Actors and Musicians are brands. They have to advertise themselves in order to sell their work.
Scientists have to sell themselves too, but only to other scientists. But instead of spending a currency of celebrity, they tend to sell ideas and elegant experimental designs (also, scientists don't always have good people skills).
On the one hand it is absurd. But celebrity journalism reflects the values of our society.
On the other hand, celebrity journalism is an important business tool for actors and musicians. Don't think of them, then, as people, when they show up in the gossip sheets. Think of them as Tide, Tums, and Huggies. Only... with a human face.
This was written in response to this, which is terribly clever (and which I've already linked to today).
