Here's a quick question to those of you out there in readershipland - What is a celebrity?

I ask because I don't know anymore.

Movie stars such as Tom Hanks and Denzil Washington should get that label, as well as those on the smaller screen, say Courtney Cox or Kevin James.

Athletes have become celebrities. Musicians, too.

I don't think game show hosts (Bob Barker excluded) belong in celebrity status, nor do judges from variety shows. Sorry Simon Cowell.

Talk show hosts the likes of David Letterman or Oprah should be considered, but not a Ricki Lake or a weatherman, a.k.a. Al Roker.

And certainly not Jon, not Kate and not plus eight.

You see, I get confused when I watch these "celebrity" reality-type shows. Are some of these people actual "celebrities" or is it simply the fact their image once graced the boob tube for about 15 minutes?

Let's take for example, VH1's "Celebrity Fit Club" with participants such as Wendy "The Snapple Lady" Kaufman, Brian Dunkleman, A.J. Benza, Chastity Bono and Sommore.

Overweight? Yes. Celebrity? No.

I guess I can understand, somewhat, using stars of the past - Tina Yothers, Dustin Diamond, Erin Moran, Willie Aames, Maureen McCormick, and Gary Busey - because some type of name recognition is needed in order for viewers to tune in each week.

But "The Snapple Lady?" Was the "Can you hear me now?" guy not available?

Same goes for another VH1 program - "the Surreal Life" - and its use of Erik Estrada, Christopher Knight and Vince Neil. I get it.

But Tammy Faye (Baker) Messner?

I'm also surprised at the selection of individuals appearing on "Celebrity Apprentice" during its two seasons.

The talent pool has been varied.

Trace Adkins, Lennox Lewis, Clink Black, Herschel Walker, Scott Hamilton and even Joan Rivers receive the celebrity status, while others - Omarosa, Nely Galan, Carol Ault, Annie Duke, Brande Roderick, Khloe Kardashian, Claudia Jordan and Melissa Rivers - are there to fill out the lineup I suppose.

Melissa Rivers is simply Joan's daughter.

And all Brande Roderick does is hold a numbered briefcase on "Deal or No Deal." That makes her a celebrity? Vanna White would fall under non-celebrity status, too. She now only taps lighted boxes to reveal letters on "Wheel of Fortune."

All that brings me to NBC's "I'm a Celebrity, Get me out of here."

Honestly, is there one legitimate "celebrity" on the show?

Here's the cast:

Two Baldwin brothers - Neither is Alec. Instead, we get Daniel and Stephen. Stephen once played Barney Rubble in a Flintstones movies, and Daniel, who also has appeared on "Celebrity Fit Club," was on "Homicide: Life on the Street." That's it.

Heidi and Spencer Pratt - Apparently the pair appear on MTV in some sort of reality show titled "The Hills." I've never heard of them.

Holly Montag - see Heidi and Spencer Pratt.

Janice Dickinson - Claims to be the first "supermodel." Huh?

John Salley - Recognized mostly as a member of the NBA's Detroit Pistons during their "Bad Boys" days. No other more widely-known retired athlete available?

Lou Diamond Phillips - Rose to stardom in "La Bamba," portraying Richie Valens. Not sure I remember him in anything else.

Sanjaya Malakar - Gained some noterity on sixth season of "American Idol." He finished seventh. I had to look it up.

Patti Blagojevich - Wife of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Maybe the impeached political figure turned down an invitation, and that's why his wife was asked.

Torrie Wilson - Wrestled in her underwear on WWE and posed without it in Playboy. Believe the rest of her resume also is bare.

Frances Callier and Angela V. Shelton - The bio says they are better known as the comedy duo "Frangela." Really? Apparently Oprah dubbed them "America's funniest people." Really?

(Viewers already have voted off Daniel Baldwin, Montag, Dickinson and Frangela. The Pratts left on their own.)

I realize it's a money issue. These so-called "celebrities" need some cash. The New York Post recently reported reality celebrity show participants get between $10,000 and $25,000 per episode.

When you are a C-list celebrity or worse as in the case of most of those already mentioned, I guess it's all about the cash and getting yourself back in the public eye.

What's next?

I'd like to see "Celebrity Wipeout."