The Internet is giving the masses access to stars and personalities like never before.
The famous and infamous are sitting down to chat with fans via their own personal Web pages and guest appearances on online services. Michael Jackson does it. So does Cindy Crawford, Sandra Bullock, David Bowie and Woody Allen.They like the personal access the medium gives them to fans, while still maintaining a safe distance.
The live appearances on America Online, Prodigy and Compu-Serve all work much the same. First, of course, you have to be a subscriber to their service. You log in, type in the appropriate word and are directed to an auditorium.
The auditoriums are like the real thing: The audience sits in rows and you can converse online with the people next to you.
The celebrity fields questions from the audience. An emcee keeps things rolling but otherwise leaves the exchange in the hands of the audience and the star.
America Online, the largest online service provider, holds about 100 live events each week. On average, the events attract 250 cybernauts.
But some draw huge turnouts. When Michael Jackson appeared on AOL Live, 16,000 people packed the virtual auditoriums.
With this new weekly column, the Deseret News will highlight some of the events happening on the three largest commercial online services, as well as elsewhere on the Internet.
Here is what's on the 'Net in the coming week:
- America Online
-July 12, 10 p.m.: Downtown Julie Brown, former MTV VJ, talks to online fans. Keyword: AOL Live.
- July 14, 8:30 p.m.: Olympian Carl Lewis chats live. Keyword: Olympics.
- July 15, 11 p.m.: David Horowitz, America's foremost consumer expert, talks about consumer rights. Keyword: AOL Live.
- July 16, 10 p.m.: Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who walked on the moon, now treks through cyberspace. Keyword: AOL Live.
- Prodigy Chat Events
- July 15, 9 p.m.: Musical group REO Speedwagon, which is currently on the "Can't Stop Rockin"tour with Foreigner and Peter Frampton. Jump: CHAT
- July 16, 9 p.m.: Actor Brent Spiner (Data on "Star Trek: TNG" and also a co-star in "Independence Day"). Jump: CHAT
- July 18, 8 p.m.: American Bar Association President Roberta Cooper Ramo discusses domestic violence and the ABA's recent project with Disney. Jump: CHAT
- CompuServe
- July 12, 9 p.m.: Everything you wanted to know about the Beatles! Go BEATLES.
- July 14, 2 p.m.: Gayle Reinsma discusses the changes women face as they turn 30. Go WWFORUM
- July 16, 9 p.m.: Authors Beth Collings and Anna Jamerson discuss evidence for alien abductions in their families. Go UFO.
- Net Buzz
Can't sleep? Check Insomniacs Asylum, a new site from Warner Bros. Online and America Online. This original, online program is accessible daily from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. exclusively on America Online (keyword: Insomniacs). You can hang out in Club Rendezvous, a quirky late night lounge, visit Cafe.Com, a cyber-coffee house or check into Gonzo's Comedy Shop.