This story is kind of sweet even though this recent trend of asking a celebrity to a dance is getting slightly old, but I guess we have the internet to thank for rapid proliferation of these videos to viral status. It all started, of course, a few years ago when Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake were both asked to the Marine Corp Ball(s), and then another Marine upped the ante and asked out Betty White as well. Betty gracefully ducked out of her invite due to work obligations, but Mila and JT both went on their dates — basically because they were encouraged to do so as part of their Friends With Benefits promotion, I think. I’m not knocking them because they shouldn’t be expected to go on dates with complete strangers, right? It’s kind of silly and potentially dangerous to do so. Also, their acquiescence only encourages other people who want to continue the trend of hoping for a date with their dream celebrity.
Now a high school senior, Jake Davidson, has asked Kate Upton to his prom. He made a video, which has been featured on “Today,” and Kate called in to the show to surprise him. Check out this dude’s face in this video when he realizes she’s on the line:
In response to Jake’s question, Kate gave a very diplomatic response: “I’d definitely have to check my schedule, but you seem like so much fun, and if everything works out, I’d love to go with you. I know we’d have a blast.” Isn’t that sweet? I have a feeling that she means it too. Nobody made her (or so I’m guessing) call into “Today” to talk to this dude, and it’s not like she was scheduled on the program to promote anything. She just wanted to surprise him. You gotta love this chick.
In slightly related news, Maria Shriver has been helping out “Today” on air (for the first time in several years) by reporting with Matt Lauer in Rome to help cover the new Pope stuff. Supposedly, she’s been very well received, and NBC is courting her strongly for an official “comeback to NBC” not only on “Today” but also their nighttime news programs as well. She should just replace Matt, and possibly Savannah Guthrie too. Let’s just clone Maria, and she could host “Today” all by herself. Ratings problem solved!
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN
That schtick is old. Not special or a surprise.
She looks much better as a real blonde-blonde and not this orange-ish color. The darker her hair gets, the smaller her features look. I also think she looks best with her hair down.
She’s a pretty girl, but she needs to understand what works for her.
THANK YOU.
The Today Show had to waste 15 minutes of airtime covering this “news story” because…of course. That show is complete tabloid trash anyway.
When I saw it all I could think of is:
1) Why the HELL is this a “news story”?
2) Hasn’t this dumb shtick been done a MILLION times by now? and
3) Predictably, the kid is a goofy-yet-cute nerd. He can’t find a normal date at his high school?
Maybe I’m just being a bitch but why are we rewarding hormonal teenagers for wanting to date supermodels? I mean, it’s not like the kid asked the girl who always gets bullied, the girl who is handicapped, or the girl who is overweight or physically/mentally challenged to the prom. THAT would be a sweet story to me. I don’t know…maybe I’m being harsh but it just seems like we’re celebrating douchery by giving this kid airtime….I just don’t see how this story is charming or cute.
Some really good points TOK. I never thought of it that way.
I agree! ^^^^^
Well, didn’t you know? Boys being boys is always super cute and charming!! Entitled Awkward Nerd with no redeeming qualities and obnoxious personality wins the super model looking girl because THE WORLD OWES HIM A HOT WOMAN just because he’s a breathing man and Nice Guys finish last!… How many comedies/tv shows have we seen approaching this very topic? Boys are taught to believe this and expect this in life. And this dumb trend is all part of that. He thinks he’s entitled to that.
And then when this doesn’t happen to them in real life they resent girls, call them sluts who only fall for assholes, etc. Life is harsh when you realize that just as you have to work hard at getting a degree, or a job, or a car, or a house, you have to work hard at getting a woman. You’re not going to get one by virtue of existing. Some guys have trouble understanding this. They refuse to try. But oh, how they love to put on a pity show “I’m such a nice guy, but girls don’t appreciate me.” Like THAT will help you score. The pity lay rarely happens, again, if you’re still the same nerd with no redeeming qualities and you’re still all over girls that are way out of your league.
This kid is playing the pity angle instead of working hard at scoring a real date that might actually lead to something!
Annie..thank you. The first paragraph of your comment-exactly! I’m just over it.
you made some very good and valid points I agree with… I do however, find it sweet that she responded.. whether she goes or not I could careless… I’m quite sure it’ll be a dream come true for him just because she responded on twitter and then called in to the show to speak to him… Celebs get bombarded with fan request for stuff so it’s nice to see that they pay attention and appreciate their fans
Nothing against Kate at all. I think she handled it really well but I’ve always liked Kate Upton anyway-never understood why she has so many detractors.
