Barack Obama - The First Celebrity President?

Barack Obama is the first CELEBRITY President. I don't mean that in a bad way. I just mean it in a factual way. He's the first President of the Modern Celebrity Culture that we live in today.

To be honest, that realization frightened me. I mean, look at the magazine racks. Obama isn't just on magazines like Time and Newsweek, the Obamas, or some combination of them are on People, US, Life & Style, OK, The Star.

Look at that list.

Within days of the election, what did we hear about the WeeMichelles? Some offer from Hanna Montana?

Then there was the article in the Wall Street Journal about Malia, her dress from Election Night, how it sold out, and maybe she's going to be a trendsetter for the ' tween' set.

I turn on the tv and see Inside Edition doing a piece on Sasha's Dress - yes, SASHA, and how it's become a sellout too.

I mean, from Disney to CNN, and Access Hollywood, there is interest in the Obamas.

I'm disturbed about it. Especially where the weeMichelles are concerned.

I started this post a few days ago, but left it alone, thinking maybe I was overreacting. And, then I read this yesterday, over at HuffingtonPost.

Access Hollywood: "We're Going To Treat The Obamas Like A Hollywood Family"

The Obama family has helped sell magazines and newspapers, as well as deliver record ratings to politically-themed program this election season. Now, entertainment TV shows look to capitalize on their celebrity by following their every move.

TV Week's Andrew Krukowski reports that "Access Hollywood" and "Entertainment Tonight" will continue to cover the Obama family in detail:

Barack Obama's election as president is fueling ratings among syndicated television newsmagazine shows--and they are returning the favor.

It's a symbiosis in which shows such as "Access Hollywood" and "Entertainment Tonight" cover the Obama family like royalty, bringing back a Camelot mythology to the White House. In return, they are enjoying a ratings bump with unexpected staying power.

"We're going to treat the Obamas like a Hollywood family," said Rob Silverstein, executive producer of NBC Universal Television Distribution's "Access Hollywood."...

The rough economy and financial belt-tightening also are driving an increased interest in politics, which is being reflected on "Entertainment Tonight" and "The Insider," said the shows' executive producer, Linda Bell Blue.

Both "ET" and "The Insider," syndicated by CBS Television Distribution, are following election-related topics that interest women, Ms. Bell Blue said. That means covering Michelle Obama's fashion choices and celebrities who are going to attend the inauguration in January.

The thought of the Obamas having to deal with not only AP and Reuters for pictures, but now possibly, the paparazzi too?

I dunno, I was like, Ok, we'll see the Obamas in magazines like People, up to the Inauguration, then post-Inauguration, it'll go back to the 'usual suspects' - Time, Newsweek, US News, etc. With the occasional article in a Jet, Ebony or Essence.

The crucible of being in The White House is harsh enough without adding the entertainment media to the mix.