Whom do we believe, Rihanna or each other?

I just read Julie Creswell's piece, "Nothing Sells Like Celebrity" in the Times this morning about the power celebrity endorsements have in the marketplace. It proved the effectiveness of thse endorsements for raising awareness, even breathing new life into new brands. But it didn't answer a question that has been in my subconscious for a while now, as I've thumbed through magazines and seen television ads featuring such stars as Diddy, Beyonce, and Lance Armstrong: are we reaching a saturation point with celebrity endorsements, when I can't even remember what these folks are promoting? There was a period a few years ago around the time that Michael Jordan was about to retire when I could swear I saw him endorsing EVERYTHING but feminine hygeine products--from hot dogs to men's underwear. I wondered if he would try to sell me... [read full story]