I definitely understand the viewpoint, it is a dumb “news story” and see no reason why it took up air-time, but no harm done here. Boys WILL be boys. On a positive note, there are plenty of stories around homecoming and prom of guys or girls who take mentally handicapped as their dates or are even made king/queen. I actually find those features quite common. Maybe give the kid a break 😉
@ Annie, I suppose that you too were familiar with the five ways modern men are taught to hate women? (I urge everyone to read that, it really was an eye-opener!)
She’s really pretty.
She really is. Reminds me of a young Denise Richards.
I think the trend is fun but also kind of presumptuous and annoying. So now when someone asks a celeb for a date they have to respond or they look like a jerk. No one should feel obligated to go on an outing just because someone was gutsy enough to make a video.
Getting old… but still sweet! I feel like she might have led him on just a bit though, even with the ‘checking of the schedule’ thing. Dude really thinks she might go with him, right? Who knows… maybe she will. Honestly, while it would be really, really nice of her to go, it would make a huge spectacle of the school’s prom.
Funny how they asked him why he chose to ask her, out of all of the celebs. ‘Well, by my bed on the floor, next to a box of Kleenex, I have a pile of magazines I like to ‘read’ and the ones Kate is on are the stickiest… so I figured she should be my choice!’
LOL! Yup, I’m pretty sure that that is exactly how his thought process went 🙂
+1
Yes, bring Maria back! I like and admire her even more after knowing what she has been through.
As said above.. This schtick is old, but a good example of how shameless she is. I’m sure it seemed cute and a neat joke to talk about, but she’s taken a HS memory for lots of kids and made it all about her. The marine ball is not the same and a HS prom. Her career can only go down from her 2nd SI cover so I guess this is it.
If she does go, this guy is not going to become the popular stud he thinks he will be. The boys will hate him for bringing the super model, all while hovering over her, pissing off the girlfriends. The girls will hate to spend all their allowance on looking pretty only to be upstaged by a supermodel, but they can’t complain too much, otherwise they’ll look jealous. Prom is not supposed to be about that. So guys are pissing off girls they could date for nothing. He’s pretty much ruining his chances at actually starting something with a girl he has a shot with. It’s not like he’s going to become friends with Kate. This is publicity for her. Look, we’re all talking about her.
I just watched this and tweeted that it was creepy and not awww shucks cute. The kid was annoying and it totally backed her into an awkward corner with the phone call. Thanks Today Show for the classy news story!
the first time this was a cool idea but after the tenth time it gets really old. i also feel for the celebs, they basically have no chances to say no without looking bad.
come up with something new.
It was nice of her to call in the show to talk to the boy. Too creepy to actually go to the prom with him.
OK I watched about halfway and shut it off after she said it’s so hilarious and original. Is it really? It’s been done.to.death. Please, no more video date requests to celebrities. PLEASE.
@Annie I’d like to offer a male’s response to your comments:
“And then when this doesn’t happen to them in real life they resent girls, call them sluts who only fall for assholes, etc.’
No they just resent hot girls. Not all girls.
“Life is harsh when you realize that just as you have to work hard at getting a degree, or a job, or a car, or a house, you have to work hard at getting a woman.”
So basically you’re saying women are just another material possession that needs to be obtained? Also, you make the assumption that guys who don’t have women haven’t tried. Secondly I thought we were talking about guys who want hot women. Hot women are going to be out the reach of some guys no matter what they do. As for getting a woman, any woman, most guys could do that if they were willing to drop their standards and target women who have less social capital than them. But who wants that?
I think a lot of guys actually do get girls that are out of their league looks-wise anyway. That fuels the hope for all others I guess. It is rare to see a cute guy with an uglier girl though (unless they are both young and she puts out). Guys tend to be more visual. I do get really tired of movies where an obnoxious, unattractive dude (I’m thinking Jonah Hill and Seth Rogan) get some hot girl regardless of how disgusting they act. I can’t remember another movie since Sixteen Candles where an awkward looking girl gets the hot guy (well maybe Seven with Brad Pitt and Gwyneth–but her severed head gets put in a paper bag at the end so that was the end of that:-) I saw that movie and was like YEAH RIGHT like he would ever go out with HER. Then a week later they were engaged in real life–haha.
I remember one guy being absolutely ruthless in high school because I didn’t like him back. He did all sorts of obnoxious things to me including spreading lies that I basically gang banged a bunch of dudes over the weekend. I walked into the cafeteria the next Monday and every single person in there was staring at me. I think it kind of backfired on the guy though because then EVERYONE decided they needed to go out with me–LOL! (No I didn’t accept any offers- I wanted to hide forever).