Spears' marriage to Federline not going to last

Sept. 18 marked another milestone for 22-year-old Britney Spears. In a small ceremony Saturday night Spears and Kevin Federline allegedly surprised their closest friends and family at the supposed engagement party by saying their ‘I do's'. This is the second marriage for young Spears this year, which is extraordinary even by Hollywood standards.

The short-lived unions of celebrities have always been of public fascination and curiosity. What is it about fame that seems to make lasting relationships impossible? From Jennifer Lopez (the current queen of serial marriages) to Nicholas Cage, many celebrities find it impossible to keep interest in one person for more than a few months. Although there are some individuals in Hollywood that seem to get it right the first time, the public is shocked when they find a couple who has made it past the 10-year mark.

Spears' previous brush with wedding bliss lasted 55 hours which, sadly enough, is not the shortest celebrity marriage on record. Zsa Zsa Gabor and Felipe De Alba's marriage lasted only one day back in 1982. Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman's five month marriage and the appalling 20 month marriage of Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Jackson are commonplace in Tinstletown.

The fantasy life that many of these movie stars and pop sensations lead may have a tremendous affect on what they consider "normal". Living a lifestyle that provides no stability, where you can be loved and adored on Tuesday and forgotten by Saturday, may be at the center of this strange phenomenon. This intriguing reality of life in the spotlight gives rise to coined terms like "Hollyweird" and "La-la Land" where nothing seems to be real or commonplace, much like the recent San Francisco gay weddings.

In February of this year, day-time talk show host Rosie O'Donnell and long time girlfriend Kelli Carpenter married in San Francisco. While being added to the long list of married celebrities, O'Donnell also became part of the growing debate regarding same sex marriage. Within the last year this controversial topic has been a hot political debate. Recently there has been discussion of a Constitutional Amendment banning same sex marriage. Those that support the passing of an amendment have commonly stated that the sanctity of marriage would be at stake if same sex marriages where legalized. Many individuals opposed to this amendment site the lack of respect for the "sanctity of marriage" present in Hollywood as a leading reason why this should be a legal practice. It seems that no place is left untouched from the influence of Hollywood's history of marital strife.

Although most of us will not be holding our breath in anticipation to see what comes of Britney's latest shocking move, the possibility of yet another failed Hollywood union seems likely.

Only time will tell what will come of Hollywood's estranged relationship with relationships and the connection it has with other aspects of our culture. While Washington D.C. may decide who can marry, the drama of celebrity marriages will always spark our interest. Jenny Nawrocki is a senior broadcast journalism student at CSULB.