben Stiller and Jon Stewart are among the exceptions to this rule -- although, although! -- their MTV careers didn't go so well. Perhaps, then, if you become an MTV star, you're pretty much stuck.

Remember that, Cheyenne, Ashley Parker Angel and Ashlee Simpson. Remember that.