Credits

Speaking of things I don't really understand...

Why does the entertainment industry insist on listing everyone even remotely involved in the making of a movie or television program, even a sportscast, at the end of the show? Is there any other industry that does anything like that? I can't think of any. The rest of us don't really feel the need to do that.

For instance...and I could choose something ordinary that the average person does as an example. But instead, just to drive my point home, I'm going to choose something amazing...like brain surgery.

So, there you are, lying on a gurney in Recovery, slowly making your way to consciousness, when you're presented with a list of all the people who should be given credit for your surgery.

Hmmm, would they be listed in order of appearance or by the importance of their role (aka, the size of their paycheck)? Either way. Don't worry, they'll all be listed.

The surgeon (or surgeons, depending on the seriousness of your problem), the anesthesiologist, the nurses (scrub, surgical, etc.). The person who admitted you and probably even the person who will release you...and they haven't even done their job yet. The person who washed and folded those really warm blankets, the person who mopped the floors, the person who sterilized the surgical instruments. Oh, all those people down the hall that are preparing the meals, not only for you, but for the hospital staff that's operating on you. And we can't forget the people in the front office who hired everyone else, even the people who selected, purchased, and provided the scrubs. Heck, they might even give you a list of the music that was played during your surgery.

But that doesn't happen. You'll get a list of charges. It might even be itemized. It'll probably reference a name or two. But nothing like what they do in Hollywood.

Now, let's compare the services provided.
The surgeons might possibly have saved a life. Hollywood likely didn't.
The surgical staff combined was probably educated for a couple dozen years or more. Hollywood likely wasn't.
In exchange for 'the credits', the hospital staff does receive a paycheck. Then again, so do all those Hollywood types.
Several of those performing medical procedures have to have certifications and degrees. Not nearly as many (if any) can say the same thing on the entertainment side.

The only thing that I think Hollywood has over the surgical staff is that their product will be seen by a heck of a lot more people. One movie, millions of people. Maybe that's why they get paid so well. Maybe that's why they deserve for their names to be displayed (sometimes twice) for every playing of every movie or television show they ever took part in.

But much like the whole hairspray thing, I just don't get it.