Second Banana Syndrome

 What I'm about to address is subject to your criticism, but in my opinion is something that is very alive in Hollywood relationships. When two stars get together there is an initial frenzy that builds, somewhat similar to the  chanting in Usher's OMG, but I digress. Some celebrities I believe will always dominate the conversation in popular culture. Two in particular, Jennifer Lopez and Justin Timberlake are the 21st century power celebrities. While both are known for their various ventures, their personal lives are under constant scrutiny.
   Their significant others, however, have suffered a different fate. You name them, you know them for dating someone. Second bananas in Hollywood usually started with promise but unfortunately could never fulfill their dreams. An example of this would be in any news report mentioning Ryan Phillippe as Reese Witherspoon's ex instead of the dude from Cruel Intentions. Some end up working because both parties understand how they appear to the public. There's a partner with talent and charm and then there's the one who smiles on the red carpet accordingly while you try to remember their name. Not that it's wrong, but that's how I believe the public organizes celebrities, especially when they pair together.
 Jennifer Lopez was once projected to be the next Elizabeth Taylor. Not in terms of talent or looks, but the power to charm and dominate incessant numbers of suitors. Her latest breakup to Mark Anthony has definitely reinstated this theory. There's no doubt she'll bounce back and become the J. Lo of yore in plunging green Versace numbers and insatiable glamour.
 What about Mark Anthony? Nobody's really talking about that. Why? Mainly it's because of his celebrity status. Let me be honest I've known who Mark Anthony was for about ten years. His songs? Not so much. His voice reminds me of Jon Secada because of it's passion and inflection, but he never had the crossover commercial success that sustained the careers of acts such as Ricky Martin, Shakira, and Gloria Estefan. Once he married Jenny from the Block, all bets were off. They started acting as a tandem, even doing a movie together (wasn't Gigli enough, Jen?). I believe that even though he had a small chance at even coming close to his soon to be ex's success, he was always the person after the breath. You never anyone say Mark and Jennifer, it's always Jennifer and Mark. In the land of Hollywood egos, it has to get to you. Especially as a man, there is something inside that seems to have affected their relationship. While I'm no insider or marriage counselor, being Mr. J Lo did something to break the bond. But there are several factors to break a bond and we may never know what really happened. It's just a symptom of being in the limelight.
 Another celebrity couple I think suffered a similar fate are Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel. If you didn't watch the Mickey Mouse Club, you heard *NSYNC, or "Cry Me A River" or maybe even that infamous SNL short, but whatever it was you know Justin Timberlake in some capacity. Jessica Biel has been named Sexiest Woman in the World by some lad mag and obviously 7th Heaven beyond that it is mostly romantic comedies and action flicks. While she has suffered the fate of being pigeonholed, her complaints to Allure Magazine about being too pretty to get roles didn't win a fan. And while their relationship had it's share of rumors and gossip, I think second banana syndrome definitely came in to play.
 Jessica Biel is a starlet and by virtue in the description there's competition to stay hot, sexy, and fresh. Justin Timberlake, on the other hand, has as many titles as Diddy has names. There isn't one thing to define him and by virtue of his enormous success he seems to not slow down even though most people would have by now. Jessica Biel is a former child star which is as much of a stigma as one can face in Lalaland. Yet again so is JT. And when you break it down, there will always be the person who is known for being pretty but beyond the smile we don't know much. As much as she'd like to avoid it she's become ruined by her own perceptions of her talent and looks.
 I do not mean to pigeonhole either Anthony or Biel, but by virtue of their associations with these iconic superstars their work is more than cutout from them. But there are always people not as powerful as their significant others and successful in their own way. For example, Rita Wilson has never appeared to suffer as a result of Tom Hanks's massive accomplishments but sought out a career behind the scenes such as helping to produce the early aughts' classic My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Another great example is Jada Pinkett Smith, who now has the unique distinction of having most of her family in the limelight. Yeah, she wasn't Mrs. 4th of July but her body of work is definitely a feat for any actress of her caliber.
 Second bananas are everywhere in pop culture, it's just a way of separating the icons of our time from the um... uh who set. And I'm not saying being second banana is bad, it's just a fact of how pop culture operates. This is my first entry in a continuing series, so don't worry your banana moment is coming.